It's unknown if Walsh consulted Thomas about D'Antoni during the coaching search. Nevertheless, Thomas was a big D'Antoni fan.

"He respected what Mike did in Phoenix, but it was hard not to," a Thomas friend said.

When Thomas took over the coaching reins before the 2006-2007 season, he talked about being Phoenix East, but it never transpired. After benching big men Eddy Curry and Zach Randolph this season, Thomas talked often about the NBA becoming a "small man's league."

Thomas, who had three years and $18 million left on his contract, is expected to seek a more visible role elsewhere but felt it was better having a job while he looked.

Thomas can take credit at least for putting Walsh in a position to get under the salary cap after the 2010 season for a run at LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. But Walsh will have to make some difficult trades, including dispatching Randolph's contract, which has turned into Thomas' most egregious move and could cost Glen Grunwald his general manager job after the draft on June 25.

Gallinari, a 6-foot-10 small forward, is considered a definite mid-lottery selection. He can run the floor and handle the ball and fit into D'Antoni's "Seven Seconds or Less" offense. Batum, a 6-8 shooting guard, is at best a late lottery pick.

The Knicks are seeded fifth in Tuesday's lottery with an 18.3 percent chance of jumping up to the 1 or 2 position, meaning they would have a shot to nab point guard star Derrick Rose. The Post reported Tuesday D'Antoni believes Rose can be the next Steve Nash.

If they can't get Rose, there isn't another pure point guard worthy of a top 8 selection and hence, Stephon Marbury likely would play out the final year of his contract. Walsh said he likely will not trade Marbury's $21 million pact because he doesn't want to get back any contracts past 2010, which shoots down the theory the Knicks would want Phoenix favorites Boris Diaw or Leandro Barbosa.

As for the lottery, Walsh said, "I'm not comfortable at all. I really want to win it. There's good talent, but 1 through 8, obviously 1 is going to be better than 8."

The Knicks can't fall worse than 8.

Walsh said D'Antoni will come to the lottery with him and sit on the dais.

"His wife told me he was lucky," Walsh said.