CHRIS PAUL WANTS TO BE TRADED TO THE KNICKS!

According to an internet report Thursday, guard Chris Paul - who can become a free-agent after this season - has asked the New Orleans Hornet to trade him to the Knicks.

Yahoo! Sports reported on Thursday that Leon Rose, the agent for Paul, requested a trade to New York. The likelihood of a deal happening, especially before the start of the season on Dec. 25, is remote since the Knicks don't have the assets to trade for Paul unless they were to move either Amar'e Stoudemire or Carmelo Anthony.

Hornets general manager Dell Demps, a former Knicks scout, wants to meet with Paul to gauge whether he wants to be traded, Yahoo! Sports said.

Anthony, when asked about the report Thursday following, said he is not “recruiting” Paul to the Knicks.

“I'm not involved in that process," Anthony said on Thursday after a two-hour workout at the Knicks practice facility. "No way, that's a subject I don't want to touch or want to deal with. As far as recruiting Chris Paul … no."

On Tuesday, Paul and Anthony joined LeBron James and Dwyane Wade for a charity event in Brooklyn. Paul refused to discuss his future, saying only that his heart was in New Orleans. When Paul was asked a question about playing for the Knicks, Anthony began to chuckle.

Paul can become a free agent on July 1 and the Knicks could have enough salary cap space to sign him although Paul would be leaving more money on the table in New Orleans. There have been reports the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Clippers are also trying to trade for Paul.

"The one thing I told him was to make the best decision for you and your family," said Anthony, who forced his way out of Denver prior to the February trading deadline.

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