"Hornets All-Star point guard Chris Paul may be using his clout to get traded to the Big Apple, but maybe Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni and the franchise's front office should consider a championship-caliber player who actually is a free agent.

"I still haven't signed with nobody," J.J. Barea, who helped the Dallas Mavericks torch the Miami Heat for their first NBA title in June, told the Daily News Friday. "That's still got me a little. … I just want to know where I'm going to be. That's still my first option (signing with Dallas). I know other teams are interested. I just want to know where I'm going to be, but it's a business."

With that notion in mind, how would Barea feel about running the point with Amar'e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony?

"I always said the Knicks would be a great second option. I love the city. I love the way they're playing now, their style of play with D'Antoni, the players over there," said Barea, who was in Punta Cana to support slugger David Ortiz's annual charity golf tournament. "We'll see. I know Carmelo more than Amar'e. I think after (D'Antoni became coach), I said, 'That would be a great fit for me.'""