Barron center of Knicks' attention

The Knicks are desperate to get a center by today's 3 p.m. trade deadline after losing Russian rookie starting pivot Timofey Mozgov in the Carmelo Anthony deal.

And as reported by The Post last week, the signing of free agent center Earl Barron is the likeliest scenario, though a club official said, "It's not a sure thing."

If the Knicks can't make a trade by today, they probably will sign Barron, who averaged a double-double in the Knicks' final seven games last season. Barron is eager to return to the club after effectively handling coach Mike D'Antoni's pick-and-roll offense last season.

Nevertheless, Barron, beyond a short stint with Phoenix, has missed the entire season and D'Antoni is pushing Walsh to see if they can obtain 6-foot-10 defensive specialist Jared Jeffries, a good shot blocker and defender who is expected to be traded by the Rockets today and then get waived. Jeffries will have a few options, though.

The Knicks are not in the mix to trade for Jeffries. If they signed Barron, the Knicks would have to cut a player -- likely Renaldo Balkman, an Isiah Thomas draft pick and Denver pickup in the Anthony deal. It would be the second time Walsh dispatched the former South Carolina product.

The Knicks also have inquired about on-the-block Marcus Camby, a longtime target of team president Donnie Walsh, but they don't have the pieces to trade for him. The Knicks are hoping he gets waived.

D'Antoni, speaking of the loss of the Russian rookie, cited their 2010 second-round pick, 7-footer Jerome Jordan, who is playing in Turkey and will be in training camp next October.

"We developed Mozgov," D'Antoni said. "Now we have to develop another one."