NBA deal could help Knicks land Paul

The Knicks’ 2011 free-agency will set the stage for 2012, with their strategy offering one-year contracts to protect 2012 cap space, armed with a $5 million mid-level exception.

As The Post reported earlier this month, the salary cap will be $58 million this season, with a chance to grow to $61 million in 2012. Early in the process, the owners sought a $45 million cap.

The only three Knicks players that will be signed for 2012 are Anthony, Stoudemire and rookie Iman Shumpert, which could leave the Knicks $20 million under the cap. That alone won’t give the Knicks maximum cap space to sign Paul, because they have to fit in a number of minimum-level players, but if the Knicks can get creative they may find enough to lure Paul, especially considering his desire to play here.

One helper in surrounding Paul with a better cast is a new $2.5 million exception given to under-the-cap teams to exceed the cap. For example, if they close to within $500,000 of the cap, they suddenly would have $2.5 million to spend without penalty.

Two parts of the new CBA, however, probably hurt the Knicks’ bid for Paul, including the continuance of the extend-and-trade. In a prior proposal, all extend-and-trade deals were abolished, meaning New Orleans would have only been allowed to deal Paul as a rental and he’d be assured of becoming a free agent.

The Knicks, short on trade pawns after the Anthony deal, would be in competition if there’s a Paul Sweepstakes this season. Also, taxpaying teams still will be allowed to do sign-and-trades next summer, giving them competition.

A CBA element good for the Knicks is the amnesty clause in which one player is designated to be waived and won’t count on the salary cap. The Knicks are expected to use Renaldo Balkman, as his contract extends into 2012, and that will open $1.7 million in space.

The lockout only increased Paul’s interest in New York. Paul, a member of the union’s executive committee, hung out frequently with Anthony in New York and in Manhattan board rooms with Knicks owner James Dolan. Dolan came across as the owner most willing to compromise.

Paul and Anthony were part of the group that was to stage a charity game at the Izod Center Dec. 10, but that will be postponed because Knicks camp opens the day before in Westchester.