Marc Berman of the New York post reports that ?Superagent?, David Falk would have liked to see the Knicks trade for Dikembe Mutombo. While he admits that Mutombo will be a good fir in New Jersey, Falk is baffled that Knicks GM Scott Layden didn't pull the trigger to obtain the center he's pursued since he traded Patrick Ewing two years ago.

The Post reported Wednesday the Knicks and Sixers engaged in trade talks about Mutombo, but Philly wasn't interested in Latrell Sprewell or Allan Houston, wanting a center in return. A league source confirmed yesterday's published report that the Sixers and Knicks had been close to a deal that collapsed because Layden wouldn't part with Kurt Thomas.

Last Friday, the source said, a trade was proposed in which the Knicks gained Mutombo and gave up Thomas, Charlie Ward and Travis Knight. On Monday, Layden called the Sixers, backing out of the deal. That's when the Sixers called the Nets. Sixers GM Billy King, asked about the crashed deal, said "I'm not going down that road."

Layden wouldn't comment either, but the club disputed the contention that a serious offer had been on the table. Evidently, Layden was leery of Mutombo's age and the fact that, in two years, the Knicks could have been saddled with four players - Sprewell, Houston, McDyess and Mutombo - signed to maximum contracts, further reducing his flexibility.

"It would've been interesting if Dikembe went back to New York now that they have McDyess because they played together in Denver," Falk said. "It would've been a helluva frontline. I guess there was a deal on the table - for whatever reason it wasn't consummated. I know Scott loves Dikembe."