Jeff Van Gundy wishes the Timberwolves were in the East. That way he wouldn't have to contend with a revamped Minnesota squad that landed Latrell Sprewell last night for peanuts (backup center Marc Jackson and Terrell Brandon's contract).

"I think they should be in the East," said Van Gundy, who now rules the Rockets. "They have a nice team. To get those two guys, Sam Cassell and Sprewell and not give up a core player, that's very good."

Van Gundy saluted Sprewell's five-year Knick stint last night after the Knicks officially sent him packing to the Twin Cities in exchange for Keith Van Horn in a four-team blockbuster.

"He had a great run in New York," Van Gundy told The Post last night. "The thing I most admired, a lot of people get second chances and do nothing with it. He made the most of it."

Van Gundy used to call the Knicks' having two shooting guards in their starting five as "a structural flaw."

"The thing I thought Latrell did best was when he played for us he did what it took to win, whether that meant playing out of position, passing the ball to others," Van Gundy said.