Lottery finally missing Knicks

Knicks president Leon Rose appeared on the Zoom lottery dais last year and made sure he didn’t have to come back for an encore.

Patrick Ewing got the nod on the actual lottery set prepandemic in 2019. Walt Frazier has been a dais goodluck charm, as has Allan Houston. Former Knicks president Steve Mills and current GM Scott Perry each popped on once.

Tuesday the 14-team lottery will be held again virtually at 8:30 p.m. — without the Knicks for the first time since 2014.

Nobody expected the Knicks to be absent, figured they’d be crossing their fingers again for a top-shelf 2021 draft on July 29 known for its Big 5 — versatile Cade Cunningham (Oklahoma State), point guard Jalen Suggs (Gonzaga), wing Jonathan Kuminga (G-League Elite), wing Jalen Green (G-League Elite) and big man Evan Mobley (USC).

“Minus an injury or uncovering a major character flaw, I’d be very surprised if the top five isn’t locked in,’’

ESPN’s draft analyst Fran Fraschilla told The Post. “The order may change but that’s it.’’

“Fade for Cade”? Hardly. Rose hired a coach who cares about winning now in Tom Thibodeau and the Knicks zoomed to a 41-31 record, fourth place in the Eastern Conference. Yes, they lost to the Hawks in five games but look at Atlanta now, gearing up for Wednesday’s Eastern Conference finals versus Milwaukee.

Tuesday, it’s Houston, Detroit and Orlando heading the lottery field. Those three rebuilding clubs each have a 14 percent chance of winning the lottery and likely the rights to Cunningham, the 6-foot-8 combo guard who can play four positions. However, only the Rockets (17-55) are assured of a top-five pick under the new lottery math.

The Pistons and Magic, despite all their losing this season, could drop to No. 6 and not be in position for a top-5 gem, but small forward Scott Barnes (Florida State), Baylor point guard Davion Mitchell and guard Keon Johnson (Tennessee) aren’t too shabby either.