When the 14-20 Knicks step onto the Garden floor tonight (Thursday) to host the Charlotte Bobcats, they will do so hovering around eighth place in the overall Eastern Conference standings.It is still early January and the Knicks have 48 games remaining of their 82 game schedule. Yet they have persevered through a near incurable 1-9 start to emerge as an ensemble with post-season potential. In what is an apparent contradiction, the Knicks’ sudden rise creates a possible dilemma for franchise president Donnie Walsh and head coach Mike D’Antoni.Do they sacrifice a credible opportunity to remain in playoff contention for the remainder of the season to further enhance their position to procure elite free agents this summer? The NBA trade deadline is exactly six weeks from today (February 18) and it will be compelling to scrutinize the Knicks’ line of reasoning as their decision makers wrestle with how they can create more cap space while staying competitive.Will the reengaged fan base bail out on the Knicks for the remainder of this campaign if they once again become a losing outfit resulting from trading Jared Jeffries — whose production and unsung leadership has been instrumental to the team’s turnaround — for a far less productive player who possesses an expiring contract?Jeffries has one year left on his contract after this season at $6.88 million and would be a significant veteran acquisition for a team such as the San Antonio Spurs seeking to strengthen their championship prospects.Despite D’Antoni embracing the franchise’s mission statement of making the summer of 2010 a priority, a mix of super ego and pride obliges him to want to win now. That is why the coach relegates Eddy Curry to the bench instead of showcasing him solely to bolster what little trade value the enigmatic center has. If Walsh can somehow shed Jeffries, Curry or anyone else that can augment the Knicks’ pursuit of LeBron James and others in the stellar summer free agent crop, than he will at lightening speed. That has been the plan from Day 1 and the feel good moments the Knicks are currently experiencing will be little more than a fleeting consideration.