NEW YORK - After the New York Knicks acquired Steve Francis, they played as if they were trying to justify the need for him.

The Knicks had 13 assists and 16 turnovers in their 103-83 loss to the Miami Heat on Wednesday night. So it shouldn’t take much for Francis to crack New York’s lineup.

“I looked at the stat sheet, we had five assists in the first half,” Knicks coach Larry Brown said. “So we’ll start playing guys that pass the ball and catch the ball.”

Francis can score on top of those things, which is why the Knicks think pairing him with Stephon Marbury in the backcourt will help turn around their dismal season.

New York acquired the three-time All-Star from the Orlando Magic on Wednesday for Penny Hardaway and Trevor Ariza. Though Marbury and Francis essentially play the same position, everyone seems confident it will work out.

“We both can complement each other,” Francis said. “Everybody has to pretty much feed off each other.”

New York hasn’t done nearly enough of that this season. The Knicks (15-38) have lost 17 of their last 19 games and are last in the Atlantic Division in their first season under Brown.

But with Francis being added to the core group of Marbury, Eddy Curry and Jalen Rose that Isiah Thomas has assembled, the Knicks think they are headed in the right direction.

“With all the talent we have on this team, it’s just a matter of getting it all together,” Francis said.

Francis was averaging 16.2 points to lead the Magic, but the star guard feuded with coach Brian Hill this season. By dealing him for Hardaway’s expiring contract, the Magic will get salary cap relief after this season and will be in even better position when Grant Hill’s deal expires next year.

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“We’ll miss Steve in a lot of ways,” Orlando assistant general manager Otis Smith said. “We’ll miss the passion he brought for the game, we’ll miss the energy he brought for the game, but I think we’ll be better off in the future.”

Both teams have been active before Thursday’s 3 p.m. EST trade deadline. Though the Knicks have been rumored to be involved in other trades, Thomas said the team could be done dealing unless the right offer comes along.

“I would say that right now we’re pretty satisfied with where we are,” Thomas said. “I don’t think we will be actively out shopping and trying to make a deal or anything like that.”

This is the second time this season the Knicks dealt an expiring contract for a high-priced veteran that will add to what is already the league’s highest payroll after this year. They acquired Rose from Toronto for Antonio Davis. Francis is making $13.7 million this season and is signed for three more.

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“I think they’ve turned the corner,” Heat coach Pat Riley said. “They’ve acquired a tremendous amount of talent.”

While the Knicks are trying to win now, Orlando is planning for the future. This was the second trade in a week for the Magic, who acquired Darko Milicic and Carlos Arroyo from the Detroit Pistons for a first-round selection and center Kelvin Cato last Wednesday.

“Everyone is looking at this like it is a frantic move,” Smith said. “It’s not a frantic move. It’s a calculated move to get better, and to get better in the future, and to get better in ’07. If you look at things in ’07, things look a lot better.”

Francis missed two games earlier this season when he was suspended by the Magic, reportedly for refusing to re-enter the fourth quarter of a blowout loss.

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“I felt for Steve through the whole thing,” Brian Hill said. “(The trade rumors) were affecting him, and we had several talks. I told him obviously you can only control what you can control, which is your attitude and your work ethic.

“I had no problems with Steve. I genuinely like the guy and I got along well with him.”

Hardaway began his career as a perennial All-Star in Orlando, but has faded because of knee injuries. Earning $15.8 million this season, he has been working out on his own in Houston and has played in just four games.

Hardaway has long been blamed for Hill’s firing in Orlando in 1997, and he won’t be playing for him again.

“We will have a conversation with Penny Hardaway, but Penny Hardaway will never put on an Orlando Magic uniform,” Smith said.

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Ariza, a second-year forward, clashed with Brown this season and his playing time was inconsistent. He averaged 4.6 points in 36 games.

“A new start is always good,” Ariza said. “But I’ll miss those guys. That was my first NBA experience. There’s always going to be some love there.”