NEW YORK — Isaiah Thomas and others mentioned how the Celtics have missed Evan Turner in the rotation this season, and the words are a bit bittersweet for the now former Celtic.

“It’s awfully cool,” said Turner, who left to sign a big four-year, free-agent deal with the Trail Blazers last summer. “I don’t wish negative upon them or make them think they (need him), but you go through certain situations where I don’t take any of that stuff for granted.

“That stuff means a lot,” he said before taking on the Knicks at Madison Square Garden Tuesday. “I respect the team a lot and the organization a lot, so to be respected and have those kind words said is definitely a blessing and the biggest compliment, to tell you the truth.”

Looking at the Celts’ road wins over the Pistons and Timberwolves, Turner, who still communicates regularly with his old mates, said, “I’m happy for them. I think everybody’s healthy. Those are my boys, so I wish them nothing but the best.”

Turner has had his struggles fitting in with Portland, which has yet to really employ him in the ballhandling role that made him successful with the C’s. Though he knew he’d have to leave to get a better contract, it was still a bit difficult to leave what he had working with Brad Stevens and the Celts.

“It was definitely tough, especially trying to get comfortable,” he said. “I was most definitely comfortable there. There were certain situations where there were coaches that didn’t really sort of comprehend my game, and sometimes I wasn’t always in position to be comfortable or successful.

“So when you finally find that mixture of great basketball and off the court and things like that, you definitely don’t take it for granted.”

Turning to the subject of his free-agent deal, Turner was asked whether the key word was “seventy” or “million.”

He laughed and said, “I was more so just excited about the Trail Blazers and how they ended off (last season), and obviously the money was great, as well. So it was a great mixture of both. I got it done early, the very first morning. It was cool. It’s fun. It’s exciting.

“I went through the process once, and it wasn’t really as fun or as lucrative.”

Turner had signed with the Celtics on a two-year deal for $6.7 million.