ORLANDO, Fla. — The Knicks have emerged as prohibitive favorites for Joakim Noah and have set up a Friday afternoon meeting in New York with the free-agent Bulls center, according to an NBA source.

On Wednesday, Knicks president Phil Jackson left the sweaty gym after the Knicks’ first summer-league practice wearing a white straw hat, and now it’s time for the Zen Master to put on his recruiting hat — with Noah the big fish.

The period to begin wooing free agents begins at 12:01 a.m. Friday, but the Knicks will not do the midnight thing, at least not with Noah. The Knicks have glaring needs — a starting center, starting shooting guard and backup point guard — in the fallout of the risky Derrick Rose blockbuster. They have only five players under contract, and coach Jeff Hornacek said his message to brass is: “Phil and Steve, get us some good players.”

Hornacek said a defensive center is a higher priority than shooting guard, and that is why native New Yorker Noah is the apple of Jackson’s eye. The Post first reported Monday the mutual interest, and the Knicks have clearly emerged as his top choice.

With the Wizards having interest, the Washington Post reported Wednesday that Noah is expected to choose New York, with a starting salary that could be $18 million. Rose said last week he had already started recruiting his former Bulls teammate, saying he wants to play with him. It was previously reported Noah would not make his decision based on the highest bidder.

Ironically, Noah, whose father is France’s Davis Cup captain Yannick Noah, recruited Carmelo Anthony to Chicago two years ago, but the attempt failed. The Knicks like his leadership, defensive grit and passing ability. The concern is he has been injury-prone, suffering season-ending surgery in January.

“You got to play defense and I thought we were OK [last season], middle of the pack,” Hornacek said. “We’ll try to bump that up to top-10 defensively using the length of Kristaps [Porzingis] and add another big out there — two long guys who can cover a lot of ground.”

Depending on which of their own free agents they keep cap holds on, Jackson and general manager Steve Mills will have $30 million-plus in cap space. If the Knicks renounce the rights to Derrick Williams, which may be prudent if the bidding is too high, the Knicks would have nearly $35 million in cap space.

Still, salaries are skyrocketing, so $35 million doesn’t buy as much as it once did.

The pie-in-the-sky Kevin Durant scenario has been nothing but “a pipe dream,” as one source called it last week. The Knicks aren’t one of the six teams to have scheduled a meeting with Durant, who is meeting with teams in the Hamptons, and they have known their place for some time.

The Knicks have a solid list of shooting guards they like — it’s all about whom they want to afford. Hornacek said the bulk of money would be better appropriated toward center because 7-foot-3 Porzingis is pegged as power forward due to his weight and experience.

“They’re both pretty important,’’ Hornacek said of his team’s openings in the starting lineup. “Definitely we need an experienced big in there. The two-guard probably should be able to find someone. We have enough scorers. We need a guy at the two-spot who can help run the offense, get kick-out 3s.

“We don’t necessarily need a two-guard who can create a bunch of plays because we should have enough guys able to do that. So when you look at it that way, maybe the [center] may be a little bit more important of a position right now.”

It’s not a bad crop of big men, but sources have indicated center Dwight Howard wasn’t high on the Knicks’ list, considering the king’s ransom he will want, and the club feels Al Horford wants to play power forward.

If a Noah deal falls through, Toronto’s emerging shot-blocker Bismack Biyombo is on the list and has the same agent as Rose, who already has made a recruiting pitch to Noah. Biyombo lifted his stock in the playoffs. By adding a legit center, the loss of Robin Lopez — dealt away in the Rose deal — won’t be felt.

Atlanta’s Kent Bazemore is high on the Knicks’ list of shooting guards, but price may be an issue as he’s seeking at least $16 million to start. Veteran Courtney Lee, the ever-improving ex-Net, could come cheaper and is well-liked in the organization.

According to a source, the Knicks have interest in injury-prone Eric Gordon, too. Rose wouldn’t mind seeing Gordon get to New York. They played AAU ball together in Chicago and are friends.

Boston’s Evan Turner, Orlando’s Evan Fournier (restricted), Oklahoma City’s Dion Waiters (restricted) and the Clippers’ Jamal Crawford are also on the radar. Restricted free agent Bradley Beal of the Wizards appears unrealistic because the Wizards probably will match any offer.

If Dwyane Wade is really entertaining offers, Anthony’s 34-year-old buddy could be worth a one-year deal.

Last summer’s free agency was hardly a Jackson bonanza and now he has to fiddle with his own free agents. Jackson wants to re-sign Lance Thomas, Kevin Seraphin and Williams. Williams will be recruited by at least the Lakers and Suns, according to a source.

“Big guys and shooters, we’ll take those,” Hornacek said. “[Do we have enough cap space is] going to be the big question when all these salaries come out on guys. We have a pretty good amount. Hopefully we’ll get a player or two who will really help us.”

Three possible free agency targets

Joakim Noah, center

The Knicks are desperate for a gritty, defensive center to play alongside Kristaps Porzingis, and the Bulls’ free agent fits the bill and has been a longtime fan of Phil Jackson. His friendship with Derrick Rose and New York City upbringing makes the pieces fit, but his season-ending shoulder surgery in January provides some risk.

Eric Gordon, shooting guard

The 6-foot-4 sharpshooter is injury-prone but has strong ties to Rose from playing AAU ball in the Chicago area. However, Gordon has never played more than 64 games and logged 45 last season for the Pelicans. But he’s quite the marksman — which new coach Jeff Hornacek cherishes — and averaged 15.2 points per game last season. The Rose factor could be huge, too.

Courtney Lee, shooting guard

The well-traveled 6-foot-5 shooting guard is getting better with age, splitting time last season with Memphis and Charlotte while averaging 9.6 points on 45.6 percent shooting. The athletic 30-year-old does everything well — nothing exceptional — and knows the market. He played for the Nets in 2009-10 and the Knicks would be his sixth team. His price tag won’t be as enormous as some other free-agent shooting guards, such as coveted Kent Bazemore.