Orlando, Fla. ? For more than three weeks since news leaket that Knicks Owner James Dolan is considering a buyout of the remaining four years and $40 million of coach Larry Brown’s contract, team president Isiah Thomas, Brown and Dolan have been engaged in a high-stakes game of charades.

Management has been mum, but hasn’t denied the reports; Brown has played along, going to work, fulfilling his contract and acting as though he expects to continue coaching the Knicks this season, and Dolan just waved after a Manhattan appearance with his blues band last week.

The game moved south Tuesday to the Wide World of Sports complex at Disney World, where the NBA is holding its pre-draft camp, and despite more posturing, the charade acted out by Thomas produced the closest thing yet to a definitive answer about Brown’s future. It’s just what you’d expect.

Brown is as good as gone.

Without saying a single word, a gesture by Thomas and the look on his face confirmed it.

Thomas arrived at the site of the workout at about 6:15 p.m. Brown had been inside for about an hour, and the drills had just begun. After signing a couple of autographs, Thomas greeted reporters for the first time since he and former Kansas University coach Brown sat together for the media on April 20, the day after the Knicks’ 23-59 season ended, in the cafeteria at the team’s training center.

In answer to a general question about what was going on with Brown, Thomas simply said, “It’s the same as we’ve said before. We won’t comment on any of the reports that have kind of been out there. We’re just here to make sure that we do our work draft-wise and try to have another successful draft.”

As a public relations official tugged at Thomas to leave, the Knicks’ president was reminded that he said Brown would be back as coach next season and was asked if he still feels that way. Talk about one picture being worth 1,000 words. Thomas smiled and shrugged with hands outstretched and palms up in the classic “What can I say?” gesture. After a pause, he said: “See you guys later.”

It was a wordless death sentence for Brown. And Thomas will be seeing plenty of the beat writers in the future because he’s the expected replacement for Brown on the bench.

Until now, Brown is the only one who has talked to reporters, but only in brief roadside interviews conducted just off the Knicks’ property at their training facility.

But Tuesday, Brown was the one who low-keyed it, saying he just wanted to watch the draft prospects play and not discuss his job situation.

Asked if something should be done to clarify matters, Brown said, “I’m not saying.” Pressed as to whether he has the urge to ask Thomas for the truth, it was Brown’s turn to shrug. “No,” he said, “It’s not my place.”

After the workout ended, reporters approached Brown once more before he got into his car, but he turned them away politely. “Come on, guys,” Brown said. “It’s not the time. I feel bad I can’t talk to you. I apologize.”