Knicks GM Scott Layden said he drafted 141/2 feet of center Thursday. But if 18-year-old 7-footer Majiec Lampe, who has a small forward's game, and 7-6 Slavko Vranes are not ready for the rotation, then the Knicks will not have accomplished their goal of getting "longer" in the frontcourt for next season.

If 6-8 Mike Sweetney becomes the opening-night starter at power forward, the Knicks still will be undersized at all three frontcourt positions, including at center, where 6-9 Kurt Thomas continues to masquerade as a pivot.

That is why the Knicks are hardly done with their retooling project. Free agency begins Tuesday and the Knicks will make another play for the Timberwolves' 7-foot center Rasho Nesterovic, who is now an unrestricted free agent. The Knicks also have interest in Alonzo Mourning and Pacers center Brad Miller, but Miller's market value will be higher than Nesterovic's and Mourning prefers to re-sign with Miami.

"They showed extreme interest last summer and I don't see that changing this summer," Nesterovic's agent, Bill Duffy, told The Post.

The Knicks courted Nesterovic, 27, last July but only had their $4.5 million exception to offer. Plus, Nesterovic was a restricted free agent and the Wolves likely would have matched any offer. Duffy believed Nesterovic was worth more than $4.5M and passed on the Knicks' long-term offer. Nesterovic elected to re-sign with Minnesota for one year, thus becoming unrestricted this Tuesday after having a nice year, averaging 11.2 points and 6.5 rebounds.