Marc Berman of the New York Post reports: On the first day of free agency, the Knicks were finalizing their summer league roster.
Not exactly big news but the Knicks have made plenty the past week. GM Scott Layden and assistant Jeff Nix will begin making calls today to prospective free agents, and one shot-blocking center in which Layden has interest is the Sonics young brute, 7-1, 272-pound Jerome James - the successor to Patrick Ewing in Seattle.

Toronto's 6-11 restricted free agent Keon Clark is higher on Layden's wish list but he may have too much competition. Six teams contacted Clark's agent yesterday. The Raptors may not match an offer because they fear going over the luxury-tax threshold.

The Knicks are targeting athletic big men and point guards during free agency. Following the Antonio McDyess deal, the Knicks preferably want to sign a big man with their $4.7 million mid-level exception and trade for a standout point guard such as Baron Davis or Andre Miller. However, the list of free agent point guards who can be had for the mid-level or less is stronger than the weak class of big men.

The Knicks will begin bringing in free agents next week. Centers Rasho Nesterovic, Michael Doleac and Jarron Collins and rebounding power forward Popeye Jones and Rodney Rogers also are targets. Doleac could be the easiest to sign because the Cavs didn't make him a qualifying offer yesterday, leaving him an unrestricted free agent.

Clippers center Michael Olowokandi will be looking for close to the maximum and the Knicks will try to get him in a sign-and-trade.

As far as the point guard class, Rod Strickland and embattled Troy Hudson, both of whom the Knicks pursued last summer, are available again. So are Jeff McInnis and Chauncey Billups but the priority is to use their exception on a big man.

In other Knicks news: Layden is considering making yet another summer invite to former first-rounder, the French phantom Frederic Weis, who turned them down the past two years because he wanted a guaranteed contract. The Knicks also may bring back second-rounders Eric Chenowith and Michael Wright.