The Nets are reportedly interested in Renaldo Balkman, who was waived by the Knicks last week.

Balkman, a 6-foot-8 forward whose main focus is at the defensive end, could provide energy off the bench. New Jersey has been outscored on the season at the starting small forward position, 500-188, or 15.6-5.9 per game.

“It’s not easy. You look at the small forward position in our league, they just don’t get enough attention,” coach Avery Johnson said. “While everybody glorifies over the center position and having these dynamic point guards, you look at it whether it’s Miami with [LeBron] James or [the Bulls’ Luol] Deng here or [the Mavericks’] Shawn Marion. All of the teams that really doing well and making deep playoff runs, you really have to have length and size and athleticism at that position."