5 Olympians Playing Overseas Who Are Better Than the New York Knicks' 12th Man

Despite the wealth of online resources available for international scouting, it seems that a handful of talented foreign players remain lost in international obscurity while significantly less talented players get a shot in the NBA simply due to the convenience of their locality.

The Olympics are a prime opportunity for NBA teams to highlight any rough-dwelling diamonds they may have overlooked 

The New York Knicks proved their willingness to plumb the depths of the international basketball scene for talent by signing Argentinian point guard Pablo Prigioni.  The Knickerbockers should not shut the door on adding foreign players with significant NBA potential, as the following five international players would be an upgrade over their current pine riders. 

Marcelinho Huertas

Huertas posted an impressive 13-point, eight-assist effort against Great Britain on July 31st. The starting point guard for the Brazilian team is currently a key piece for Regal FC Barcelona. 

New York's point guard situation is far from reliable.  The departure of Jeremy Lin has left the Knicks with 39-year-old Jason Kidd and 35-year-old Pablo Prigioni (who has zero NBA experience), as the only options at the 1.

Although Huertas is 29, he'd still bring a comparatively youthful energy and depth to the point guard position.

Mickael Gelabele

If Gelabale's name sounds vaguely familiar to you, it's because he had a cup of coffee in the NBA with the Seattle SuperSonics. 

The athletic swingman saw his NBA career derailed by sparse playing time and an ACL tear.  Though he's had success in the French Pro A League, winning the 2009-10 championship and being named the playoffs MVP, nagging injuries have likely turned most NBA teams off.

Gelabale would be an intriguing option to stash at the end of the bench, while the team focuses on making sure he's 100 percent healthy and rehabilitating his athleticism to its maximum potential. Gelabale would also get to learn from one of the best scoring forwards in the NBA in Carmelo Anthony. 

Alexander Kaun

Kaun made everyone take notice with his impressive performance against China: 13 points, six boards and four blocks off the bench for the Russian team in a winning effort. 

Kaun currently plays for CSKA Moscow, which is owned by Mikhail Prokhorov, who also owns the Knicks' crosstown rivals, the Brooklyn Nets.

Kaun would add more of a scoring option at center, as current centers Tyson Chandler and Marcus Camby are primarily known for defense and rebounding. 

Felipe Reyes

Reyes showed an impressive nose for the ball in a win over Australia, grabbing 12 boards in just 17 minutes. 

The Real Madrid team captain brings a high level of energy and toughness to the floor that could behoove the Knicks' second unit. 

Reyes would be a short-term project similar to Prigioni due to his age, but could also immediately make an impact because of his professional playing experience. 

Makrem Ben Romdhane

The winner for "Funnest Name to Say" definitely goes to Ben Romdhane. 

The Tunisian 23-year old played with reckless abandon against the Team USA juggernaut and kept the game close in the first half.

Ben Romdhane put up a monster game, tallying 22 points on 9-of-18 shooting, 11 rebounds, four assists and a steal. 

The sample size is minuscule, but Ben Romdhane showed he has no trepidation going toe to toe with the best ballers in he world.  Why not do it in the NBA in place of a career benchwarmer who is just collecting a paycheck?