New York Knicks Reportedly Mulling a Run at Free-Agent Big Man Ike Diogu

Even after the NBA trade deadline, the New York Knicks never stop looking at players they don't have.

According to the New York Post's Marc Berman, the Knicks are "mulling" whether to use one of their open roster spots on D-League big man Ike Diogu, who was with the team through training camp before being released.

With Kenyon Martin battling ankle issues, the 6'8" Diogu would provide some necessary frontcourt depth. He's averaging 16.2 points and 8.2 rebounds in the D-League and is valued for his defense more than lottery washout Cole Aldrich.

Following their decision to negotiate buyouts with the disgruntled Beno Udrih and too-outspoken-for-New-York Metta World Peace—which the New York Daily News' Frank Isola said Sunday are almost official—the Knicks have two available roster spots.

In addition to looking at Diogu, Berman also says they're known to be considering other options:

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The Knicks could decide to sign a younger D-League player to develop for the future, but a veteran of intrigue is Danny Granger, should he be waived by the 76ers.

The Knicks also will have interest in proven veterans who were recently bought out, including Earl Clark, Ben Gordon and Antawn Jamison.

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Exactly zero of those players are valued for their defense, which is where the Knicks–who rank 26th in defensive efficiency—have struggled most this season.

Granger is intriguing if only because of his previous All-Star status and ability to play small forward alongside Carmelo Anthony.

With unrestricted free agency looming, however, the former Indiana Pacers leading scorer may be better off signing with a team prepared to feature him more on offense if he's waived by the Philadelphia 76ers, in an effort to drum up his market value.

Gordon and Jamison wouldn't do much for the Knicks. The former is essentially an older and undersized version of J.R. Smith, and the latter has struggled transitioning into a role that doesn't guarantee him extended playing time.

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Any addition the Knicks ultimately make will be noteworthy because, well, they're the Knicks. But no one they land this late in the season will be a game changer.

The Knicks find themselves 5.5 games outside the Eastern Conference playoff picture 56 contests into the season. Their postseason hopes are fading fast, and turning things around will take more than the acquisition of Diogu or a long shot like Granger.

"We’re going a different direction, and we’ve got to figure out another spot or two for our ball club," Knicks coach Mike Woodson said of the open roster spots, per ESPN New York's Matt Winkeljohn. 

New York has been going in different directions all year, and the results have been disastrous. The last thing the Knicks need is another direction. Signing more players won't help, either.

What they need is a miracle.

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