The Nets back-up needs start with center. Whether they wind up with Brook Lopez or Dwight Howard, they'll want insurance that if whoever they sign goes down, there will be someone else, preferably a veteran, on the bench ready to step in. They thought Mehmet Okur could be that player last season, but he got hurt and was traded.

Now Frank Isola, who covers the Knicks for the Daily News, reports the Nets are looking at Marcus Camby, tweeting "Camby considering Knicks, Heat, Rockets, Mavs and Spurs while Brooklyn is emerging as a "dark horse." Houston is open to a sign and trade." Ken Berger agrees, tweeting, "Also, there is another team entering the Camby mix: The Nets. Sources say Brooklyn GM Billy King is pursuing Camby 'pretty hard'."

It's unlikely that Camby, 38, would be willing to accept a vets minimum so the Nets would have to work an s&t to get him, using some of last year's players whose rights they haven't yet renounced.

Camby played in all but seven games last year for the Trail Blazers and Rockets, starting 53.He averaged 4.9 points, 9 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 23 minutes. Isola reports the Knicks are meeting with their former center Sunday in Houston. He didn't report when or where the Nets would meet with the 16-year pro.

• Sources -- New York Knicks ahead of Miami Heat in pursuit of Marcus Camby - Brian Windhorst - ESPN
• Camby postpones Heat visit; sign and trade discussed - Barry Jackson - Miami Herald