The Knicks feel the need, the need for Rasheed. So says Frank Isola of the Daily News.

According to Isola, Knicks GM Isiah Thomas is licking his lips at the rumblings that Detroit may be considering breaking up their team after being eliminated in the Eastern Conference finals for the second straight year as the East’s No. 1 seed. The Pistons lost center Ben Wallace to free agency last offseason, and could face the same scenario with free agent point guard Chauncey Billups this summer. Even if Billups decides to re-sign in Detroit, GM Joe Dumars may still look to shake-up his roster, and it would surprise no one if that shake-up began with volatile power forward Rasheed Wallace.

Isiah has twice previously tried to acquire Rasheed for the Knicks – once when Portland ended up sending him for a cup of coffee in Atlanta, and again when Atlanta swung him to Detroit. While Isola reports that Zeke’s top targets this offseason remain superstars Jermaine O’Neal, Kevin Garnett, and Pau Gasol, Rasheed would be a nice consolation prize and far easier to attain.

One factor playing against the acquisition could be Knicks owner James Dolan’s policy on controversial players. In the past, Dolan felt that players such as Marcus Camby and particularly Latrell Sprewell reflected poorly on the organization. As Isola puts it, the owner “swore off bringing in players he felt would embarrass the franchise.”

Ironic.