Knicks free agency targets: Kurt Thomas, Kwame Brown, Tony Battie, Theo Ratliff, Aaron Gray

The lockout began July 1 and ended at 3:30 a.m. yesterday with the Knicks having the same grave need for a big, defensive center. With one-year deals at their disposal, it makes their center wish list — as first reported by The Post — rather modest, including veterans Kurt Thomas, Kwame Brown, Tony Battie, Theo Ratliff and Aaron Gray.

The center position currently is manned by French Leaguer Ronny Turiaf, Jerome Jordan, their 2010 second-rounder playing in Slovenia, and 2011 second-rounder, Josh Harrellson.