What should the Knicks look at this off-season?

The Knicks are coming off a season where they went 32-50, taking a small step forward from the previous year. Although they are trending upward, some wonder what GM Phil Jackson's off-season direction will be. The hardest decision of them all will be the handling of star player Carmelo Anthony, who has insisted that he would like to stay in NY. The question is, does it make sense for the Knicks to finally part ways with the 31 year old small forward?

Before we dive into potential targets for the team, let's take a quick glance at notable transactions by Phil Jackson ever since he took over the reigns in 2014. 

Notable Transactions/Roster Moves under Phil Jackson

June 25, 2014: Acquired PG Jose Calderon, PG Shane Larkin, SG Wayne Ellington, C Samuel Dalembert, and two second round draft picks (Cleanthony Early and Thanasis Antetokounmpo) from Dallas in exchange for C Tyson Chandler and PG Raymond Felton. 

July 13, 2014: Agreed to terms with SF Carmelo Anthony on a five year deal. 

January 5, 2015: Acquired SF/PF Lance Thomas from Oklahoma City, C Lou Amundson, C Alex Kirk, 2019 2nd round pick from Cleveland, in exchange for SG Iman Shumpert and SF J.R. Smith.  

January 7, 2015: Signed PG/SG Langston Galloway to 10-day contract. 

February 16, 2015: Waived  PF/C Amar'e Stoudemire.

February 19, 2015: Acquired SG Alexey Shved and 2nd round picks in 2017 and 2019 in exchange for PG Pablo Prigioni. 

July 9, 2015: Signed C Robin Lopez to four year contract, SG Arron Afflalo and SF Derrick Williams to two year contracts. Acquired PF/C Kyle O'Quinn from Orlando in exchange for the right to exchange 2019 2nd round picks and cash considerations. 

July 11, 2015: Re-signed SF/PF Lance Thomas. 

July 31, 2015: Signed 1st round picks Kristaps Porzingis and Jerian Grant. 

February 6, 2016: Fired coach Derek Fisher. 

March 16, 2016: Signed PG Tony Wroten to three year deal. 

A trend that I have noticed is that Phil has not been afraid to sell off mid-lower tiered assets for 2nd round picks, as he has begun to stock up on those. Unfortunately, the team does not have many trading chips at this moment in time, as the only one I can think of that would fit the bill would be Kyle O'Quinn. The Knicks could likely get a 2nd rounder for O'Quinn, who averaged 4.8 PPG and 3.8 REB off the bench this past season.

Now let's take a look at the current financial details for the Knicks this summer.

Guaranteed Contracts: Carmelo Anthony, Jose Calderon, Jerian Grant, Robin Lopez, Kyle O'Quinn, Tony Wroten, Kristaps Porzingis. 

Potential Free Agents: Arron Afflalo (Player Option), Lou Amundson (Unrestricted), Cleanthony Early (Restricted), Langston Galloway (Restricted), Kevin Seraphin (Unrestricted), Lance Thomas (Unrestricted), Sasha Vujacic (Unrestricted), Derrick Williams (Player Option). 

1st Round Draft Picks: None

Max. Cap Space: Approximately $30 million.

Min. Cap Space: Approximately $28 million. 

Team Needs

Point Guard

The Knicks do not have an experienced playmaker on their roster, and seem unwilling to give former 1st rounder Jerian Grant the starting gig, so they will likely be in the market for someone who can properly control the offense. 

Options: Mike Conley, Rajon Rondo (Unlikely), Brandon Jennings, Norris Cole. 

Shooting Guard

With Arron Afflalo likely leaving in free agency, the Knicks will look to upgrade a position that has been filled by several in the past couple seasons. This area will probably be where the Knicks splurge their money, as there are a decent amount of available players. 

Options: Courtney Lee, Kent Bazemore, Evan Fournier, Gerald Green, Jamal Crawford, Allen Crabbe. 

It is expected that we will see several low-risk signings by Jackson and Co. this off-season in hopes that someone sticks. The Knicks do have the assets to bring in a mid-tiered free agent or two, but they first must decide on the direction of the franchise. That all lies on whether or not Carmelo Anthony will return, and because of his no-trade clause, it seems likely that we see him in New York again next season. 

I think Knicks fans are realistic with this team moving forward. They seem to understand that it is a process, but what Jackson needs to do is come right out and give fans a definitive answer on the Anthony debacle. Once he does that, he can divert his attention to either buying into the draft next month, or scouting potentially available players in this year's off-season. 

Islanders eliminated by Lightning in 5 games, face tough off-season decisions

The Islanders magical season ended abruptly with a 4-0 loss against TB 

The Islanders' season was cut short on Sunday after losing to the Tampa Bay Lightning by a score of 4-0. The series came a conclusion with Tampa Bay winning 4 games to 1. New York finishes a season where it made an awkward, yet successful, move to Brooklyn, and winning their first playoff series since 1993. 

There is no shame to losing to last year's Stanley Cup finalist, so the team should hang their heads high after all they have done this season. However, they know that changes are due in order to make that extra push forward to become a top seeded team. Here is how the entire series played out: 

Game 1: Islanders W vs. Lightning 5-3

Game 2: Islanders L vs. Lightning 1-4

Game 3: Islanders L vs. Lightning 5-4

Game 4: Islanders L vs. Lightning 2-1

Game 5: Islanders L vs. Lightning 4-0

As for the foreseeable future, the organization will be changing it's ownership. The group led by Jonathan Ledecky and Scott Malkin will take full control of operations in July, leaving former owner Charles Wang in a minority status. The team is in an awkward relationship right now with GM Garth Snow, whose contract is set to expire in the summer, but it is expected that he will oversee the upcoming draft. In addition to that, he will handle defenseman Travis Hamonic, who had requested to be traded to a team that is closer to his home in Western Canada. 

Okposo has been with NY since 2006, but may find a new home next year

Snow will also address three key upcoming free agents, with the first being Kyle Okposo. The 28 year old has been a constant on the Islanders first line and productive along the way. However, he did not provide much during the playoffs, scoring just two goals in 11 games. This may make it difficult for Okposo to get his asking price, which is reportedly $6 million per season, more than double of his recent $2.8 million salary. 

The next is Frans Nielsen, who has been regarded as one of the top defensive forwards in the league. Although he is now 32 years old, there is still some value here. In fact, many expect him to receive a salary increase next year. Nielsen had been with the Islanders since 2002, notching 119 goals in 606 games during the process. 

The final key free agent is Matt Martin, who led the league in hits for the fifth consecutive season, and has been an important part of what many consider the best fourth line in the league. The consensus on Martin is that it would be foolish to overspend for him, however, so perhaps Snow lets him walk to a team that is willing to negotiate his terms.  

New York is expected to re-sign forwards Casey Cizikas, Shane Prince, Ryan Strome, and Alan Quine, along with goalie J-F Berube and defenseman Scott Mayfield. 

With Hamonic, who was mentioned earlier, he requested a trade earlier in the season, but coach Jack Capuano said that there is a possibility that he returns to the Islanders next year. Snow has held a firm asking price for the 25 year old defenseman, but it is possible the team eventually settles on a forward that can complement Tavares. 

As for the lower levels, there is some youth that is on the way. Unfortunately, Ryan Strome had an inconsistent year, but showed glimpses of talent. Some say that his ceiling is a top six forward in the league, but he may be at least a few more years away from fulfilling that potential. Former first rounders Matthew Barzal, Anthony Beauviller, and Michael Dal Colle had productive junior seasons and will ideally battle for roster spots next year. 

The roster and organization remain a work in progress, but this past season was a huge step in the right direction. Garth Snow now has many difficult decisions to make, as he will likely have to part ways with a few fan favorites in order to ensure the team's long-term success. 

Grading the Giants draft picks, Rounds 2-7

The Giants walked out of the draft with mixed results, as reports indicated that they initially looked at OT Jack Conklin out of Michigan State, but he was snagged by the Titans right before the Giants had a chance to select him. The team took CB Eli Apple with the 10th overall pick, as stated in a previous article. Here we will look at the other players that New York selected in the 2016 NFL Draft.

New York Giants

Round 2: Pick No. 40: Sterling Shepard, WR, Oklahoma, Highlights

Shepard had a total of 137 catches for 2,258 yards and 16 touchdowns over the final two seasons of his collegiate career. Giants scouting director Marc Ross said that he was a guy who made an impression on him for years. Although he is listed at 5'10" 194 pounds, an undersized height and weight for the position, many believe that this will not hold Shepard back in his NFL career. 

Shepard will likely make an immediate impact for the Giants as they are looking for a wide receiver to complement star Odell Beckham Jr., and fill the void that was left by oft-injured player Victor Cruz. In fact, fans may stack up Shepard against Cruz's former self, hoping that he gives Eli Manning yet another weapon to work with. GM Jerry Reese described Shepard as a slot receiver, but coach Ben McAdoo said he could move around to different positions. 

He is one to keep an eye on next season. 

Round 3: Pick No. 71: Darius Thompson, S, Boise State, Highlights

Last season, Steve Spagnuolo's defense lacked a true free safety and someone who was capable of making play calls in the back end of the defense. Many expect Thompson to step in right away and fill this void. Recently, Thompson broke Eric Weddle's Mountain West Conference record for career interceptions with 19. 

"I have a knack for finding the football," he said. "I feel like an interception is just as good as a touchdown, so that's what I'm going after."

Coach McAdoo said that Thompson's "instincts and twitch" are the qualities that allow him to locate the ball so effectively.

Round 4: Pick No. 109: B.J. Goodson, ILB, Clemson, Highlights

The Giants always pay close attention to the NFL Scouting Combine, and this year, Goodson lead all linebackers with 30 bench press reps. Before the draft, they had him in for a visit, and liked the fact that he was a middle linebacker and the team captain that made it to the College Football Playoff National Championship.

Some say that he is, at best, a two-down linebacker at the NFL level that can help right away on special teams. Last year, the Giants ranked 24th against the run, so the Goodson pick will definitely look to right that number. Last year, he had 108 tackles for Clemson, along with 5.5 sacks, 2 INTs, and 14 tackles for loss. 

Round 5: Pick No. 149: Paul Perkins, RB, UCLA, Highlights

The Giants now have six running backs on their roster, but Perkins is believed to be a nice pickup because he offers above-average quickness and has the ability to break defenders' ankles, forcing missed tackles. Like any other late-round pick, he will have to force his way up the depth chart, but there is a legitimate chance that we see him before long.

His competition is Rashad Jennings, Andre Williams, Bobby Rainey, and Orleans Darkwa, so its feasible that, with a strong preseason, we see him in some kind of a regular role next season. Below is a chart that highlights his statistics from UCLA. 

Paul Perkins	Rush	Yards	YPC	TD
2014	251	1575	6.3	9
2015	237	1343	5.7	14
TOTAL	488	2918	6.0	23

Round 6: Pick No. 184: Jerell Adams, TE, South Carolina, Highlights

Like Goodson from before, Adams had a very impressive combine performance. He had a 4.64 time in the 40 yard dash, which ranked as the best among all tight tends for the upcoming draft class. He proved to be a reliable pass-catcher for South Carolina. The Giants view him as athletic player who can improve his game at the NFL level. 

GM Jerry Reese said that Adams is currently a better blocker than receiver. He will likely begin on special teams and slowly earn playing time, but the Giants did lack a solid blocking tight end last year (after the loss of Daniel Fells due to illness), so its reasonable for the organization to make room for Adams if he looks good.

In case you missed it, check out my article detailing the Jets draft picks in rounds 2-7. 

Grading the Jets draft picks: Rounds 2-7

In the previous article, we discussed both Darron Lee and Eli Apple, who were taken in the first round of the NFL Draft by the Jets and Giants, respectively. Here, we will take a look at the remaining players that both organizations selected in the draft, and attempt to see where they will fit in with their team's next season. 

New York Jets

Round 2: Pick No. 51: Christian Hackenberg, QB, Penn State, Highlights

With the Hackenberg pick, the Jets now have three quarterbacks on the roster but none of them are starter-worthy. Ryan Fitzpatrick is still in free agency, and playing hard to get, so the Jets felt it was necessary to grab a quarterback as insurance if he doesn't come back. The only issue here is: they may have taken the wrong one. 

The main issue with Hackenberg is the idea that the Jets used a 2nd round pick to take him. Typically you don't draft someone that high only to have them ride the bench the following year. Hackenberg, who was loved by GM Mike Maccagnan, looks like he could handle the hard-hitting NFL plays, as he currently sits at 6'4" 223 pounds. He was a mediocre quarterback in his last two seasons at Penn State. Some blame this on the new coaching system, and others on the supporting cast. As a freshman, he had 20 touchdown passes with 10 interceptions, and scouts projected him as a future top-10 pick. The Jets are hoping to get that version of Hackenberg, and not the one who was a mess at the scouting combine.

"There's a lot of upside and potential. We vetted him thoroughly "  said Maccagnan.

The Jets are placing a lot of faith in offensive quarterback Chan Gailey.

Round 3: Pick No. 83: Jordan Jenkins, OLB, Georgia, Highlights

Jenkins (and Darron Lee) gives head coach Todd Bowles two new weapons to play with on defense. The outside linebacker currently sits at 6'3" 259 pounds, but wasn't a standout pass rusher at Georgia. In four seasons, he had 19 sacks, 40 tackles for loss, and six forced fumbles. He doesn't project to be an explosive player, rather one that can defend the run and handle the tight end at times. This has led to comparisons to Calvin Pace, which the Jets would gladly take. 

The Jets linebacking corps will look very different next season. Pace and Demario Davis are gone, David Harris will return to the middle, Erin Henderson will replace Davis, and Lorenzo Mauldin will become the starter on the outside. The speed will be improved with the addition of the younger players, but there will certainly be a learning curve. 

Round 4: Pick No. 118: Juston Burris, CB, North Carolina State, Highlights

Some expected the Jets to take a cornerback earlier in the draft, as they passed up on some good ones in the first few rounds. With Burris, New York is adding a young corner to their pipeline, which is something they greatly needed. Darrelle Revis is turning 31 soon, Antonio Cromartie is out of town, and former 1st round pick Dee Milliner will likely be a non-factor next year. 

Burris played a man-to-man scheme at North Carolina State, so some expect that he will have an easy transition to the Jets' man-heavy defense.

When speaking of Burris, Todd Bowles said "He's big. He's got long arms and he's very good at the line of scrimmage. He's got great eyes and ball skills."

Burris is listed at 6 foot, 212 pounds, which is an ideal size for the cornerback position. He only had three interceptions in the past three seasons, but was only targeted 44 times last year. His completion percentage was just 34 percent, which stands at an above average level. Bowles said that Burris has the ability to play the slot, but will likely start off on the outside. 

Round 5: Pick No. 158: Brandon Shell, OT, South Carolina, Highlights

The Jets traded up to acquire Shell, so they must have quite a bit of faith in his talents. In fact, they gave up more for Shell (4th round pick in 2017) than they did last year for Ryan Fitzpatrick, so this pick has a "reach" feel to it. 

The team did not want to come out of this draft without an offensive lineman, so they got Shell, who ranks third in South Carolina school history in career starts with 48. He moved to left tackle in his senior year, but recently said that he feels that he is more comfortable at right tackle. 

Round 7: Pick No. 235: Loc Edwards, P, Sam Houston State, Information/Scouting

The team needed a punter after Ryan Quigley left and signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, so this move made sense. Edwards, who was born and raised in Australia, is the first punter that the Jets have selected in the draft since 1993, when they picked Craig Hentrich in the eighth round. 

In three collegiate seasons, Edwards averaged 42.8 yards on 185 punts. He is listed at 6'5", 205 pounds.

Round 7: Pick No. 241: Charone Peake, WR, Clemson, Highlights

Peake has been regarded as a potential steal for the Jets, as some projected that he would be taken in the third round. He slipped because of two major knee injuries, including an ACL tear in 2013. He was highly recruited out of high school, but fell under the radar after he was buried by DeAndre Hopkins and Sammy Watkins at Clemson. 

This past year, he finally got his first chance to become a full time player, and responded well. He had 50 catches, 716 yards, and five touchdowns. If he can stay on the field, the Jets may have yet another nice offensive weapon moving forward.

In case you missed it, check out my article detailing the Giants draft picks from rounds 2-7.

Taking a closer look at the Jets and Giants draft picks

The NFL Draft came a conclusion on April 30, and both the Jets and Giants came out of Chicago very happy. The Jets selected OLB Darron Lee with the 20th overall Pick, and the Giants selected CB Eli Apple with the 10th overall pick. In this article, we'll take a closer look at the two players.

Starting with the Jets, they made a bold move in taking Lee, the Ohio State University product. Many fans were hoping for quarterback Paxton Lynch, who was surprisingly still on the board. However, GM Mike Maccagnan decided to improve the defense, which was already an area of strength. In fact, for the 7th straight season, the Jets have taken a defensive player in the 1st round.

Shortly after the draft, Maccagnan spoke with reporters about Darron Lee. He said "What intrigued us the most about him is, he's a younger player but he's very athletic. He brings the ability to improve our overall team speed."

Although Lee was an outside linebacker at Ohio State, coach Todd Bowles noted that he will be an inside linebacker for New York. The team said that he will begin the season behind starter Erin Henderson, but has the ability to become a three down contributor. 

Lee is currently listed as 6'1" and 232 lbs, which may seem undersized for the position. Despite this, Bowles isn't considered about getting the 1st rounder to bulk up. He said "(Lee) doesn't have to be a 240, 250 lb linebacker. That's not what we're looking for."

He is 21 years old, and still only a sophomore, but had 27 1/2 tackles for loss with 12 quarterback sacks last season, finishing 2nd on the squad behind teammate Joey Bosa (third overall pick). Lee had 147 career tackles and 3 interceptions. 

"Honestly, I'm still in shock because I could not believe it and all my dreams are finally coming true. It was just a great moment for me," said Lee, who was a former teammate of current Jets WR Devin Smith at Ohio State. "I didn't know anything, honestly. I just knew that I had a great visit, I thought that I connected with the coaches."

As for my thoughts, I like the pick a lot since Lee seems to fit perfectly into Todd Bowles' defensive system. He is very versatile, and will bring much needed speed to the defense now that the team is without David Harris and Demario Davis. Although he won't start right away, this pick fills a long term need for the Jets, and that's all you can ask for with a late first round pick.

Moving on to the Giants, they too selected a defensive player from Ohio State. Eli Apple was a surprise pick by some as they did not expect his name to be called until later in the night. In fact, Mel Kiper Jr. did not have him going until the 29th overall pick, so at first glance it was questionable.

"I didn't know where I was going to go, honestly," Apple said. "You hear a lot of things... I was expecting everything."

Apple, now at 20 years old, started in both seasons at Ohio State, and currently sits at 6'1" and 199 lbs. GM Jerry Reese spoke about the selection, saying that he is "A really good, young player. Height, weight, speed. Big School. He holds all the tools to be a starter. He was the highest graded player on the board, beyond the guys with issues."

These issues are in reference to both Laremy Tunsil and Myles Jack, both of whom slipped dramatically in the draft. Minutes before the draft, a video surfaced on social media of Tunsil smoking marijuana. He was once considered the favorite to go No. 1 overall, but fell to No. 13 with the Miami Dolphins. Myles Jack was not selected in the first round, which came as a surprise to many.

"We like Eli because he's the No. 1 corner on the board," vice president of player evaluation Marc Ross said. "The guy is big. He's fast. He's athletic. He's clean off the field. He's got tremendous upside."

The Giants initially looked to trade up in the draft, but the price was too expensive. They received at least one offer for their 10th round pick, but decided to reject it.

"You trust your board and we got exactly what we wanted, where we wanted," said coach Ben McAdoo.

I really like this pick because the Giants desperately needed help at the cornerback position. Although they have Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and new signee Janoris Jenkins, Apple can now be viewed as a third string option in his rookie season.

Apple does have potential. He is young and has the necessary physical tools to handle an NFL workload, but it could take some time. McAdoo said that they will try Apple at different spots on the field and see what sticks.

Stay tuned for a future article detailing the remainder of the picks selected by the Jets and Giants.