NBA Draft: Prospects the Knicks should target at Number 8

Malik Monk G Kentucky

The Knicks struggled to find a consistent shooter other than Courtney Lee this past season. with the growing use of the three pointers in the NBA, the team can ill-afford to be without at least two on the roster. Monk was one of the nation’s best pure shooters in the nation shooting 40% from deep in his only season at Kentucky. If he happens to fall to this spot (which some think is unlikely) Jackson is probably going to take him.

Dennis Smith Jr G NC State

Smith is a dynamic player with traits comparable to Russell Westbrook, which is something the Knicks could certainly use. While he isn't the ideal point guard he possesses the ability to make things happen on the court. along with his highflying dunks and scoring, he could inject the same excitement on the court that Porzingis did just two seasons ago.

Luke Kennard G Duke

If there is an odds-on favorite to surprise everyone on draft night, it's Kennard. He's arguably the best shooter in the draft class and has a very high Basketball IQ, which should lower the learning curve for him. He lead the Blue Devils in scoring and three point percentage, making him an attractive target for a Knick team in need of a confident scoring wing

Frank Ntilikina G France

Assuming that the Knicks are looking for a good game managing point guard in this years draft, Frank Ntilikina is their guy. He may not have the pizzazz of the other guards but he gets the job done. He also possesses the perimeter defensive skills that have plagued New York point guards for quite some time. Some may think that drafting him here is too safe, but knowing the current state of the Knicks safe is a word that many should revel in.

De'Aaron Fox G Kentucky

Fox may be a long shot pick, but crazier things could happen on draft night that may could allow the Knicks the chance to pick him up. though he hasn't grown into his body (weighing a slender 170) he's hot the tools to succeed as a guard. His shot is still a work in progress, but he still managed to shoot a steady 47% in 2016 despite this issue. If he comes into range by way of a miracle or some unexpected trade, Fox could be quite a find for NY

Yankees: Who's Hot, Who's Not

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Who's Hot

Dellin Betances

Aroldis Chapman is out for the next month with a shoulder injury, leaving the duties of closer to Betances whom has been more than up to the task. With a 0.73 ERA thus far, there is little doubt that he will prosper in the role, even if it is temporary.

Aaron Judge

In just a year, Judge has gone from a strikeout prone hacker to one of the best power hitters in baseball, His .331 average and 15 homers have every buzzing about his potential to become one of the games premiere players. If he can keep this up, he will surely get high consideration for Rookie of the Year and more. 

Starlin Castro

As the Yankees top hitter, Castro is proving to be well worth the trade as he has provided the team with something they haven't has since losing Robinson Cano. 

Who's Not

Masahiro Tanaka

It has a struggle to say the least for the man tagged as the ace of the staff. Tanaka has just two quality starts to his resume this season and is currently marred in a dismal slump in which he's surrendered 10 homers and 21 earned runs in May alone. It is critical that Tanaka get back on track or it could be a long season for the prized Japanese import, and if he should decide (Tanaka can opt out of his contract at the end of the year) his last in pinstripes.

Chase Headley

After a promising start, Headley finds himself in a bit of a spiral as he's hitting just .172 in May. 

Tommy Layne

The Yankees left hander have not fared well this season and Tommy Layne may be the worst of all. Sporting an inflated 8.18 ERA in 14 appearances, there isn't much reason for the team to rely on him in any situation. The team may be best suited finding a replacement to get more consistency out of their left handed middle relief.

SSnow's 7 Round Giants Mock Draft 2.0

1. Zach Cunningham LB Vanderbilt

The Giants have placed Cunningham high on their list of potential first round selections, which is a surprise given Reese’s history of shying away from this position. He is the best linebacker in the draft and would add a credible playmaker to an already stout defense. If the team does pull the trigger here, this would be a tremendous pickup.

2. Gerald Everett TE South Alabama

O.J. Howard and Njoku are still on the radar for the first round, but just in case they get away Everett should be there for the Giants in the second. He’s a more than capable fit for the offense and will have no trouble forming a rapport with Manning.

3. David Sharpe OT Florida

Left tackle is still a problem and the team must have answer for this issue within the first three rounds. Sharpe may not be the best player that will be available here, but he is a solid blocker whom has the good experience protecting the weak side.

4. Brian Hill RB Wyoming

The Giants still need a running back so expect them to take one at some point in the later round, probably sooner than later.

5. Nazair Jones DE/DT North Carolina

With Hankins now in Indianapolis, the team is going to need to add depth to the DT position. They could look for an immediate replacement in the early rounds, but the team will probably play it safe and pick one up here.

6. C.J. Beathard QB Iowa

Many still expect the Giants to draft a quarterback that will eventually take over for Eli. While the talent pool will be a bit slim late this late in the draft, the team may elect to take a QB whom they can mold for two to three years as a project before giving him the keys to the offense

7. DeAngelo Brown DT Louisville

Once again depth will be key to keeping the line strong and the Giants don’t plan on making the same mistake they made in the past, which saw their line become one of the worst in the NFL from 2013 to 2015

Yankees: Prospects To Watch In 2017

Clint Frazier

He's already looks poised to breakout this season and could very well steal a roster spot when spring training is out. With the future of Brett Gardner up in the air (he's been on the trade radar for a few teams), there's a chance for Frazier to play his way into a permanent role if he stays hungry.

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Gleyber Torres

The Yankees are high on Torres as he was the big pick up in the Chapman deal with the Cubs last season. It will be interesting to see how the Yankees plan to develop him especially since he appears to be tagged as the potential shortstop of the future.

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James Kaprielian

After an elbow injury slowed his progression through the system, Kaprielian is back and ready to get back to where he was. There's a lot to like about this young man as he has showcased good accuracy and an ability to get strikeouts. It'll take some time to get his arm into form, but there is no reason to believe that he won't round into form and find his way up the ranks in no time.

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Chad Green

Green has already had a taste of the Major Leagues after being called up for a few games in May of last year. Things didn't go as smoothly as one would have liked, but the fact that Green remains on Girardi's radar for a rotation spot speaks volumes about his work ethic. Should he win out, fans could be hearing his name on a consistent basis for years to come.

Jordan Montgomery

To the surprise on many, Montgomery remains in the hunt for an open pitching slot. This comes after his effort in the recent spring training combined no-hitter. His number in the minors are formidable, pitching to a 2.61 ERA in 292 innings since being drafted in 2014. It would be a pleasant surprise if the 24-year-old found his way into pinstripes come April.

SSnow's 7 Round Giants Mock Draft

1. Ryan Ramcyzk OT Wisconsin

The Giants could easily go defense here, but the need for a more stable left tackle is a lot more urgent after the way this spot performed this season. Ramcyzk has the footwork and strength to hold up well against good pass rushers and is a steady blocker in the running game. The only concern here is his recovery from arthroscopic surgery on his labrum that will cause him to miss the combine. However, if he can heal quickly and impress at his pro day this pick should be a no-brainer.

2. Gerald Everett TE South Alabama

Once Larry Donnell lost his starting job, it became evident that the team would look to replace him. With wideout like abilities, Everett is just the kind of tight end the Giants offense is looking for. He’s a coverage nightmare for linebackers and smaller secondary players whom will struggle to match his physical style and breakaway speed. If he can impress in Indianapolis, the team will find it hard to pass him up.

3. DeMarcus Walker DE Florida State

The Giants must continue to add depth to the defensive line, Walker is the type of pass rusher the team has looked for in years past. He's has excellent speed off the edge and at times can physically dominate his man at the line of scrimmage. His impressive 25 sack total in two seasons should help him standout among the rest of the mid draft talents. Unless Reese feels otherwise, expect the Giants to give him a good look at the combine.

4. Dalvin Tomlinson DT Alabama

The team has a bi8g decision to make with Johnathan Hankins on the offseason. Should the let him walk in free agency, there will be a need to replace him with a stopper that can line up next to Damon Harrison. He may have trouble adjusting to a more complete role in the NFL, but the Giants have the veteran talent to help him learn and grow into a formidable middle man.

5. Ben Gedeon LB Michigan

Although so many Giants fans would like to see this position filled much earlier, one should believe that Reese will once again get cold feet and elect to make a safer LB pick. Gedeon had an impressive Senior Bowl which helped get him noticed by several teams and it would make a lot of sense for the Giants to look at him in this spot. He's an experienced signal caller that knows how to play the game of football.

6. Zach Pascal WR Old Dominion

Unless the team decides to bring back Victor Cruz or sign a replacement, a wide receiver should fall to them in the late rounds. Pascal earned second team all-conference in Old Dominion by having decent hands and good abilities in the return game. Though he probably won't knock anyones socks off in the pros, he fits the bill when it comes to NFL ready receivers.

7. Caleb Peterson G North Carolina

Big Blue must find more depth at the right guard position since it has been a bit of a revolving door for too long. Peterson is a solid blocker whom had success protecting top QB prospect Mitch Trubisky and showed some talent in the running game. He doesn't appear to be very high on many scouts draft boards, but the Giants can't afford tom pass on filing a position of need.

4 Areas The Giants Need To Focus On In The Offseason

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Offensive Tackle

The left tackle experiment with Ereck Flowers has been a near disaster as he lacks the ability to contain even the most remotely skilled pass rusher. That puts pressure on the team to find a more capable player with tools and experience to protect Manning's blind side. It would be easy to search the free agent market, but the team is better suited taking one in the upcoming draft. Flowers on the other hand is beter suited as the right tackle spot, the position he played regularly at Miami

Middle Linebacker

For the most part, the linebackers played pretty well this season. However, that doesn't mean that the Giants can get complacent with the current group. It's been a long time since the team had a true stud at middle linebacker so it's time to end this drought and a upper tier talent. There are plenty of good linebackers coming out of the collegiate ranks this year, it would be a shame to see the Giants let this golden opportunity to upgrade slip away.

Fullback

One thing the Giants running game was sorely missing this season was a true fullback. After Nikita Whitlock and Will Johnson went down with injuries (plus a subsequent suspension for Whitlock) the team never bothered to replace them. Unfortunately for them, they wound up regretting it as the team finished dead last in yards per game on the ground. If the rushing attack is to have any effectiveness next season, the team must fill this hole ASAP.

Offensive Coordinator

Although Mike Sullivan is the official offensive coordinator, Ben McAdoo assumed most of the offensive play calling in 2016. Unfortunately for him, the offense struggled to run effectively all season, thus making the case for Sullivan to take a more permanent role with the offense. McAdoo may have had success coordinating for two seasons, but it’s clear that the added duties of being a head coach diverted his attention from the vaunted system that helped him win the gig in the first place.

3 Ways the Knicks Can Approach The Future

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Attract a Marquee Free Agent

Positives: Given the Knicks current situation, it could make sense to try and lure another high-level player to New York in order the better shape the lineup. With the possibility of names like Kevin Durant, Blake Griffin, and Chris Paul being available this summer, the chance to create an instant contender is still in the air.

Negatives: There are far too many holes in the Knicks play that would more than likely drive top tier free agents away. It would be far too risky to commit to a team that has lacked a definitive direction for more than a decade. Adding another star sounds nice, but would it truly fix the Knicks inherent problems? 

Trade Carmelo Anthony

Positives: Moving Anthony would allow the Knicks to make the future their top priority. By Acquiring a stockpile of assets, they could begin forging the foundation for success in the coming years. That kind of promise would not only keep fans excited for what's to come, it would draw away the criticism that the team was solely focused on a player that was not the long-term answer.

Negatives: Without Anthony, there would be a struggle to find a legitimate scorer, placing much of that responsibility on Porzingis (Unless Rose decides to re-up with the team). It will put a lot of pressure on the other players whom have gotten far too used to deferring to Anthony.

Build Around Kristaps Porzingis

Positives: KP is the future of the team and it makes a lot of sense for him to be the focal point of everything the Knicks do. Handing over the reins could be a big help for his development as he would be more than willing expand his overall game. If all goes well, The Knicks will have a bona fide superstar that will lead the organization for years to come.

Negatives: The Knicks could end up committing to him too early, placing a lot of pressure on Porzingis to perform to his potential a lot sooner than he would like. That could become a huge setback for his game as his struggles would be well documented by the harsh New York media. 

New York Giants: Keys To Victory In Green Bay

Get to Aaron Rodgers

Aaron Rodgers had a stand out 2016 campaign, amassing 40 touchdowns while playing at perhaps the highest level of his career in the final six games. That’s why it will be very important for the Giants to get pressure on him early and often. Spagnuolo's defense has been impressive all season long and it's going to take the same effort and then some to make certain that the MVP candidate doesn't control the action.

Contain Jordy Nelson and Devante Adams

If there are two targets to look out for in the Packers offense, it's Rodgers two favorite receivers Devante Adams and Jordy Nelson. With a combined 26 touchdowns between them, the secondary will need to clamp down in big situations, otherwise it could be a long afternoon for Big Blue. The Giants have gotten a lot out of Janoris Jenkins, Eli Apple, Rogers-Cromartie, and especially Landon Collins and they will need them to continue to come up big if they want to be winners on Sunday.

Run the Football

The running game has struggled to do much of anything this season. However, things did start to look up when the team managed to rush for over 100 yards in each of the finals three contests. They will stand a great chance if they can control the clock and keep the Packers offense on the sideline, A good running game could do just that.

Steady Offense

Eli Manning and the offense have heard a lot of criticism for their sloppy play and costly turnovers. That must come to a stop on Sunday. If the Giants do not muster anything on offense, it could spell doom for their chances of pulling it out at Lambeau. Scoring touchdowns and avoiding stall outs will relieve the pressure on the defense and give them a chance to execute the game plan in place. In addition, Manning needs to keep the poor decisions to a minimum and play within the flow of the offense. The Giants can ill-afford to make mistakes on offense in a game like this one.