Rose to New York - What It Means For The 2016-17 season

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As recent history has shown, the Knicks usually find themselves on the wrong end of a bad trade (i.e. the deals for Eddy Curry in 2005, Tracy McGrady in 2010, and Andrea Bargnani in 2013, and infamously Antonio McDyess in 2002). Each deal cost the Knicks several draft picks and a lot of money that could have been put to good use over the past 15 seasons. So it would make sense if many Knick fans cringed a bit once they heard about the blockbuster deal that landed former MVP Derrick Rose in the Big Apple. Surprisingly, that was not the case as Phil Jackson not only held on the team's future draft picks, He managed gain an extra one. A far cry from the benevolence they've shown in player swaps of the past. Though moving a solid center like Robin Lopez and a youngster like Jerian Grant may hurt some, there is plenty to look forward to regarding the potential changes and dividends this trade could yield.

Immediate Impact on team

Now that Knicks finally have a trustworthy point guard, things could start to look up the offensive end. With Anthony and Porzingis already in the fold, there will be some big adjustments on how things are run when the three are on the court together. Rose never really had much to work with in Chicago as he often carried the team offensively since no other player had exceptional scoring ability (the exception being Jimmy Butler the past two seasons). Kristaps and Carmelo have the ability to create their own shots, which will take a lot of pressure off of Rose and give him the luxury of being a creator and distributor at times during games.

A New Center

With Lopez gone, there is a glaring hole a center. Luckily the Knicks will have their choice of good ones that are more than capable of filling that void. It will be important to find a big man that can play well with Rose and not disrupt what he does best. That could make Joakim Noah, Rose's teammate in Chicago the favorite, but there are others (Dwight Howard, Hassan Whiteside, and Al Jefferson) that could also do the job.

Suitable Backup

Given that Derrick Rose has had injury trouble in the past, the team is going to have to find a reserve point guard that can give him a rest in games and be just as effective. Who that player will be remains a mystery. Perhaps Langston Galloway get a shot, or maybe the Knicks could pursue former draft pick Nate Robinson. Whatever they choose to do, it's obvious that the players skill level must play a huge part in this decision.

Kevin Durant?

The Knicks are already a projected long shot in the upcoming Kevin Durant sweepstakes, but that doesn't mean they can't make a pass at him. Should the Knicks land a formidable center, there will be at least whispers in Durant's camp about the potential formation of a super team in New York. With that said, it's probably best to keep this in the dream category and focus on other ways to improve the roster (But one can still dream…right?)

2016 Giants Player Expectations

High Expectations:

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Odell Beckham Jr.

Amassing 2,755 yards and 25 touchdowns in his first two seasons, Beckham has much to live up to in 2016. If he wants to earn the honor of most elite receivers in the league it will be imperative for him to set the bar even higher even if it may seem impossible to do so.

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Rashad Jennings

Jennings ended 2015 on a high note by coming on strong late in the season, giving him more than enough leverage to secure the most touches this year. As long as he can outperform his competition and gain big on the ground in games, there is no doubt that will be the case. Otherwise, there might be a quick hook in favor of another back on the depth chart

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Olivier Vernon

After spending big to lure him to New York, there is much excitement around what Vernon could add to the fleeting pass rush of the Giants. He'll have to earn every dime of that $85 Million contract as all eyes will be set squarely upon him each and every game.

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Janoris Jenkins

With the chance to place the secondary amongst the top units in the NFL, Jenkins will need to prove his worth by helping shut down some of the best receivers the Giants opponents will have to offer. After the team suffered one of their worst defensive seasons in their history, there is little chance he will get a pass for mediocre performances.

Low Expectations:

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Larry Donnell

Donnell has had several flashes of greatness in his short career, but his propensity for injury has hurt any opportunity he's had to fully reach that level. It's likely that he will get another chance as a starter, but with new faces behind him which includes two talented rookies (Jerell Adams and Ryan Malleck) another injury plagued season could ultimately be his undoing.

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Andre Williams

It's been an underwhelming start to the career of Williams as he's averaged just 3.2 yards per carry in two seasons. Unfortunately for the third year pro, there are now more than enough running backs on the roster to compensate for any shortcomings he may have. Perhaps the Giants could find a better way to utilize his freakish build (fullback comes to mind), but for now we can only hope that he surprises everyone and exceeds even his own expectations in 2016.

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Bobby Hart

To be fair, Hart has gotten a bit of a bad rap since no one really knows who he is or how he plays. That being said, there is much he could gain from going under the radar, but he'll have to earn it every step of the way. If he can play his way into the starting lineup, it would be the considered the first major triumph on his football resume, the rest is up in the air.

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Victor Cruz

If he's as at 100 percent there's a great chance he'll produce at a high level for the offense. However, he has spent the better part of two seasons sidelined with knee and calf injuries which could prove problematic if he's isn't careful from here on out. Now that Beckham has become the new star receiver, Cruz must settle into a secondary (or perhaps tertiary) role which actually could do wonders for his overall game. The time out of the spotlight has damaged his larger than life superstardom he built over three seasons, but it might just be the formula that gets back into the swing of things. Most fans don't expect him to burst back onto the scene if at all so should that happen this year the Giants will all the better for it.

No Expectations:

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Keenan Robinson

While there is a high upside to Robinson given his rather impressive 109 tackle 2014 season. The only issue is that his body hasn't been able to stay fit enough to be a consistent presence on the field. Seeing that the Giants have had their issues with injured linebackers in the past (Jon Beason, Devon Kennard, J.T. Thomas) there isn't much to hope for from Robinson. How things go will be entirely dependent on whether or not he continues this unfortunate trend.

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Bobby Rainey

Rainey does have a lot of skill that could prove extremely effective if used correctly. Nonetheless, the chances he sees time at running back are is a bit slimmer than one may think. Unless the situation becomes dire (which could happen given the Giants recent track record) don't expect to see Rainey taking many snaps from the backfield (at least as a runner) outside of the preseason.

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Jason Pierre-Paul

There's a lot that can be said about Pierre-Paul's 2015. From the tumultuous situation involving his hand and fireworks, to his mid-season return to action there was no shortage of storylines that escaped the two-time pro bowl defensive end. Now that his hand is repaired and a new glove has been made to help him tackle, what can we expect out of him this season? No doubt the organization has left it up to chance. The talent is still there; all anyone can do right is hope for the best.

Yankees: Who's Hot Who's Not 3

Who's Hot:

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 Andrew Miller

It's been a good year thus far for Miller as he has seamlessly slid into the setup role after being the team's closer for all of 2015. Sporting a 1.13 ERA and 15 strikeouts to go with his stellar season numbers, it’s going to be very hard to even consider dealing Miller at the deadline if he continues to perform like this.

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Aroldis Chapman

Since returning from an early season suspension Chapman has been as good as advertised when the Yankees acquired him. He's made mincemeat of hitters with his 100+ mph fastball, providing an intimidation factor that is giving the Yankees back end trio marquee billing in any close game.

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Brett Gardner

For the first time this season Gardner has hit a sustained hot streak batting .556 over seven games and is stinging the ball with an improved swing to boot. This a more than pleasant sight as he had fallen on troubling times at the dish for the better part of two seasons. Hopefully he can keep this consistency which would give fans and Girardi a reason for optimism that the 32-year-old outfielders prolonged slumps are over for the time being.

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Carlos Beltran

It continues to be a Renaissance season for Beltran as he poured in a .345 average with 4 homers this week. Whatever has gotten into the 40-year-old right fielder, the Yankees should hope that it does not leave him anytime soon

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Jacoby Ellsbury

Having your leadoff man hitting well is always a plus for any offense so that Yankees are definitely pleased with the results Ellsbury has yielded this week. With a .360 average and .429 on base percentage over seven games, He is giving the offense the spark it needs to get going. 

Who's Not:

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Brian McCann

Despite the success of the Yankees hitting of late, things aren't going quite as well for McCann. Batting just .176 thus week it was difficult for him to capitalize on his teammates good fortunes. To be fair, he did have to deal with a hyperextended elbow for three days, however it would be hard to say if his slump wasn't still concerning to the overall picture.

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Dellin Betances

Perhaps the most shocking cold player of the team is the "D" in the newly named "No Runs DMC". He has a 7.36 ERA over seven games, a tremendously disappointing number for a pitcher of his caliber. It will important for the Yankees to get his confidence back up with a few strong outings without wearing him down too much. If the new nickname is to stick, it will be highly important get the first guy back into dominant form

Potential Free Agents the Islanders Should Consider

After ending a 23-year playoff series drought, the Islanders find themselves in position to make big moves towards becoming a Stanley cup contender. To do that, they will need to bring in one or more high level free agents that can not only make an impact on the ice, but infuse their skills within the growing team culture.

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Milan Lucic LW (2015-16 20G 34A)

He has top line hockey IQ that would give immediate help to John Tavares however, it would take a lot to pry him away from Los Angeles more that perhaps the Isles are willing to go. That being said, it would be a gutsy and highly appealing move bringing a player like Lucic into the fold.

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Andrew Ladd LW (2015-16: 25G 21A)

Here's a player that could fill the potential void left by Kyle Okposo. His numbers have been pretty steady over the past 5 seasons and there is reason to believe he would welcome the opportunity to play in Brooklyn. It'll be interesting to see how much he will command in the open market, but his consistency definitely should make him a more than attractive target.

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Troy Bouwer RW (2015-16: 18G 21A)

He played exceptionally well in the playoffs and should earn a lot of attention in the market. That being said the Islanders would greatly benefit from Brouwer’s scoring prowess. Money could be an issue if he looks to capitalize on postseason performance with a big pay day However this is a risk that the team must be willing to take if they are to take the next step.

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Keith Yandle D (2015-16: 5G 42A)

If there is any place the Islanders could stand to improve it's the defenseman position. It will be important to add a smart playmaker as a counterpart the aggressive and physical Matt Martin. Yandle could be just the guy to fill that role.

Bob DeChiara USA Today Sports

John-Michael Liles D (2015-16: 6G 14A)

While Zidlicky did provide a veteran presence on the defensive side, the team would benefit from adding another vet like him to the roster. At 35 with 13 years of experience, Liles would make a great mentor for young nucleus the Islanders have carefully developed over the years.

James Guillory US 

David Backes C (2015-16: 21G 24A)

Though Frans Nielsen and Casey Cizikas has emerged as stellar middle men for the third and fourth lines, the second line still could use upgrade at center. Signing Backes would lighten the load for Tavares (whom often pulled double duty playing center for the one and two lines in games) giving much more stability for Capuano to shift players around without compromising their strengths. Backes has shown he can create good opportunities for himself and his teammates, something that's at a huge premium in today's NHL.