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

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. 

How Porzingis Can Make The Jump To The Next Level

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Improve Defensive IQ

Porzingis has shown that he is a formidable rim protector that can bother the shot of anyone that drives toward the basket. However, he still must learn to stay out of early foul trouble which has been a rather consistent problem in his young career. This can be attributed to him being a bit overzealous while forgetting while how big he is, something that can be straightened out within his learning curve. 

Mastering the Post

Many of the great big men in NBA history had incredible post games that help make them the legends we know as today (Chamberlain, Russell, Ewing, Olajuwon, Duncan). Porzingis has the skill set to master the techniques, but still needs to become a little more comfortable with using them. A player with his perimeter touch could become a nightmare for opponents if he can develop an equally impressive game down in the blocks. 

Adjusting to Defenders

One of the things that Porzingis has improved upon this season is his recognition of who is defending him. He is no long getting terribly bother by smaller players, often using his height to his advantage by shooting over them with ease. If he can learn how to better position himself on the court (something he's slowly improving) he will open an array of shooting areas for him to dominate a game offensively.

Taking the Reigns

The recent discussions in the sport would have wondered if the Knicks should hand the team over to Porzingis. While that may be the case soon, the team still belongs to Carmelo Anthony. That doesn’t mean that Kristaps cannot seek to gain valuable knowledge on how to become a leader. When the time come, many will look to him to be the driving force that helps lead New York to a championship. Something he has said that he's ready to embrace. The sky is the limit for the 21-year old Latvian product and if he can improve on these areas and then some, the Knicks and the NBA could be looking at a superstar.

Knicks: 5 Keys for Success in 2016-17

Continuity

There are 7 new players on the team this year, including three new starters so it will take time for the Knicks to become a cohesive unit. From the looks of their opening game that process could take a bit longer than many would like, However, if they're committed to the process, Jeff Hornacek should be able to find a niche that works well with the team he's been trusted with.

Defense

Many say the Knicks defense is subpar at best and for the past few seasons, that has been an unfortunately correct analysis. This season must be the year that something gives. The team has two great interior rim protectors in Porzingis and Noah, whose length can alter the shots of any penetrators. That leaves it up to the team to defend the perimeter and not leave shooters open for great looks. The Knicks can't allow themselves to repeat the same problems that have plagued them for so long, otherwise the season could end in bitter disappointment.

Carmelo Anthony

This is a big season for Anthony to show that he is indeed a leader that can help his team win. As the only constant New York has known for five years, there is an onus on him to provide stability and unify the team around a common goal. Though he's had this chance before, there will many more eyes watching this year wondering if he'll be up to the task.

Jeff Hornacek

He'll have some scrutiny hanging on him whenever the team performs poorly, especially since he coaches in the media capital of the world. That should make it imperative that he finds a way to succeed early, but like many things it is not guaranteed. What is most important however is his bond with the players. There are host of different playing styles and personalities on the team this year and it will be Hornacek's job to make sure they operate as one closed-knit unit. If he manages to do that there is no telling where the Knicks could go and that would be a good thing for Mr. Hornacek.

Playoffs

Without a doubt the Knicks must get into the playoffs this season. Anything other than that would be considered disastrous. With all the changes made by Phil Jackson, the team is expected to put forth the effort to bring New York basketball back to some sort of prominence, that way the fans can look forward to a future that will hopefully have the Larry O'Brien Trophy in it.

Grading the Knicks Free Agency Pickups

Joakim Noah

Photo: Getty Images

He will add a layer of toughness, grit, and attitude to a team that has lacked that aspect of the game since the days of Ewing, Oakley and Mason. Though he isn't the most impressive scorer, he has a great knowledge of where to be and what to do while on the floor. As long as he stays healthy (which has been a problem the last two seasons) there are many reasons to be excited to have him on board for the next four years.  Grade: B+

Courtney Lee

Photo: Jeff Hanisch USA Today Sports

Many were hoping for DeMar DeRozan, Dwyane Wade, or Kevin Durant, but those signings were pipe dreams at best. Enter Courtney Lee, a solid wing player that has earned his keep since entering the league in 2008. His high defensive IQ and footwork will provide the Knicks with a man that can not only handle speed threats, but stymie some of the league’s best shooters. He also brings fairly consistent shooting of his own, scoring at a 45% clip over his career.  Grade: B

Brandon Jennings

Photo: Kim Klement USA Today Sports

Jennings has wanted to play for the Knicks since he was passed over by them in the 2009 draft. That alone should motivate him to show what he's made of and prove what a mistake it was to skip over him. Although his season was abbreviated due to a ruptured achilles he suffered in early 2015, Jennings showed no ill effects of it while playing for the Magic this past season. His shooting numbers aren't impressive as he's only shot over 40% twice in eight seasons, but perhaps backing up Derrick Rose in a faster paced system will push his shooting numbers up to respectability.    Grade: B-

Guillermo "Willy" Hernangomez

Knick fans will probably not know much about him other that the fact that he was a teammate of Kristaps Porzingis when they played for CB Sevilla in Spain. He possesses good potential to be a formidable post player as he can score in traffic and absorb contact. He also possesses a respectable jump shot that can keep defenders honest. Whether or not he’ll play much is up to Jeff Hornacek and Hernangomez, but if he can show what he can do from the get go, He could give the Knicks the extra big man they need to cause trouble for opponents. Grade: C+

Mindaugas Kuzminskas

Photo: Eriko Ovčarenko

Kuzminskas has a similar skill set to that of the now departed Derrick Williams. He's mobile and hostile up the middle (Thank You Clyde Frazier) and can create his own shot on the break. His outside shooting does need more work, but it has steadily improved over the last 3 seasons he played with Unicaja. Fans should expect to see him play steady minutes for Hornacek as his style of play fits nicely with what he wants to do with the offense. Grade: B

Analyzing the Knicks Free Agency Moves

              

As the free agency frenzy has passed, the Knicks emerged with a handful of new pieces that they hope will help change the culture and fortunes of the beleaguered franchise. Whether these moves will pan out is up to the success of Jackson's plan and the teams patience to see it through.



Robin Lopez 4 yrs $54 million - Lopez may not be the post up big man the team needs, but his intangibles and length fill a gaping hole that has been open for quite some time. His game can translate well to the triangle and he'll deliver a spark on the defensive end. Considering the contracts that DeAndre Jordan, Marc Gasol, and Greg Monroe were given, the Knicks may have a essential bargain (if you can believe it).



Arron Afflalo 2 yrs $16 million (2nd year player option) - This was the teams first move of free agency and a surprisingly fast one at that. Afflalo adds his sharp shooting touch and veteran defensive skills that can keep opposing guards as bay. For a team that struggle to get any real consistency from this position all season, he is a more than welcome upgrade.



Derrick Williams, 2 yrs $10 million - Williams brings a will and determination to the court similar to Quincy Acy. The former 2nd overall pick didn't have the most impressive season, but his effort alone made him an attractive candidate to Jackson. Defense is the primary impact he should have on the Knicks and at this juncture, they can use all the help they can get



Kyle O'Quinn (via sign and trade with Orlando) 4 yrs $16 million - This was a good move for New York, adding more depth to the front court. O'Quinn has many tools at his disposal and if used correctly, will be a ball of consistency on both ends. It also helps that he is a native New Yorker and has experience on the big stage going back to his time at Norfolk State where he helped defeat the No. 2 ranked Missouri Tigers in the 2012 NCAA Tournament.

Things won't turn around instantly for the Knicks, but these moves should get on the right track and build hope for better future.

Anthony Mason Passes Away

                           

Former New York Knicks forward forward Anthony Mason passed away this morning at the tender age of 48 after battling congestive heart failure.  His hard nosed style and determination made him a staple of the Knicks during the 90's.  From his cool hair cuts and the way he pestered opponents in the pain, he profoundly endeared himself to the New York faithful and helped put the mecca of basketball back on the map.  There may be others that can do what he did but for anyone who watched him, there will never be another Anthony Mason.

Knicks Buy Out Stoudemire

                            

As All Star weekend came to a close the Knicks officially bought out and release Amare Stoudemire, ending his tenure in New York.  Though things did not go as hoped, no one will forget how he helped re-invigorate and lift a team out of a decade long stupor.  Stoudemire took a chance that no other free agent would and the Knicks and their fans will be ever thankful for it.

However, the fact that he missed so much time during his contract had to be frustrating to him and the front office.  To sign for such a large sum only to miss a majority of the next 4 years made for a harsh reality that both the Knicks and Stoudemire had to came to grips with.  With the rebuilding process in full effect, Amare's yearning to play for a contender, and Carmelo Anthony now the centerpiece, a parting of ways was the best way to go.  Stoudemire is now free to go wherever he pleases. Now alleviated of his cap strangling salary, teams that were once too shy will be more than welcome to bring him aboard.  He may not be the payer he once was, but his game is still effective enough to provide a spark off of any bench.  Hopefully he can find the fulfillment he could not achieve in his unfortunately disappointing Knicks career.

Carmelo Anthony Must Shut It Down

                                 

Carmelo Anthony has battled both a bad knee and less than stellar (to put it mildly) Knick team this season.  Given these circumstances I don't think anyone will blame him for taking an extended vacation.  It was very clear that the team would not compete for anything but a lottery pick this year.  However, not even Anthony could predict just how lousy it would actually get.

As the team stumbles into the All Star break and onward, all eyes will be aimed at free agency and a desperately needed roster turnover. Though his loyalty and competitive spirit are truly commendable, Anthony has no reason to jeopardize health for a lost cause.  It's best to let this deplorable season blow over and wait for the actual reinforcements to arrive.

Dolan Shows His Colors...Again

                                

New York Knicks principal owner James Dolan did not take kindly to the words of a long time fan who criticized his ownership of the team.  The fan, Irving Bierman spoke critically of the way he has handled the organization, citing his terrible business moves.  Mr. Bierman also exclaimed how he should sell the team and make things easier on the fan base.  Dolan, whom never seems to back down even when it suits his best interests, fired back in a style Knick fans have become all to familiar with. In his response he called the nearly 60 year fan 'sad' and 'hateful', telling him to go root for the Nets. This abhorrent exchange is yet another chapter in the ill-fated reign of James Dolan that has placed him in the doldrums of sports ownership.

Here is the exchange:

Mr. Bierman's email:

At one stage I thought that you did a wonderful thing when you acquired EVERYTHING from your dad. However, since then it has been ALL DOWN HILL. Your working with Isaiah Thomas & everything else regarding the Knicks. Bringing on Phil Jackson was a positive beginning, but lowballing Steve Kerr was a DISGRACE to the knicks. The bottom line is that you merely continued to interfere with the franchise.

As a knicks fan for in excess of 60 years, I am utterly embarrassed by your dealings with the Knicks. Sell them so their fans can at least look forward to growing them in a positive direction Obviously, money IS NOT THE ONLY THING. You have done a lot of utterly STUPID business things with the franchise. Please NO MORE.

James Dolan's response:

You are a sad person. Why would anybody write such a hateful letter. I am.just guessing but ill bet your life is a mess and you are a hateful mess. What have you done that anyone would consider positive or nice. I am betting nothing. In fact ill bet you are negative force in everyone who comes in contact with you. You most likely have made your family miserable. Alcoholic maybe. I just celebrated my 21 year anniversary of sobriety. You should try it. Maybe it will help you become a person that folks would like to have around. In the mean while start rooting.for the Nets because the Knicks don't want you.

Knicks deal Shumpert and Smith in 3 Team Deal

  

Monday night, the rebuilding process began as the Knicks shipped guards Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a 3 team trade that included the Oklahoma City Thunder.  The team also waived center Samuel Dalembert after being unable to find any trade partners for the veteran big man.  This is surely a salary move in order to free more cap space in preparation for their free agency push this summer. The Knicks did acquire 3 players (Lou Amundson and Alex Kirk from Cleveland, Lance Thomas from OKC) in the deal, but are expected to waive two or all three so that they won't be committed to guaranteed contracts. Phil Jackson's bold move may just be what the doctor ordered as he can now begin the process of reconstructing a roster that never had a chance to truly contend.  We can only hope that this change is the start of a better tomorrow, or New Yorker may give up on this team for the rest of time.

Same Old Knicks

Last night the inevitable happened, the New York Knicks were eliminated from playoff contention.  This brought an end to their 3 consecutive playoff appearances, their longest in a decade.  Though they did not give the fans much more than a single series win, it was nice to see the long beleaguered basketball team get into the fold.  However, it seems the old adage is taking ring true yet again "The more things change, the more they stay the same."  The team doomed to this fate from the very moment they endured a debilitating 9 game skid from early to mid-November and try as they would they never found themselves again.  Several increments of 3, 4, and 5 game losing streaks would follow, all of which added up, making it that much more difficult to climb the playoff ladder.  Some may ask what went wrong, but in actuality that should say is, what didn't.

The Knicks were one of the worst defensive teams in the league, especially against teams with great guards. They also never found consistent continuity offense, often looking discombobulated and desperate.  When you put those together, you certainly do not get a playoff contender, instead what you do get is a team that has no sense of who they are.  All season long head coach Mike Woodson and the players talked of everything but the reality that they were not good enough to consider themselves amidst the league’s elite.  Sure there were signs of good things when they defeated playoff bound teams such as the Heat, Pacers, Warriors, and even the Spurs, but it would amount to nothing as they suffered loss after loss to teams that great teams that many felt they should handle, the far too prevalent flaws reared their ugly heads many times, more than I am sure the Knicks would like to admit.  In addition, there was also a lack of leadership and accountability from Woodson whom at many times seemed as if he was oblivious to what was happening.  His constant mismanagement of the roster and favoritism of certain players and their style of play ran a muck this season and did more harm than good.  One of the more troubling issues was his bedeviling allowance of isolation basketball hat did nothing but ruin the flow of the game and make the Knicks very vulnerable on offense.  It is clear a change needs to be made, whether or not that happens will be up to Phil Jackson and what he feels is best. 

There was on person who saw the truth about this team much like all of the fans...Carmelo Anthony. He stated before the season began that he would be testing free agency and also saying that he was placing winning before anything else.  Now that he will miss the playoffs for the first time if his 11 year career one has to believe that he will be saying goodbye to the Big Apple this summer.  Perhaps this is the change that the Knicks need. Maybe they can finally get a good look at themselves and realize that they are far from what they want to be.  Only time will tell if it gets any better but for now New Yorkers will continue to berate and complain about the Knickerbockers, something they've grown quite accustom to.