Jeff Van Gundy thinks the two New York area teams are on the verge of improvement as both prepare to approach a deep free-agent class with significant cap room.

The close of this season could mark the end of a rough re-building phase that fans of the Nets and Knicks have had to endure.

"On April 14, it?s over. The pain is over," Van Gundy said.

"Without question, they did the right thing," Van Gundy said about the teams' decision to dump salaries in an attempt to lure top free-agents.  "Both places will get somebody good, really good ? if not this year, then next year or the year after. They were stuck in that torturous place of mediocrity: 32 to 43 wins if they maxed out their talent and they had kept the same talent."

Van Gundy feels the current Knicks' roster has a low ceiling given their lack of size.  

"I?ve always thought that the Knicks, as far as from a pure talent standpoint, people have overrated what they?ve had," Van Gundy said.  "They?ve had some pieces. But they have absolutely no defensive presence in the middle. And if you don?t have any shot-blocking or any basket protection, it?s impossible to be good defensively. And if it?s impossible to be good defensively, then you?re limited how good you really can be."