No more Linsanity at the Big Apple; Knicks and Jeremy Lin likely to part ways – NBA Update
After agreeing to bring in Raymond Felton over from the Portland Trail Blazers, it seems as though that New York Knicks are not going to match the offer made by Houston Rockets for their restricted free agent Jeremy Lin.
A week ago, the vibes around the Madison Square Garden had only one punch line - the Knicks are willing to take on any cost to bring back Lin. However with this recent move, it does seem like that they are deeming the Rockets offer
too ‘ridiculous’ (Carmelo Anthony fame) to match.
Even though they still have till Tuesday to make a decision but it is highly unlikely that they will choose to retain the one guard, who took over the franchise, and the NBA, with a bang midway through last season.
According to various sources, the Rockets have offered Lin a contract worth 5 million in the first, $5.225 million in the second and $14.8 million in the third year. If the Knicks decide to match the offer – a poison deal to be
precise - they are looking at very high taxes, a hefty price which they are highly unlikely to pay. But above all, if accepted, the contract can ruffle some very valuable feathers in the Knicks locker room.
The offer made by the Rockets has definitely stirred up quite a few people in the Big Apple including Carmelo Anthony, who had earlier hoped to have Lin back for next season. But given the high amount required to make that happen,
he now thinks it is all up to the management.
"It's not up to me. It's up to the organization to say that they want to match that ridiculous contract, I’d love to see him back, but I think he has to do what's best for him right now." – said Anthony, who also called the Lin
offer ridiculous.
J.R Smith is another player, who doesn’t feel that Lin deserves the contract. There might be many more; they are just not speaking.
As the current situation stands giving up on Lin may be a wise choice for the Knicks if they want to stay stable monetarily in the coming years. There can be no doubt that had it been not for the Chinese born player, the Knicks
would have had a far worse season. But, keeping in mind the tax provisions of the offer made by the Rockets and the player egos, the Knicks may not be left with any other choice but to let him go.
On the other hand, Felton who would be returning to New York, a team which he had represented in the 2010-2011 season and was part of the deal that brought Anthony to the Knicks.
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