Photo Credit: nikk_la
This past Saturday, the New York Knicks have agreed to bring Raymond Felton back via a sign and trade with the Portland Trail Blazers. The acquisition was surprising to say the least since Jeremy Lin was technically still available.
The deal in full detail will send guard Raymond Felton and center Kurt Thomas to New York in exchange for center Dan Gadzuric and forward Jared Jeffries to the Blazers.
Let’s discuss the Jeremy Lin situation.
Early this month, as everyone already knows, the Houston Rockets aggressively offered Jeremy Lin an extensive contract [4 years - $30 million]. A huge deal that showed the league and the fans that Houston wanted another Yao Ming.
Being that Lin was a restricted free agent, the New York Knicks still had a chance of matching the offer, which many anticipated for the team to do.
Well, with yesterday’s turn of events [Raymond Felton acquisition], the Rockets’ four-year offer to Lin seems to now be set in stone.
With the Knicks grabbing another point guard, especially after the Jason Kidd signing, it seems that New York has finally decided to move forward without Jeremy Lin.
Photo Credit: Chamber of Fear/Wikimedia Commons
According to Newsday, the Felton deal is supposedly worth $18 million dollars for four years. While the Knicks still could sign Lin, doing so would give New York a huge luxury tax problem. Knicks owner, James Dolan has never shied away from going over the luxury tax and paying additional fees, but having three talented guards on the roster who absolutely want to play is just not a good idea.
So with that said, the “Lin-sanity” era is over, at least in New York. The organization would’ve had to match a large offer, a deal that even Knicks’ star Carmelo Anthony thought to be too crazy.
When asked about Houston’s offer sheet to Lin, Anthony replied:
“It’s not up to me,” Anthony said with a laugh. “It’s up to the organization to say they want to match that ridiculous contract that’s out there.”
This might be going overboard, but something tells us that Anthony never really supported Jeremy Lin, even though he was the guy that ultimately pitched the Harvard star’s name to the organization. The fact of the matter is that Anthony never thought Jeremy Lin would be so good. Anthony just wanted a true point guard and Lin was the closest player to satisfy that need.
In review of it all, Jeremy Lin is better off in Houston. Here’s why. When Carmelo Anthony returned to the Knicks, it was evident that Lin wasn’t the same player. Lin wasn’t as aggressive, in control, and definitely was no longer the point guard that scored a career-high 38 points against Kobe Bryant’s Lakers.
In order for Jeremy Lin to continue his success, he needs to play for an organization where the team needs his scoring ability along with all his other talents, such as passing and stealing the ball.
Houston could provide just that. The Rockets had made moves of their own in this off-season, including the PG Kyle Lowry trade for a future first round pick. In addition, the team had amnestied big man, Luis Scola, in hopes to sign free agent center Dwight Howard.
If Jeremy Lin is really a star, Houston would be a great place for him to shine without any distractions.
What’s your take on the whole Jeremy Lin saga?
Sources: SI.com, Newsday, CBSSports
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Lin is better off in Houston. I think he would have cracked under the intense microscope that is New York City. If the Knicks are letting Carmelo essentially run the show, they are doomed.
I agree. If New York thinks Carmelo Anthony is going to be the player that takes the Knicks to the promise land, the organization is in for a rude awakening.
Lin is surely better off in Houston. I don’t know if the Knicks ever really wanted him back in the first place. It does look like what Melo wants or doesn’t want there… Melo gets his way. But I’m not sure New York, aside from the PR bump when he took off initially, really felt after looking at the entire body of work over the season that he was a body that could get them to the next level.
I see it like this Bruce. Why not sign and gamble for a player who might actually be a great player? The worst that can happen is that Jeremy Lin struggles and becomes a decent bench player. The Knicks have made so many wrong decisions in the past, Stephon Marbury and Eddy Curry to name a few that it wouldn’t hurt to take a risk.
If Lin excels in Houston, it will be the worst decision the Knicks have made in many years.
Does anyone within the Knicks’ front office actually know what the hell they’re doing? This franchise will be so far above this upcoming season’s salary cap ($58.044 million) that it is idiotic to suggest what this team is trying to achieve. Because they, themselves are not so sure what it is they seek.
Jason Kidd got off to a good start having been busted for DUI in wrapping his vehicle around a utility pole. Oh he’ll be with the Knicks to mentor someone alright. As to what that might be in, who knows?
I wish I could tell you what the Knicks are thinking Alan, because I sure heck don’t know myself. I feel very strong about Jeremy Lin and I truly believe this will haunt the Knicks in the next few seasons. New York better hope that Lin is not the same player, because if the kid is anywhere close, we’ll be talking about this for a very long time.
This is an article on my take that Houston lost in signing Lin… they will have no chance to sign Howard or Paul now. http://110sportztalk.com/the-houston-rockets-rolled-the-dice/
Thanks. Will sure take a look when we get a chance.
Remember the good old days when the Knicks starting point guard couldn’t even afford a car… he’d eventually wreck into a telephone pole while driving drunk?
Doesn’t seem like all that long ago, does it?
Not at all Chris. It feels as if that memory never left.
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