Why NBA Teams Won't Be Lining Up to Land Jeremy Lin

Jeremy Lin may be on more than a few teams' wish lists, but that doesn't mean he's going anywhere this summer.

The New York Knicks will have the right to match any offers those suitors might make, and Mike Woodson has already made it pretty clear Lin isn't going anywhere.

You could have probably figured out as much regardless of Woodson's thoughts. Lin is the best point guard the Knicks can realistically get their hands on—especially if you're thinking about this club from a long-term perspective.

Sure, Steve Nash could do worlds for this team in the short term, but there's no question Lin has earned the chance to prove he's New York's point guard of the future. He averaged 14.6 points and 6.2 assists in 35 games with the Knicks this season, and there's little doubt he'll only get better.

Of course, Lin has also become something of a fan favorite (in case you hadn't noticed).

As valuable as he is to this roster's chances to win games, he's even more important to the Knicks from a financial standpoint. Even if he doesn't produce superstar numbers on the court, he certainly produces superstar returns when it comes to television viewership and merchandise sales.

And you can assume Lin's exit would result in nothing short of a revolt by a fan base already frustrated this team's sustained irrelevance.

The rest of the Knicks' roster wouldn't be especially pleased, either. Lin quickly established himself as the consummate team player, the kind of guy who impacts the locker room as much as he does the final score.

James Dolan understands all this, and you can bet the rest of the league's general managers understand it as well.

Pursuing Lin would be a waste of time for organizations looking to make a splash in free agency. While some may opt to test New York's resolve, it won't take long for them to get their answer.

Lin may be one of the few sure things in New York's future.

The Knicks' coaching situation remains unsettled, at least officially. And, there's no telling what will happen to the personnel on the floor so long as Amar'e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony struggle to find a chemistry that works.

Only time will tell if Lin is indeed the answer to New York's struggles, but he'll have the chance to prove he's precisely that.