Jeremy Lin: How Linsanity Almost Came to the Chicago Bulls

Jeremy Lin could've easily been a Chicago Bull. Believe it or not, the cookie almost crumbled like this. Allow me to explain.

Mike James, who is Chicago's fourth-string point guard (after Derrick Rose, C.J. Watson and John Lucas III), is already in his second stint with the Bulls in this lockout-shortened season.

He was initially signed in early January after Watson injured his elbow. They simply added him for insurance at the point guard spot. However, after Rose and Lucas III battled their own injuries, James saw some court time for a couple games and didn't disappoint.

He tallied nine points and 10 assists in 17 minutes versus Charlotte on January 21. Despite the impressive play against the Bobcats, he didn't see another minute before his release in late January.

Around this time, the Knicks were undergoing major questions at the point guard position. Injuries, underachieving players and washed-up veterans trickled through their roster.

They had recently picked up Jeremy Lin, but appeared hesitant to give him the green light. Sounds insane to not give him the green light now—or should I say linsane?

Recently, James personally revealed that the Knicks were considering dropping Lin to add him.  This transaction would've occurred around three weeks ago, prior to James latching on with the Bulls once again and obviously prior to the wonder known as Linsanity.

Thus, we're left with a hypothetical situation that we, as fans, cannot ignore. 

Let's say Lin was released by New York and the Knicks then added James. 

With James off the table, the Bulls would've had limited options to once again plug the hole in their point guard depth (as Rose has been battling an injury again). They would've had to search the likes of: Rafer Alston (too old), Gilbert Arenas (too risky), Earl Boykins (too short), Allen Iverson (no thanks) and Lin (ehhh...why not?).

I obviously can't read the mind of Chicago GM Gar Forman, but his logic would've most likely looked something like this. Out of those options, Lin's the most appealing and there would've been no worries concerning him disrupting team chemistry. 

The interesting thing is that if the Bulls had picked up Lin, he would still be a no-name. 

He maybe would've received some spot minutes due to the bevy of injuries the Bulls have endured, but with the MVP D-Rose on the roster, it's not like Lin would've had the opportunity to become lincredible.

Frankly, the Bulls would've just been another pit stop on Lin's quest to NBA stardom. However, at least this scenario would've kept him from going to Eastern Conference rival New York.

Nonetheless, speculating this situation reveals the depths to what takes place in the NBA.

Lin's career has been directed in a way in which he's been blessed, because he could've very easily been cut by New York, picked up by a stacked team like the Bulls, cut again, picked up by another stacked team, then cut again (this is the cycle that many NBA journeymen go through—ask James).

It's quite curious to think that the Knicks were on the verge of releasing Lin just a few weeks ago. It's also quite curious to think that Super Lintendo could currently be riding the pine on Chicago's bench.

But if that were the case, league linterest wouldn't be nearly what it is now.