Trade Jeremy Lin. There, I Said It (And Carmelo and Amar'e Too!)

The old adage, "Buy Low / Sell High" is oft-repeated for good reason: because it makes sense.

New York Knicks fans, caught up in the hysteria of Jeremy Lin, should heed this obvious phrase, especially since about half of the people sitting in the visible seats at Madison Square Garden are Wall Streeters, making millions doing just that.  And while they may not understand the game of basketball to its fullest extent, they should understand the simple characteristics of a market, which is Lin himself.

Currently, the Knicks are still an average team, with different parts bouncing all over the court, leaving everyone guessing whether this Lin-conducted experiment will pan out.  Will Lin, Carmelo Anthony, Amar'e Stoudemire and newly acquired J.R. Smith play a selfless style and propel this team toward a championship? 

The good money here says, "No", since to say "Yes" flies in the face of the historical data surrounding these players.  You have to look at this realistically, seeing through the euphoric mist hovering around MSG.  The likelihood of it working out are very slim since none of these guys have ever really proven themselves to be great team players, or winners in the NBA. Does ownership want to roll those dice?  I sure wouldn't. 

So make moves now.  Capitalize on the market, as they say.

If you watched the New Jersey Nets dismantle the Knicks last night, you should have noticed a couple of things.  First of which is that Deron Williams is a special player; everything you hope Jeremy Lin could be, but never will be. 

The type of player who has a tremendous understanding of the game, range from anywhere on the floor and the overall physical ability to carry a team.  He's a player who makes others better and, despite not having won any championships himself, the talent is clearly evident. He is a better version of Lin, with a track record to prove it. 

The Knicks should be dealing Lin and Anthony for Williams.  Yep, he's absolutely worth both players.  Right now it is being suggested by a majority of Knicks fans, the team is better with Lin on the floor and Anthony off of it.  If that is the case, which I believe it is, then having Williams on the court in place of both makes them even better.

The Nets, in desperate need of star caliber player to launch their new stadium in Brooklyn, get to do so on the back of "Linsanity!"  In addition, it would immediately create a serious rivalry, with Anthony's mouth being the voice the Nets will need to complete for airtime in the market.  It is a win-win.

The second move is the obvious one: pair Deron Williams with Dwight Howard.

Howard is a free agent at season's end, so Orlando is almost forced to trade him or bring in another player to make him happy.  The former situation is seemingly more likely.  This is where the Knicks come in.

Send Amar'e Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler, two players who are locked into contracts, to the Magic for Howard.  Neither would be too difficult to re-sign if the Magic so desired.

For all the talk about the Lakers' Andrew Bynum and Pao Gasol going to Orlando for Howard, Bynum has had injury problems more recently than Stoudemire and Gasol evokes about as much excitement as skim milk. The Knicks could even sweeten the deal if need be with a player like Iman Shumpert, but the deal should be done NOW.

Knicks fans are clearly in love with the Lin story, but as his game starts to normalize they will be asking, "what have you done for me lately?" The wave will crest soon and, before anyone realizes it, the sea will become flat.  He's an average to good player who today is valued much more highly than he is truly worth..  

New York fans do not care what you once were—or did—unless you are Derek Jeter and that is because he won titles.  Lin is not winning titles.  The moment the league figures out that Lin is a middle-of-the-pack point guard who cannot shoot with his left hand and is—at best—an average defender, it will be too late to make a significant deal. 

Right now he is a world wide phenomenon, which is a greater asset to a Nets team receiving him than his actual abilities would suggest.  The Nets can sell Jerseys and seats, which is more important to them than it is the Knicks, who already sell both with ease.

As for Howard, New York is a city which loves defense first.  The high-flying act Mike D'antoni has brought to town is nice, but it is not going to win championships.  It is a city which still pines for Charles Oakley, Anthony Mason and the rough and tumble Knicks of the early 90s. 

Going point for point with Lebron James and the Miami Heat is not a way to succeed, nor is matching Derek Rose with Lin.  But rejecting James at the rim?  Matching up Rose with Williams?  That is what Knicks fans truly want to see.  Howard represents more of what New Yorkers love about basketball than any of the players on their team now.  Williams would be another star point guard Knicks fans adore, no different from Walt Frazier, Mark Jackson, and even Derek Harper.

Buy low; sell high.  Now is the time.  Do not get fooled into thinking this team is built for long term success.  For whatever reason the basketball Gods decided to hand the Knicks this bonus chip, and it is called Jeremy Lin.  Do not waste it. 

This is an opportunity, and in New York City, sometimes you only get one.  Take it while you have the chance.