Jeremy Lin: What Should New York Knicks Do with the PG in a Post D'Antoni Era?

So much has changed since the beginning of Linsanity. Mike D'Antoni is out as the New York Knicks head coach, Jeremy Lin is out for the rest of the season with a meniscus tear in his left knee and Linsanity has died.

It has been clear that D'Antoni was the first one to give Lin his first chance at NBA stardom in February, but with D'Antoni out as Knicks coach, what will happen to Lin now?

Anything is possible in New York, with things changing daily, and unfortunately Lin is a piece of the puzzle that can be replaced. For now, nothing is set in stone on what the Knicks will do with the hot commodity Lin, but how the Knicks' season plays out could be a huge factor.

Now with a void at point guard for the rest of the season, players like Baron Davis, Mike Bibby and Iman Shumpert are going to be key pieces in running this offense.

The Knicks will not get the same offensive push that Lin gave, but these players are going to have to find a way to win games. If they can’t find a way to create offense, the absence of Lin will be magnified. If they do find some offense, Lin could just see himself on the bench again come next season.

The development of Iman Shumpert is key in the Lin process as well. Iman was initially brought in to give the Knicks defense and athleticism in the backcourt. After an early injury hampered Shumpert, we never got to see what kind of things he could do as point.

In the last four games, he has been electrifying and even handling the ball more. Only a rookie, his upside is incredible and could solidify himself as the point guard of the future.

Free agency is one thing that could kill the value of Lin on the Knicks as well. Everyone in America knows that the Knicks are desperate for a point guard and will do anything to get one.

Steve Nash will be a free agent this year and has already made it clear that he wants to play for a contender. If Amar'e Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony and Steve Nash aren’t a championship contender, I don’t know what is.

In this situation, it would be more of a learning experience with Lin being the student in this class.

With Mike Woodson with the clipboard, things could become interesting for Lin and his future. Woodson is defense-first, and that is one thing that Lin lacked during Linsanity and after.  That is one thing that Lin would have to improve on before next season, or he will be buried in the deep bench of the Knicks.

Of course, Lin boosted the Knicks to a nice hot streak in late February, but as fast as it started, it ended. One thing that he could never conquer was playing alongside the Knicks' franchise player Carmelo Anthony. 

When Anthony returned to the lineup, the chemistry between the two never was a perfect fit. This was evident in the fact that in the games when Lin and Melo were on the court together, the Knicks were a dismal 2-8.

If you can’t play with the star player of the team, that could be a one-way ticket out the door. After giving away half of their team last year to get Anthony, be sure that the Knicks will not be letting him go because he can’t play with the overnight star.

Melo is at his best with the ball in his hands and creating his own shots, not waiting for the ball. Lin would have to change his game to cater to Melo if this New York marriage had to work.

Throughout all the expectations, Jeremy Lin will see himself in a role-player position, maybe the sixth man off the bench.

Mike Woodson is a great with personnel and would put Lin in the best position that would guarantee wins for the team.  For now, we don’t know what will happen—we will just have to sit back and watch how the rest of the regular season plays out.