NBA Rumors: Knicks Should Stick with Jeremy Lin Instead of Chasing Steve Nash

The New York Knicks weren't even out of the playoffs for a day before Amar'e Stoudemire made waves by talking about bringing in Steve Nash for next season. Even though Nash has terrific credentials, the Knicks should stick with breakout star Jeremy Lin at point guard.

Stoudemire, who played alongside Nash with the Phoenix Suns, told the New York Daily News that Nash would be a great fit in New York. The 38-year-old point guard hasn't ruled out any options, but will prefer to land with a contender.

Meanwhile Lin will be a restricted free agent this offseason after a breakout campaign that saw him take the sports world by storm for a couple weeks. He continued to play well after the hype died down until suffering a knee injury that has held him out of playoff action.

He averaged 15 points and six assists in 35 games. He turned into the team's top scoring threat while Carmelo Anthony was sidelined and then transitioned into more of a distributor's role when Anthony returned, showing off some nice versatility.

His turnovers were an issue at nearly four per game, but it's important to remember this season marked the first time he received extensive playing time at the NBA level. Combined with all the hoopla surrounding his play, the game probably seemed like it was moving 10 times faster than it really was.

Even so, he was able to show off a lot of potential and he'll only be 24 when the next season begins. After the year he just had, the Knicks shouldn't give up on him in favor of pursuing Nash.

First and foremost, there's no guarantee Stoudemire and Co. would be able to convince Nash to make Madison Square Garden his new home. The South Beach trio is expected to make a pitch to the veteran as well, and their talk about a title would probably be more convincing.

The Miami Heat haven't been able to get consistent production from the point guard position since forming the super team in 2010. That opportunity could be enough for Nash to consider taking less money in hopes of earning his first ring.

So the Knicks would already be playing from behind in the Nash sweepstakes. And with so much cap space already allocated for next season, it's hard to imagine New York finding a way to fit both players on the roster. The Knicks only have one mid-range exception to use.

That makes things tough on the front office because they would have to give up a potential star—and marketing gold—in exchange for a player with only two or three years left in the tank. They would have to feel extremely confident they are title contenders with Nash.

Ultimately, the Knicks would be better off sticking with Lin and letting him develop. Even though that wouldn't maximize the team's short-term ability, it gives them the most long-term upside and that's what New York should be looking at.

The Knicks have built a strong foundation and Lin has become a key part of it. Now's not the time to reverse course.