Jeremy Lin: Knicks Would Be Crazy to Let Fan Favorite Walk
There will doubtlessly be lots interest in Jeremy Lin this offseason. He's a very affordable, very athletic point guard who's proven to be a huge draw with the fans.
And despite who else may be available on the free-agent market, the Knicks would be crazy to let him get away.
The chances that Lin ends up playing anywhere except New York next season are slim. It simply doesn't make sense for the Knicks to sign anyone else. They probably won't have the cap space to sign Steve Nash or Jason Kidd, and even if they did, Lin would still be a better option. He may be a cheaper alternative, but he's also younger and more athletic, and he's someone who fits in seamlessly—with the team and with the city.
Still, Lin knows that nothing is certain in this world of professional basketball. He told the New York Daily News' Stefan Bondy:
"Nothing is set in stone. That’s what I’ve learned. We talked about [my free agency]. I love the Knicks and the organization. But at the same time, it’s a business. Me, personally, I think it would be great if I come back. But crazy things happen and I don’t really know what’s going to happen.
"
It's no secret that for a long time, the Knicks were one of the NBA's laughingstocks. Fans were embarrassed by the team's futility. Prior to beating the Heat to stave off elimination in the first round of the playoffs this season, they had lost 13 straight playoff games, setting an NBA record. Before that win against the Heat, their last playoff victory came way back in 2001.
If Lin had been around for the playoffs this year, it likely would have been a different story for the Knicks. And next year, if he stays healthy, he gives the Knicks a proper floor general to carry them through the course of the regular season.
Lin gives New York as good a shot as anyone at building a great backcourt and a great team. It's just an added bonus that he won't cost as much as some of the marquee options, some of whom will be available this summer. And realistically, how much better would Nash or Kidd be for the Knicks? They're 38 and 39, respectively. They have a couple of years left, they're more injury-prone than Lin (particularly Kidd) and they're not as athletic.
Even Amare Stoudemire, who played with Nash in in Phoenix, admitted he'd love Lin to stick around, even after making a plug to bring his former teammate to New York.
He told Bondy, "What team wouldn’t want a two-time MVP, an assist leader, a veteran point guard? What team wouldn’t want that? But we do have Jeremy Lin here. And we have confidence in him and what he can do for us.”
And perhaps just as importantly, the New York fanbase finally has a player it cares about and loves. Lin doesn't go out and embarrass himself as he lives the high life in the big city. He doesn't cause behind-the-scenes drama in the locker room. He goes about his business, he's smart and he loves this game.
Bringing Lin back for another several years is a win-win for New York, no matter who else is out there. Some things just make sense.
