NBA Rumors: Raptors Must Bring Jeremy Lin to Toronto

The Toronto Raptors are one of the NBA's least popular teams because of their location and marginal success. According to Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News, Toronto will pursue restricted free agent Jeremy Lin this offseason in an attempt to curtail their recent woes.

Lin would not necessarily boost their win total by himself, but his popularity would pay huge dividends to the Raptor franchise.

Lawrence believes the Raptors will have to back-load a contract in order to lure Lin from the Knicks' grasp. Paying Lin a lot of money at the end of his contract will be a tough offer for the Knicks to match.

Raptors' management should already be familiar with Lin's immediate impact on their television ratings. The Raptors played the Knicks on February 14 this season on TSN.

TSN had this to say after the contest.

"

Basketball fans cozied up to Canada’s Sports Leader on Val-LIN-tine’s Day as preliminary data from BBM Canada confirms an average audience of 342,000 viewers watched New York Knicks sensation Jeremy Lin sink a thrilling three-pointer with 0.5 seconds left on the clock to defeat the Toronto Raptors 90-87.

Last night’s Toronto Raptors game marked the team’s most-watched game on TSN since April 2010. It also delivered the highest average audience for any Raptors game since the 2009-10 NBA season.

As Lin’s “LIN-derella” story continued, audience levels peaked at 571,000 viewers at 9:36 p.m. ET when the Knicks’ point guard secured New York’s come-from-behind win with a three-point shot.

Overall, 1.8 million unique viewers watched some or all of last night’s hoops match-up on TSN.

Tonight, the Raptors return to the hardcourt at home when they take on the San Antonio Spurs live at 7 p.m. ET on TSN2. TSN’s NBA package also includes exclusive coverage of NBA All-Star Weekend in Orlando, FL from Feb. 24-26.

"

That sort of popularity does not grow on trees in Toronto. Grabbing the interest of the fans and improving the talent level on the team should be Toronto's primary goal at this point.

Lin can do both of those things.

Jose Calderon's Contract

Jose Calderon averaged over 10 points per game this season and nearly nine assists. He is a solid catalyst, but he is owed $10.5 million next season.

Lin would be a cheaper option, but you would be sacrificing Calderon's talent and familiarity with the Raptor players.

Calderon has asked for trades in the past, and wishes to join a contender. Regardless of Toronto's performance in free agency and the 2012 NBA draft, they will not contend next season.

The Raptors would be smart to cut ties with Calderon's cap hit and move in a new direction. Lin's popularity is maximized by New York's bright lights, but Toronto fans would welcome the hype with open arms.

Lin's production moving forward is tough to predict, but the accompanied ratings are not.

Will Fit Toronto's Current Group of Players

Lin is used to playing New York's wide open, transition game. Toronto has the players to run that same system.

The Raptors have open-court threats in DeMar DeRozan and James Johnson. Ed Davis and Andrea Bargnani can also run the floor from their forward spots.

Lin struggled with turnovers in 2012, but he is still a solid option to run the break. He knows how to find open teammates on the break, or through the half-court pick and roll.

The Raptors need an affordable facilitator for their offense. They will have a lottery pick to add another piece in the 2012 NBA draft, but an offense starts with the point guard.

Lin is not a superstar, but he makes perfect sense for a team starved for excitement.