NBA Rumors: Raptors Should Make Jeremy Lin an Offer Knicks Won't Match

The Toronto Raptors could use a healthy dose of Linsanity. Luckily for them, they have a chance to add the cultural phenom/point guard Jeremy Lin in free agency. 

Lin is a restricted free agent this offseason. That means he is free to field offers. If he chooses to accept one, the New York Knicks will have three days to match the offer. 

So the Raptors would have to slightly overpay for Lin, but it would be worth it. And it might be something they are willing to do, as they are reportedly interested. 

The New York Post's Marc Berman has the inside information. "A source confirmed Toronto, which has a large Chinese population, will be one suitor [for Lin]," Berman reported. 

As Berman's words point out, the addition of Lin would help create a nice buzz around a franchise that could use it. 

Toronto was 20th in the NBA this season by having an attendance percentage for home games of 85. Lin would certainly help give this a boost. 

The guy made the Knicks the hottest ticket in the NBA for a stretch last season, and while he is unlikely to ever recreate that kind of amazing hype, he still figures to be a nice selling point—especially for Toronto's large Chinese population. 

But this would not just be a gimmick move for the Raptors. They could use his talents. Their starting point guard last year, Jose Calderon, is a decent player, but he is injury prone. 

He has played a full 82 games just once in his seven-year career and has missed at least 13 games in each of his past four seasons. 

He also is in the last year of his contract and is scheduled to make almost $10.6 million next year. This will make him, and his expiring contract, a valuable trade asset next season. 

The addition of Lin will make it much easier for the Raptors to part ways with Calderon. Lin could team up Jerryd Bayless to give the Raptors a solid duo at point guard. This would also allow them to let PG Ben Uzoh walk in free agency. 

This is a great fit for many reasons, and these all combine to make the Raptors offering a contract slightly above market value a good play for the franchise.