Jeremy Lin: Why Mike Woodson's Commitment to Knicks PG Is Irrelevant

Forget that Mike Woodson just got a multi-year deal with the New York Knicks.

Forget that he just declared that Jeremy Lin has his complete support as the starting point guard.

What matters is that Lin is going to be very difficult to re-sign as a restricted free agent.

Woodson said on Wednesday, via USA Today:

"

Right now, he is our starting point guard, without a doubt. I've always believed this: When a starter goes down he doesn't lose his job because of an injury. You welcome him back with open arms when he gets healthy and you keep it moving.

"

Regardless of Woodson's position on one of this season's biggest surprises, the fact remains that there are a wealth of obstacles facing the Knicks this offseason. 

First of all, if the Knicks don't re-sign Lin at a bargain, they could lose several players, including J.R. Smith, Steve Novak and Landry Fields.

According to New York Magazine, if the Knicks don't re-sign Lin for $3 million or less, they will be stuck with a hard cap and only have $3 million more to spend for the rest of the offseason. So, they could re-sign Lin for more than $3 million, but they may lose valuable role players in the process.

Then you have to look at where Lin is coming from. He's toiled in and out of the NBA for years as an undrafted player out of Harvard. When he finally got a real chance to prove himself, he exploded for the Knicks this season, averaging 18.2 points, 7.7 assists and 2.0 steals in 25 starts while shooting nearly 45 percent from the floor. If it wasn't for him, the Knicks likely wouldn't have even made the playoffs.

In that sense, Lin frankly deserves at least around the neighborhood of $5 million, and he wouldn't be wrong for demanding that.

So, it's all fine and dandy that Woodson believes in Lin, but that doesn't really mean anything. It all comes down to money and logistics—you can't just will Lin to be on your team.

Now, if Lin likes where he's at and is encouraged by Woodson's support, perhaps he takes less money in order for the Knicks to field a better team. But that would be quite the gesture for a player who has been waiting for some kind of financial stability for years.

Woodson should be backing Lin for the work he did last season, but that doesn't get Lin any closer to re-signing with the New York Knicks.