Jeremy Lin Rumors: Why Lin's Return to Knicks Is No Sure Thing

New York Knicks head coach Mike Woodson seems certain that Jeremy Lin will be back inspiring Linsanity in New York during the 2012-2013 season. 

In an interview with the New York Post, Woodson had the following to say about the breakout point guard's potential return: 

"

Absolutely he’s going to be back. We like what he brings to the table. He’s our starting point guard. He’s a young point guard who’s still learning, and he’s going to be better. That’s what happens to good, young players. If they work at their craft, they’ll be much better for it. Absolutely, he wants to be here.

"

While Woodson is dead on with most of his quote, the first sentence isn't necessarily true. If the Knicks can re-sign the former Harvard floor general and NBA journeyman, they will. The problem is that they might not be able to do so. 

The NBA Players Association successfully restored Bird rights for both Lin and Steve Novak, allowing the two guards to be re-signed cheaply and saving the Knicks' mid-level exception. Well, that's what they originally thought at least. 

David Stern is appealing the decision of arbitrator Kenneth Dam, who ruled in favor of the NBAPA. Marc Berman of the New York Post, who also shared the aforementioned interview with Woodson, reported the following: 

"

According to a league official, Stern’s plan to appeal the union’s victory in the Jeremy Lin/Steve Novak Bird rights war may carry over into the July 1 start of free agency. That would delay the Knicks' ability to negotiate for any free agent and create a public-relations nightmare for Stern, whose office is in midtown.

"

This appeal would affect all four players who the league claims forfeited Bird rights by signing with new teams: Lin, Novak, J.J. Hickson and Chauncey Billups. 

The Players Association counters the NBA's argument by suggesting that the players in question were merely making the best of a bad situation once they were waived by teams.

Although the new CBA is quite thorough, no one could have anticipated waived players being good enough for their new teams that Bird rights would come into play. As there is no precedent for this situation, it's impossible to predict which side will prevail in the appeal.

Woodson is doing the right thing to fully endorse Lin. He isn't in control of what happens to his newest star player, but he has to make sure that Lin feels well-supported in order to fully earn confidence. I can't blame him for trying to do a little bit of brown-nosing here.  

However, when you're trying to figure out what's going to happen to Lin, don't listen to Woodson. The only "absolute" in this situation is uncertainty. 

For now, we're just dealing with a little Woodsanity.