New York Knicks: Are Jeremy Lin's Days Numbered in the Big Apple?

It's simply astounding to think how far we've come from that fateful February night when Linsanity, and more specifically, Jeremy Lin, broke out into a phenomena never before seen in the NBA. That's right, I said it: Never before seen in the NBA.

Not even a bold statement such as that can be debated.

But turn the clock forward to the first week of July and here are the Knicks courting another starting point guard during the free agency period. There's no doubt it's this team's intention, first and foremost, to bring Steve Nash to New York.

According to Marc Berman of the New York Post, the Knicks put on the same free agent show they normally do with top-notch talent and even discussed possible financial scenarios that could make Nash more money.

Even Carmelo Anthony and Knicks' assistant General manager Allan Houston attended a charity soccer event held by Nash, per Frank Isola of the New York Daily News.

All the while this full-court press to land another point guard is going on, Jeremy Lin is sitting around watching it all unfold. It can't be a pleasant sight for the same man who once had the globe in the palm of his hand.

Could it be possible such a marvel as Lin could be replaced just like that?

I find it hard to believe that if Nash comes to the Knicks, Lin will be so accepting to a backup role no matter who he's learning from. Besides the Linsane outrage the former Harvard grad's fanbase would display, it would almost be an insult if Lin were benched a year after single-handedly saving New York's season.

Just when you thought the Knicks would automatically match any offer, ESPN's Chris Broussard dropped the doomsday scenario that could leave New York unwilling to re-sign their star player.

The fact that a team like the Toronto Raptors can offer him a backloaded contract up to four years and $40 million dollars could make the Knicks flinch at such an offer and back off as a result of the new CBA's luxury tax set to hit for the 2013-14 season, per the same report.

Potentially having to take less money for a team that didn't want him in the first place will push J-Lin to spurn the Knicks entirely. After all, we're talking about a guy who spent last season sleeping on a teammate's couch. I'm sure the stability of such a lucrative contract from the Raptors is looking pretty good right now.

With the Knicks' help, Lin could be on his way out the door within a few weeks. If the Knicks do land Nash, they might not find it necessary to match the backloaded offer. In that case, Lin will take his starting job, and the money, to wherever will make the best home for him in the future.

And I wouldn't blame Lin one bit for not wanting to stick around in any scenario.

New York is playing a dangerous game at this moment and it's one that could cost them for the long term. However, unfortunately for Lin and his fans, this is a win now town and if Nash gives this team a better chance to win a championship—and he does—then that is exactly who the Knicks will choose.

Even if it is only one championship, that is all it'll ever take for the Knicks' tortured fanbase. Clearly, guitar-playing Jimmy Dolan would trade years of success for one ring and more years of rebuilding to follow.

In that case, it could be curtains for one of the greatest shows ever to come down Broadway. Linsanity could very well pack up and head on down the road out of town.

How unthinkable is that?