Knicks Rumors: New York Must Re-Sign Jeremy Lin to Compete for Title Next Season

Free agent Jeremy Lin helped to turn the New York Knicks' season around in 2011-12, but after talks with the Houston Rockets, we might see Lin leave the Big Apple sooner rather than later.

According to a recent tweet from ESPN's Chris Broussard, PG sensation Lin is going to Houston to meet with the team today, which has to put the Knicks in severe panic mode.

It was Lin who revived this team last season, when he was undoubtedly the most solid player New York had at the position.

"

Jeremy Lin will visit the Houston Rockets tomorrow, sources say.

— Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) July 3, 2012"

Other sources, including AP and Yahoo! Sports, are reporting that Lin could well be offered a contract upon going to Houston.

If the Knicks were to lose Lin to a team like the Rockets or some other team shopping for a PG this offseason, their hopes to compete in the NBA playoffs would be diminished.

Lin was as productive as you could ask for offensively for this team a season ago. His 14.6 points and 6.2 assists came in just 26.9 minutes per game. This was all done while shooting a respectable 44.6 percent from the field.

Talk about some impressive figures.

Carmelo Anthony went down and Lin was still able to win games for the team. He was 7-0 in his first seven starts, a streak in which Lin scored at least 20 points in six games, posted two double-doubles and hit a game-winning shot against the Raptors.

It was mind-boggling to see just how solid Lin was in the starting rotation. Prior to starting games for the team, the Knicks were just 8-15 and struggling to get anything going. It was a season that many thought was all but over.

The other major factor here is that there are few options out there for the Knicks to snag at PG. Jason Kidd and Steve Nash would be the two most attractive free agents, yet both deny the Knicks any sort of insurance policy for the future. The team is not a championship contender just yet, so a younger point guard is undoubtedly the more efficient move here for the Knicks.

Considering the way he won games for this team, was especially productive in his minutes and the scarcity of PGs in the free-agency pool, it is important that the Knicks get Lin back in the Big Apple.