Jeremy Lin: Houston Rockets Will Regret Lucrative Contract for Unproven Guard

The Houston Rockets appear to have inked Jeremy Lin to a lucrative enough offer sheet for the New York Knicks to be prepared to let him walk and for them to end up massively regretting the deal. 

ESPN is reporting, according to sources, that the Rockets offer is for three years for just over $25 million, and the Knicks will not match. 

The real kicker on this deal is the third year. According to the above report, Lin would be paid $5 million in the first year and $5.2-plus million in the second year. Then in the third year, that number jumps to a whopping $14.8 million. 

That is a giant cap-eating number—one that Lin simply has not proven he's worth. 

As Lin went from a benchwarmer to international phenomenon, his reputation outgrew his merit, which was understandable. He turned around a Knicks team that was injured and on the verge of the abyss. 

However, he began to fall back to earth a bit and looked completely ordinary once he was out of Mike D'Antoni's system. When Lin was at his best, he was pushing the pace and running a ton of isolation plays, which is his true bread and butter. 

He finished the season having appeared in 35 games and averaged 14.6 points, 6.2 assists and 3.1 rebounds a game. He also averaged 3.6 turnovers a game. 

Lin is just 23, and he will be preparing to enter his prime as that massive third year kicks in, but he's a flawed and limited player. He's a borderline starter and has shown far less consistency or adaptability than the two point guards the Rockets just saw depart in Kyle Lowry and Goran Dragic.

Lin's contract is far too prohibitive in relation to his talent. This is why the Knicks are reportedly set to pass on it, and the Rockets will end up regretting it.