Knicks Making Right Choice by Letting Jeremy Lin Leave New York

The writing's on the wall now. And it says Jeremy Lin won't be a New York Knick much longer. After the Knicks pulled off a sign-and-trade with the Portland Trail Blazers for Raymond Felton on July 15, it seems highly unlikely that they'll match Houston's offer for Lin.

And that's the right decision.

Having solidified the point guard position with two solid veterans in Felton and Jason Kidd, Lin is expendable. And as a matter of fact, considering the salaries, Felton is a better fit for the Knicks.

For around $3 million per year, Felton gives the Knicks more bang for their buck than they'd get if they matched the Rockets' offer sheet to Lin. (And it's a ridiculous offer, if you take Carmelo Anthony's word for it.)

Felton has proven himself to be a steady—if unspectacular—performer during his seven-year career. His player efficiency rating has been between 13.46 and 16.68 in every year of his career.

That's predictability the Knicks won't get from Lin, who only performed at a high level for a short time last season.

Who's to say that Lin will ever regain the form he showed last season after knee surgery? When you factor in that Lin's deal—also for three years—would cost the Knicks two-and-a-half times the money, it's a an easy decision.

Of course, Lin does provide marketing opportunities Felton can't match due to his popularity with fans in New York and abroad. But from a pure basketball perspective, Felton is a better value. And with Jason Kidd still capable of providing a few quality minutes in support of Felton, Lin is that much more expendable.

Lin's made a habit of proving people wrong over the last year, so the Knicks might be another in the long list of teams that underestimated his value.

Ultimately, Raymond Felton has been pretty good for seven years. Lin, on the other hand, was very good for six weeks. In choosing Felton over Lin, the Knicks are clearly thinking with their heads and not their hearts.

They're making the right decision by letting Lin go.