http://tracking.si.com/2012/07/15/knicks-close-to-obtaining-raymond-felton/
Trading for Felton is a very surprising move. With Felton and Kidd, it does seem to mean that the Knicks will not sign Jeremy by the Tuesday deadline. From a basketball standpoint, Jeremy is clearly better than Felton. Financially, it doesn't make sense either given the revenue that Linsanity has brought to the Knicks.
One possibility is that the Knicks are looking ahead to next year when they could try to sign Chris Paul as a free agent. That's the only possible angle I see for why they would trade for Felton.
If the Rockets succeed in acquiring Dwight Howard, then the combination with Lin would be fantastic. The Rockets have the type of assets Orlando is looking for: young players, draft picks and cap space to absorb some of their long term big contracts. With Bynum unwilling to commit long term to Orlando, I see the Rockets as the leaders in the Howard pursuit.
NY Daily News just posted this as well:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/knicks/jeremy-lin-mix-ny-knicks-sign-and-trade-portland-trailblazers-raymond-felton-article-1.1114768?localLinksEnabled=false
Jeremy Lin will thrive and excel in Houston. Bye bye New York
ReplyDeleteEscape From NY, Starring Jeremy Lin
ReplyDeleteEven though the local South Carolina reporter who broke the story and spoke to Felton directly (Felton is from SC) said the Knicks wouldn't match Lin.......I'm still going to wait until Wednesday morning to celebrate.
ReplyDeleteApparently, the clock didn't start until tonight,, so 11:59PM Tuesday is the deadline. Clearly the Knicks are flip-floppers, so I won't jump the gun on Houston despite all evidence to the contrary.
Can't wait for the whole chapter to close once and for all. Give Jeremy a break; he is sandwich in between for he is RFA and the hefty contract Rockets put up has made Knicks to back off and think twice which is good for both parties. I trust the Knicks will harbours acrimonious feeling into so call underhand tactic by Rockets in this deal but business is business. Was Knicks management is being childish by avoiding to accept the signed contract? Nobody knows what is on their mind. Part ways before things turn ugly and making stupid decision to spite your competitor is not very professional and level headed for a biz organisation.
ReplyDeleteMichelle,
DeleteI have a feeling that this "loophole" / poison pill in the contract will be closed eventually. The Warriors had a similar situations years back when Gilbert Arenas was a two year restricted free agent. The Warriors had his rights but could only make a contract IF IT DIDN'T GO OVER their salary cap. Of course, Arenas left to sign with Washington. The setup was changed so the original team had a better chance to sign a player.
But taking this discussion back to Jeremy, it may work out perfectly. Houston isn't a great team but as Yao was once a player for the Rockets, he can talk to Yao more. Yao presumably still has his house in Houston and Jeremy will have plenty of advice. I don't know if any other teams were willing to offer a contract to Jeremy but it doesn't matter now. Jeremy has earned this opportunity whether it is with the Rockets (likely) or Knicks (not looking good, but may be a good thing)
Damn you do, damn you don't! Knicks has built quite and impressive portfolio now to be a strong contender for next season playoff with the additional of Felton, therefore letting Lin go to Houston should be a done deal. Jeremy is 23 and whether he will be getting better, it will be all all up to him and his coaches in Houston to improve and develop him to become one of the best PG in the league. He has his momentand hype in MSG so is time to move on for a more 'normalise' environment. I do admits that I am very proud of him for perservered in achiving his dream in the league and now I pray that he will not lost in all the money and fame and lead him astray. I am not some young girls falling head over toe for him. I am 41 and had my days on court. Jeremy bring back the competative mode and good old days in me
DeleteMichelle,
DeleteUnlike most NBA players, Jeremy's support structure is probably family first (and probably his church / pastor) and not his business or athletic advisors. In many ways, he is a typical Asian kid! Not saying other NBA players don't have these kind of support. But many NBA players run wild once they get a taste of money, women and other things. I think Jeremy will be fine, but not saying he won't make any mistakes like any young kids sometimes do.
As for New York, if Jeremy leaves, I'm not much of a fan anymore. I liked most of the players except Melo. Melo may be a nice guy but his style of play is just so typical of today's NBA (one-on-one). Jeremy is a bit of a throw back to the old days of team ball.
Happy to hear you are / were a basketball player! I'm a few years younger than you and still playing in Asian leagues out here in the SF Bay Area. Jeremy Lin may have brought attention that Asian-American boys / men play basketball. But some people don't realize that there's Asian-American women are ballers too.
If I may ask, where are you from and where did you play? I have a feeling that you played in the East Coast and played in the North American Chinese Basketball Invitational Tournament? :)
Sorry to dissapoiment you DCL; I am chinese lady from the other side of Atlantic Ocean, so can you imagine rhe ungodly hours I hv to stay awake to watch his game! But it was all well worth it. I came from a very traditional family that superceed academic over athletic, therefore I envy the liberal education sys that saddle with sports as one of the extra curriculum which carry much weight.
DeleteJeremy Lin has already been talking to Yao all through last season.
DeleteAfter every game, Lin and Yao would talk and analyze Lin's game. Yao is Lin's NBA mentor, and that's a big reason why Lin plays like a veteran.
Houston had a close relationship with its retired pro athletes. I fully expect that Jeremy Lin will be adopted by more athletes than just Yao.
Michelle,
DeleteWell nice to "meet you", even if you're all the way on the other side of the world! :)
When I visited China with my parents (I am Toishan by origin) back around 2006, I actually played some pick up / street basketball with our tour guide in China. The game is still the same, but a little different because I don't speak Mandarin (Cantonese or Toishan only).
If you played basketball in China, you're like Yao's mom. :)
Eh... Thanks for the compliment.I am Singaporean and my dad originated from Guangzhou, therefore I speak Cantonese quite well. If you by any chance visiting South East Asia, can considers Singapore in your itinerary. I am excited for Lin pending visit to Taiwan in late August.
DeleteLooks like Linsanity is coming to Houston! Knicks' lose.
ReplyDeleteCrazy, right? NY media is blowing up right now.
ReplyDeleteSeems like a snap decision by the Knicks front office. His poor season notwithstanding, Felton was the last remaining viable starting PG on the FA market. If the Knicks really want to get back at the Rockets for changing the terms, they should match on Lin and leave the Rockets with no viable starting PG to pair with Howard.
The only major differences between the 1st offer and the signed offer sheet are a higher salary and luxury tax hit in the 3rd year. The Knicks roster flexibility is the same with the 1st offer, the signed offer sheet, and Felton's contract.
Unlikely the Knicks will carry 4 PGs, including 2 young PGs who expect to start. Also, Felton is not a combo guard, though he played the 3rd guard combo role with the Nuggets in 2010-11. Which makes this unlikely:
This makes basketball sense with Lin if the Knicks plan to play Kidd exclusively as a 2. Lin starts, Felton backs up at the 1. Kidd starts, Smith backs up at the 2.
* NY sports media
DeleteBoth Ramon Sessions and Aaron Brooks were better than Felton ... but whatever. I guess it's his "history" with the Knicks franchise that matters.
DeleteSessions was unavailable, signed by the Bobcats. Brooks has fallen off the map, didn't play in the NBA last season.
DeleteI don't want to pop my bottle of champagne yet! KNICKS management are known to be making some irrational decisions in the past. Maybe Dolan wake up one morning before the 3 days and decided to match Rockets offer. If that happen, forget me Lord for my sin for breaking my vouch not not curse anymore as long as I live.
ReplyDeleteGet ready for blast off!
ReplyDeleteJeremy Lin, Jeremy Lamb, Deight Howard = Big 3
With Coach McHale Calling the gameplan. Houston basketball is back on the map!
I am happy that Lin will get to run his own team. But, he has to feel slighted that after D'Antoni left no one embraced Lin the same way. Management made a ton - but will also lose a lot in MSG stock when Lin leaves. Overall, it would've been great for Lin to continue to succeed in NYC. You can become a legend in that city (I guess which he already did).
ReplyDeleteBut from a basketball standpoint and Lin fan, this is really great news. The kid can now develop with about 1/5 of the media attention. Plus being a west coast fan, I can now watch more of his games and don't have to rush home as early from work.
The Knicks are also bringing back Kurt Thomas with Felton in the trade with Portland. That's 39 year old Kurt Thomas--to go along with the 38 year old Camby and 40 year old Kidd.
ReplyDeleteLooks like it might actually be possible that the Knicks will sign John Starks to be the backup shooting guard!
New York is hilarious--in a crazy dysfunctional, "what will they do next" way!
Hilarious and dysfunctional and crazy - and PREDICTABLE.
DeleteYoung "unproven" (as in "unproven" with other teams) goes out the door Proven veteran (OLD) talent in.
That's decades of Knicks basketball for you. That's also why I am NOT a Knicks fan even though I'm from NY.
I predicted here months ago that Jeremy Lin could end up joining Mark Jackson and Rod Strickland and even the original Raymond Felton as a promising young Knick PG who was kicked off the team. COOL.
Knicks added a backup PG. They added Felton in case Kidd or JLin is injured. That is just sensible team management. This move does not make it suddenly overwhelmingly likely Knicks are letting JLin go to Houston. What it does mean is that there is now competition at the PG spot. It also means added pressure on JLin. If Felton and JLin put up similar stats, Woodson and fans would probably prefer Felton.
ReplyDeleteDon't forget the Knicks also signed 35 year old Pablo Prigioni as a back up point guard.
DeleteThat makes 4 pgs on the team if they keep JLin.
Guess the Knicks are really taking to heart Woodson's comment that Veteran (or did he mean elderly?) teams win championships!
Knicks is saturated with PG at the moment and it seems they are determine to go for this year run of the Championship which is understandable with signing all the veterans.
DeleteThat's not happening..they're not going to keep Lin IF the rumors of the Felton trade are indeed true. They still haven't been confirmed in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteI'm not really a Rockets fan though I did follow them through the Yao era. It would be AWESOME to see Jlin and Dwight team up....Dwight actually passes the ball and is an incredible defensive/rebounding presence. It would be ironic to see the two biggest free agent stories of the year end up in Houston.
Knicks are a mess, and will always be with that idiot Dolan at the helm. They are going to regret losing him in a BIG way. With or without Jeremy, that current composition of the Knick's team is not good enough to ever win a championship. Without jlin, they can probably make it to the second round in the playoffs, and maybe the conference finals if they get lucky (once). With Jlin, they could probably go deep into the playoffs, but will never win a championship. Houston is the better option bar none.
The current Knicks roster just makes me chuckle. On paper it looks like a decent team, but in reality it's almost like a scarecrow on a farm. It's not a real threat. Kidd is a downgrade from Jeremy and I'm predicting he will be just like another Bibby next year because his physical ability has greatly deteriorated. Felton is basically like a Baron Davis and Toney Douglas so there's basically no change in terms of helping the team. If you look at Stat last year, you can tell he was very uncoordinated compared to his previous years in NY mainly because of his personal problems and depression I'm assuming. Im guessing he willl remain the same next season since Melo is hogging the ball. Camby was OK this season but when next season comes along, I don't think he can do much other than a few hustle plays for a few minutes a games. He's a downgrade from Harrelson simply because harrelson has more endurance. He will be a non factor halfway through the season. Vacant forget how they lost Fields who did keep the team together at times of chaos. He's gone.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like the Knicks will be another 7th or 8th seed team that will get knocked out early. Predictable.
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI just know so. With Jeremy's skills And making his teammates better, Asik is actually really good. Could you have predicted that Jeremy won 7 games in a row with the Knicks bench last season. I doubt it. You just gotta believe my friend
DeleteLin, Fields, Novak, Jeffries, shumpert, Bill Walker, chandler. Most of them all made minimum salaries. They won 7 in a row!!! I think it's so hard to believe that many people still don't believe it LOLr. Doubt all u want, but I see the light already even if they don't land Dwight. Asik may be already better than Chandler.
DeleteWhether Jeremy Lin is a flash in the pan or or a real deal, he haa been reiterated couple of times the he has to proof himself constantly and is better he do it outside the limelight of MSG. We all know who he is and if he is good, he does not need to be at NY to prood it.
DeleteIf the Knicks blink, this could be a steal of the decade for Houston.
ReplyDeleteDaryl Morey is a GM known for advanced statistical analysis so he must have strong PER-like numerical numbers to put his trust and money in Jeremy, especially when other teams think his "25 games" is just a fluke. Jeremy will surely reward Daryl and Coach McHale with his loyalty and performance.
I hope he also manages to pull Dwight Howard from Orlando so we get to see how his master plan will pan out next season. And I hope they stay healthy throughout the season to bring Lin-Dwight-sanity and shame other NBA teams one more time.
"I hope they stay healthy throughout the season"
DeleteYep. Howard's back. Lin's knees.
Lin getting hurt, thus the small sample size, and then not coming back in the Heat series is coming up a lot as a key point for fans who are okay with the Knicks not matching on Lin.
Mark my word Lin and Kidd will be playing together, J.R will be the 6th man and Felton would be in that 2nd unit. Shump will be back around Jan-Feb, so there will plenty of playing time for everyone. That argentinian guy will play similar role to Bibby/Douglas
ReplyDeleteDream on my friend...if the Felton rumors are indeed true which they likely are, this means they have 4 point guards on their roster. In a Woodson iso-melo system with the focus of the offense being centered on getting the ball to two players: Amare and Carmelo, this leaves little room for two additional playmakers on the court at the same time. If this were Dantoni, I would totally agree with you..however it's not.
DeleteOne other thing: according to this link: http://hangtime.blogs.nba.com/2012/07/15/lins-future-with-knicks-cloudy-after-felton-trade/: "Felton reportedly signed a three-year, $10 million contract with New York, a hefty deal for someone that wasn’t going to play very much as a third point guard". Felton will share point guard duties with Kidd...gamve over for Lin in New York..thank God. i'll be praying for the arrival of Dwight Howard in Houston.
DeleteForget about MSG and the devious tongue and poison pens that camouflage as 'journalist', Jeremy is better off some other team.
DeleteI have a feeling Knicks management isn't focused on winning at all. It looks like they just want to create a team that will create publicity. With players lil Kidd, JR, Melo, amare punching the glass, camby, it all looks like gimmick strategies. They are just there to cause drama so they can help the team make more money. Forget this team. The Heat will likely win again next year anyways.
ReplyDeleteI believe that a rockets team with Jeremy would beat the current Knicks team by simply runnin, hustling, and playing team ball. Easily.
How are the Houston Rockets a better team? They have 3 rookies, no big man besides Omer Asik (It's naive to think Dwight Howard will go there, he most likely won't). They traded away all their assets: Chase Buddinger, Dalembert, Lowry, Scola, etc. All for future draft picks and cap space.
DeleteThe Houston Rockets are looking to tank this year, and maybe even the following year to get high draft picks and rebuild.
I think you misinterpreted the rockets managements intention. They "assets" you pointed out were actually not working. They Didn't have any substance. That's why the franchise has suffered since Yao retired. With Jeremy coming in, that automatically brings excitement. Companies will want to do marketing deals with the rockets, and the team is rebuilding a new foundation. It's all part of making the franchise legit again.
DeleteI sense you are fearful about Jeremy leaving the Knicks, but don't worry. Everything will work out.
I'll say this again:
DeleteLin Fields Jeffries Novak , Bill Walker ,Shumpert and Chandler = 7 game win streak
I'm scratching my head with this Knicks move. Even if they kept Lin for marketing purpose, how is this helping them to contend with the Heat for championship by getting older and creating controversies and drama?
DeleteI'm beginning to believe the Knicks is actually run like a running Broadway show to sell tickets, create drama and offer suspense. This year's show could be ... "Seniors and the City" :P
You got it Psalm.
DeleteI believe the recent transactions tell us that they are throwing in the towel for the next 3 seasons because they know they can't contend with the Heat, Thunder, Bulls etc because they are locked up with lousy players at Mac contracts. Therefore Dolan goes with plan B, just create a team full of dramatic attention seekers to sell tickets and media publicity. Business as usual.
You are right on the spot, PSALM. " Seniors and The City' remind me of the song 'God in The City' by Hillsong. Knicks a going be a strong team in the Eastern Conference, from paper, yes but still to be seen. With all the veterans on board and stars studded portfoli, it show their determination chasing after the ring for next season. Good luck Knicks.
DeleteAs Phil Jackson himself said, the Knicks are clumsy.
ReplyDeleteHe probably knows something about how to put together--or not put together (cough, New York)--a basketball team.
For all we know, Dolan doesn't believe that JLin's appeal lasts beyond 2012 season.
ReplyDeleteBeing a shrewd businessman, Dolan must see that the surge of MSG stock is attributed to Linsanity but he simply can't and wouldn't build the NYK team that allows JLin to outshine Melo.
Dolan might be stubborn enough and already have confirmation bias deeply rooted on his acquisition of the Big Three and he wants to prove that he has never been wrong in paying high price for the three.
Lin to Houston has the potential of a Nash to Phoenix move. Lin looked good in that NY uniform though. Haha.
ReplyDeleteAt the end of the day, I think Lin will thrive in whatever team he ends up as a superstar player he can be. He would probably be surprised and disappointed and slighted with the Knicks letting him go though. But I believe that only add to the clip on his shoulder and make him better as the last 2 times of being cut did.
DeleteIf the Knicks really are going to let Lin go, that would hilarious. I gotta say, this NBA offseason has been very exciting and unpredictable, more exciting to follow than some sports.
ReplyDeleteIf Lin does end up in Houston, Howard better be there too, otherwise, it's not going to be very fun.
The Knicks said all the right things and so did Woodson, but the bottom line was that they viewed Jeremy as a suitable PG, but not the PG of the future. You just have to look at the way Woodson reined in Jeremy and the guarded way in he talked about Lin during the season. Melo wants the ball more, and he got frustrated with JLin when he came back. They pitched him in LA, but the bottom line is that there is a line in the sand for every franchise, even ones as wealthy as the Knicks. Nobody in that front office ever believed in him until he showed his brilliance in Feb.
ReplyDeleteJeremy is better off going to a franchise to is dubbing him the PG of the future. Houston is the right fit and Daryl Morey is a great GM that cares not about the marketing dollars that Jeremy is bringing in, unlike the thought processes that the NY front office probably had. The Knicks had their shot and they decided to go with Melo. After that, it was foregone conclusion that they needed a PG that would give the rock to Melo and defer to his demands.
Good luck in the Western Conference, Jeremy! It's the wild wild west, and you'll get to see how you stack up with Nash and Paul pretty quickly.
Quote Melo " not use to having a PG that have control of the ball." Maybe the current team are not meant to be together. Fields, Douglas, Harrelson departure has shown Knicks plan foe nezt season: Championship! Too nad they have to do it w/o Lin. I like the way he brought the team together and elevate Novak, Jeffries and Field.
DeleteBuyin' bubblies for the possibility of Lin being a Rocket again...Knicks can keep their isos, teamball ftw...
ReplyDeleteHouston contract upgrade is a brilliant move.
ReplyDeleteThey should use JLin to lure Superman [tryina get into China market.]
Additional points:
ReplyDelete1. I was not a fan of Houston's young drafted big men. However, I will never doubt Jeremy Lin's ability to turn guys into players. After watching Lin turn Steve Novak and Jared Jeffries and Bill Walker and Renaldo Balkman into contributors, I'm SOLD.
2. The All-Jeremy backcourt will take its lumps at first. However, they'll come around. Jeremy Lamb is absolutely marvelous, no matter what incorrect criticism is made because he supposedly has a "sleepy look".
3. Lin gets back three unwanted Knick running mates in Jerome Jordan (the Dwight Howard of the D League when playing beside Lin), Josh Harrelson (a good chemistry mix with Lin) and Toney Douglas (a great cheerleader who I think is bound for a renaissance in Houston). It's great that the four ex-Knicks are together.
4. The only veterans on the team are Kevin Martin and Toney Douglas. Kevin Martin is a poor man's George Gervin in the way he scores and does little else, but Lin will FIND HIM. The team could use a veteran bruiser down low (see Kris Humphries and Jared Jeffries in #9 below).
5. Lin doesn't have a backup pg yet. If Houston is smart, they'll sign the VERY capable one they had last year in Earl Boykins. That guy definitely can mentor Lin even though he's only 5'4". Both Toney Douglas and Jeremy Lamb will play some backup minutes. Toney Douglas might surprise some people, but he's been a solid if imperfect NBA backup in the past.
6. Kevin McHale actually has more of a track record of developing big men than Hakeem Olajuwon does - and Houston has BOTH of them. McHale developed Kevin Garnett, Al Jefferson, Kevin Love, and turned Jordan Hill from an utter bust into a solid player. If you watch Kevin McHale teach low post offense and defense on Red Auerbach's "Winning Basketball" video, you'll see that he's as good a big man coach as one can be imagined.
7. Jeremy Lin will take full control of this Houston team. The Rockets are just like Lin's Palo Alto and Harvard teams: the ultimate underdog. Lin will singlehandedly transform the team to a college-like chemistry and also draw in the Houston legends like McHale, Olajuwon, Yao, and likely Moses Malone and Clyde Drexler. The chemistry is going to win games and entertain fans.
8. Jeremy Lin is going to hit the "rookie wall". That's not because Lin is inexperienced, but because Lin has to be Superman every night. Even if an All Star PG like Deron Williams stepped onto this Houston team, there would be a fatigue wall in midseason because of the massive responsibility of growing this young team.
9. There are some available veterans the Rockets could use, and I'm not even thinking about Dwight Howard. A bruising defender and rebounder is the #1 priority. My favorite free agent would be the ridiculously underrated Kris Humphries who gets along well with Lin and was the best player for the Nets last year (nope, not Deron Williams). And if Portland releases him after the Felton trade, Lin's bodyguard Jared Jeffries would be a solid inexpensive pickup. Finally there's also my Asian whipping boy Yi Jianlian who would benefit from playing with Lin and being coached by McHale, though he'd be my 13th man just for marketing purposes.
10. The Houston Rockets probably won't make the playoffs due to their inexperience. But they're going to be the scary young team that can beat anyone on any given night. Lin will make sure this team plays its best.
I'm an NBA fan as opposed to a Knicks or Rockets or even Lin fan, so this is how I see it from NY's perspective of letting Lin go:
Delete1. Lin was worth it at the previous Rockets contract but not at the current one. The cap eating 3rd year would make it impossible to sign new players.
2. With the established stars on the team being Anthony and Stoudemire, the Knicks don't want their guards to be high usage players. Given how much the Knicks won once Lin went down, Lin is nice but not critical. Or so they think.
3. Chris Paul has been the main target all along. Buying Lin makes Paul much harder to get.
4. Anthony and Stoudemire now have the veteran chemistry that they are perceived to prefer. They won't have to worry about competing for shots with Lin.
5. Via trades, the Knicks got rid of all their questionable young players except for Iman Shumpert who was drafted by the current GM. In their place are inexpensive proven veterans with big game experience.
6. The Knicks intend to offset the aging legs of their pickups with experience. All of this is done with a "win now" mentality while Anthony and Stoudemire are still under contract.
7. Lin being out of town allows the Knick press to not constantly yammer about him. Lin had overshadowed not just the Knicks, but the entire franchise.
8. According to ex Knicks coach Larry Brown, Lin is a backup pg at best. It makes no sense for NY to pay a nearly max contract to a backup, especially if Lin would be sitting behind Chris Paul.
9. With Lin being perceived as "ungrateful", it's better to let him go since the Knicks already have their starter in Jason Kidd.
10. Dwight Howard is still available. NY will do everything in its power to get him.
Well, I wouldn't say that Lin is walking onto the same Rockets team.
DeleteHere are the Rockets than Lin WON'T be playing with this year:
Chase Budinger, Samuel Dalembert, Luis Scola, Jordan Hill, Kyle Lowry, Goran Dragic, Marcus Camby, Jonny Flynn, Terrence Williams, and Hasheem Thabeet.
Thus I would not extrapolate Lin's success based on the Rockets that are no longer with the team.
Lin has a much harder job than Goran Dragic and Kyle Lowry did. And he can HANDLE IT.
The Rockets should sign Yi for vets minimum. I still remember his D-League game and how he absolutely dominated. If Jeremy can't bring out his potential, then nobody can.
DeleteActually, I LIKE Kwame Brown.
DeleteHe is a big strong bruiser who throws his body around and gets his teams wins. He's not skilled offensively, but he more than makes up for that defensively.
My only beef with Kwame Brown is that his bruising style earns him lots of injuries. Thus he misses a lot of games.
Kwame Brown nearly bodyslammed "my" Suns out of the playoffs in I think 2006. He was good for about 10 ppg and 7-8 rebounds.
DeleteCharlotte was sinking FAST with Larry Brown as coach. Michael Jordan smartly fired him after Brown went public complaining about his players. Jordan then hired Paul Silas and Charles Oakley. Those two got a hold of Brown, gave him confidence, and unleashed him on the court. Charlotte dramatically improved and Brown was the major on court reason why.
Brown performed so well for Charlotte that the Warriors signed him to that gargantuan $8 million 1 year deal that even Brown was surprised by. Unfortunately, Brown had a season ending knee injury. But now Brown's back at a contract that is totally fair.
I know Kwame Brown has had a rough history, but he's had his moments too. I'm a Kwame Brown fan!
Kwame Brown has really weak and small hands for someone his size. This is has been his Achilles heal.
DeleteWell said Khuang... I'm excited to see this young team and how their games will develop.. I can't wait to see them go against OKC for some reason, lol...
ReplyDeleteThanks, R.
DeleteThe NBA is gaining parity, but not in the way the collective bargaining agreement intended.
Superteams like Miami, LA, and even NY are all the vogue. A few expensive players join up together and rosters are filled in by inexpensive role players who bandwagon together for a shot at winning titles.
Then there are everyman teams like Indiana and Denver and soon Houston that have no sexy stars but have solid rosters with fundamentally sound players. Those teams are gaining in strength as secondary stars (secondary in hype, not game) band together because the big names swallow up the most cap space. Look for those teams, like Lin's Rockets, to start seriously challenging the superteams.
But the collective bargaining agreement is making it unprecedently hard for superteams to stay together.
DeleteThe only guys left to fill the role player spots are going to be old veterans and unproven minimum wagers. Jeremy Lin himself is the direct spawn of a superteam having bad role players. And notice they couldn't keep him?
Memphis is definitely one of everyman teams that is making more and more noise. The Spurs were a superteam but age is catching up to them. Dallas is angling to become a superteam, but they lost out on Deron Williams and will likely lose out on Howard next year.
Coach George Karl of the Nuggets believes that in today's NBA a superteam can be beaten by an everyman team. I think that's more possible now than ever before.
Well, I don't believe that winning the NBA championship is the sole measure of success in the NBA.
DeleteThe NBA is a fluid league where power structure can change overnight. Who knows, maybe Houston with Lin will become a destination for players to resurrect their careers? After all, Lin breathed new life into Steve Novak, Jared Jeffries, Landry Fields, Jerome Jordan, Tyson Chandler, and JR Smith.
There are good players everywhere in the NBA, though not many franchises are smart enough to use them.
As far as I'm concerned, any NBA team that makes the playoffs is a "contender". Besides, injuries and other freak happenings can change everything. The Heat were strongly threatened by Indiana when Chris Bosh went down, and a one legged Lin practically beat the Pacers by himself twice in the regular season!
Well, the Rockets are 1 for 3.
DeleteGetting Dwight Howard would make it 2 of 3.
I forgot all about a player who can TOTALLY help Lin's Rockets.
ReplyDeleteDeJuan Blair formerly of the Spurs is available. That guy is a big time NBA bruiser. He would fill the Chuck Hayes enforcer role that the Rockets need. Plus, Blair is very affordable.
Like Jeremy Lin, Blair is an unvalued quality producer with a gigantic chip on his shoulder. He would be a very solid (emphasis on "solid) free agent pickup for Lin's Rockets.
I have to admit something that would justifiably get me flamed:
DeleteI am a secret Darko Milicic fan.
I have always liked Darko. Even though he's mentally scarred from playing for garbage coach Larry Brown (who has the nerve to call Jeremy Lin a career backup), I have always felt that Darko has NBA game.
Darko is a guy that has never gotten a real chance. First it was Larry Brown screwing with him on the Pistons, then Flip Saunders who is not known for being able to develop young talent. Then Darko bounced around with Memphis and NY before ending up in MN. Even there with the woefully inept Wolves, Darko played well enough for Kevin Durant to call him "one of the best centers in the league" after a 21 point 10 rebound explosion against Durant's Thunder.
I have secretly followed Darko Milicic for years, hoping that he gets on an NBA team that uses him right. He has all the physical and skill tools that an All Star center has, but he has had awful coaching and no pgs feeding him the ball in the right spots. With Rick Adelman in MN, Darko wasn't even allowed on the court to play with Ricky Rubio who is a spectacular but not necessarily effective passer.
Houston would be an IDEAL situation for Darko. He'd have Jeremy Lin who'd respect his game and play pick and roll (Darko has NEVER played pick and roll in his entire career). He'd have Coach Kevin McHale to teach him how to play down low, and likely Olajuwon too.
There are benefits for Lin and the Rockets if they get Darko. Lin would have a bruising 7'1" center who can defend as well as Tyson Chandler (Darko had EXCELLENT defensive numbers in MN) and can score a lot better. Darko is also an enforcer who wouldn't let guys bully Lin without major league retaliation. Plus, Darko is a highly intelligent passing center who simply has not had quality teammates to pass to. Also, Darko gives the Houston a guy who's repeatedly proven that he can play straight up against the league's biggest frontcourt heavyweights like Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, Dwight Howard, Tim Duncan, and Kevin Garnett.
Darel Morey, SIGN DARKO to a minimum wage 2 year contract. Lin and McHale will turn him into a terrific starting center!!!
Don't get me wrong, #1 j.
DeleteI want Darko at a CHEAP price. Unlike Lin who's demonstrated nothing but quality in the NBA, Darko is a veteran failure. That's why I regard him as a minimum wage player.
Similarly, $3 million a year is a fair price for Kwame Brown.
I believe in bang for the buck. Hiring Darko at minimum wage would be much better than paying Hedo Turkoglu $12 million this year or the shockingly overrated Nick Batum at more than $7 million a year.
Yeah!
DeleteLin can make a player out of Darko. But Lin can only make Kwame into Kwame!
it's amazing that after only five month after linsanity's peak the knicks would choose to let him go. do they not remember the global attention, the frenzied fans at the garden, the sold out merchandise, the higher ticket sales, non-fans talking about buying season tickets this fall, and exciting unselfish and efficient PG play from Jlin? Wow.
ReplyDeleteIf he goes to the H, I feel bad for the city of NY who embraced/loved jlin but good for J to go to a team that will feature him as their future. that said, still wouldn't be shocked if lin ends up back with the knicks after all - the NBA is on drugs!
As a Knick fan I'm am stunned, saddened and disgusted by the knicks and their handling of this situation. If they think Felton will be as good as Lin they are kidding themselves big time. I am officially joining the Brooklyn Nets fan base and I hope Lin becomes an allstar so the Knicks can know exactly what they lost. Time and time again Lin gets disrespected and he will succeed in Houston. I will be following Lin's every game with the Rockets. The Knicks can go shove it!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteJust heard Jared Jeffries interview on ESPN New York, he thinks Knicks won't match Lin offer sheet. Although he didn't directly said why Knicks won't match but he did say Woodson offense involve a lot of iso-melo. He thinks Jeremy will be a great player especially in a pick n roll system with a big man like Dwight.
ReplyDeleteAs a lifelong Knicks fan from the NYC area (and a Taiwanese American who shares his last name) I was overjoyed when Jeremy broke out with the Knicks. And if they don't match the offer as is being reported, I'm probably done with them forever. Jeremy wouldn't be costing them $30+ million in year 3, it's the roster they constructed that is. The fact that he'd be the last guy to sign doesn't make him the sole owner of their luxury tax. I don't like the rockets either, so I'll probably just watch a few Nets games here and there and just follow Jeremy's career here maybe. Cannot believe all of this from the last 48 hours.
ReplyDeleteI have a feeling that Houston will end up with Pau Gasol and that Dwight will go to the Lakers. Let's wait and see....
ReplyDeleteHey, I'm sure the Knicks will appreciate Lin AFTER he makes it anywhere else.
ReplyDeleteQuestion for the Warriors fans who follow this site:
ReplyDeletewhat's worse, losing Lin last year not really knowing what we had or losing Lin after Linsanity?
Given that the Warriors didn't bid on Lin this summer, it's like selling off a lotto ticket, finding out it's the jackpot, and then throwing away the jackpot!
Deletei'll re-phrase the question slightly - who is more heartbroken - lin/warrior fans after they released him or lin/knick fans if the knicks let him walk?
DeleteBOTH.
Deleteno more Jeremy Lin punching bags if the Warriors and Knicks don't do well.
The "respect" explanation only makes sense if you believe that Lin would have left money - a lot of money - on the table in order to give the Knicks a hometown discount. From the start, both the Knicks and Lin understood he was going on the market to get the best deal.
ReplyDeleteLin doesn't have the kind of personal connection with the Knicks to do them that big a favor, especially not his 1st big contract. Very few NBA players, including long-tenured stars, would accept a much smaller salary just to help out the franchise.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad Jeremy is out of NY. That place has turned into a serious crap hole. The financial firms have either moved out of the city or went bankrupt. The place is now inhabited by poverty-stricken people. The economy and poor government decisions have killed the culture there. That's why players like Melo perfectly fit the face of the Knicks franchise. A lot of the NYC crowd can relate to him, and management knows it that's why they brought him there to pander to that specific crowd. I've lived in NYC for 2 years so this is very clear for me to see what's going on.
ReplyDeletethey will start to appreciate lin when their stocks fall, tv ratings fall, attendance fall, and are out of playoff contention by the all star break. basically like before lin played for them.
ReplyDelete"Jason Kidd made surprising headlines with his decision to join the New York Knicks as a free agent.
ReplyDeleteNow he's making surprising headlines for the wrong things off the court.
The 10-time All-Star point guard, who signed his 3-year, $9.5 million contract with the Knicks on Thursday, was arrested early Sunday morning for alleged drunken driving, according to Southhampton Town police.
Kidd, 39, was arraigned on a misdemeanor DWI charge and released on his own."
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gameon/post/2012/07/knicks-jason-kidd-arrested-on-dui-charges-at-the-hamptons/1
Wow, this comes that same time the Knicks decided to go with Felton over Lin. Kidd must feel like an idiot now because he came to NY thinking he was going to mentor Lin, but now he's stuck with a losing team. The NBA is a very decieving and cut-throat culture ey?
DeleteYep. Backing up and mentoring a rising star is not quite the same as backing up a serviceable but journeyman veteran PG.
DeletePlus, Lin's combo game very well complemented Kidd's shrinking game. Felton does not have Lin's combo game. Playing with Lin, Lin would have protected Kidd on the court and allowed Kidd to play to his remaining strengths. Felton does not offer Kidd the same protection.
This DWI arrest should definitely secure Jason Kidd a second straight NBA Sportsmanship Award! LOL.
DeleteOn a side note, why would anyone want to be mentored by a wife beating alcoholic?
Deletekidd out getting tanked after finding out he'll be mentoring fatty felton instead
Delete@ Gene
DeleteThat's probably very true.
The New York Dolans can drive any sane man to drink.
And they say Asians are bad drivers.
ReplyDeleteI think 'they' say that about us when we're driving sober.
Deletelmao true that...
DeleteThoughts:
ReplyDeleteThe luxury tax from the 3rd year balloon is at the center of discussion, but I believe if Lin and the Rockets had agreed to the same 3/25 with the 1st offer, the Knicks would have matched. After all, assuming it's true the Knicks were fine with last week's offer, 9 million in the 3rd year would have kicked up the Knicks luxury tax, too.
The Knicks roster options have the same limits with either Rockets offer or Felton's contract. The Knicks may be in a marginally better position to trade for Paul next year without Lin, but the Knicks would have to cut deeply into their roster to trade for Paul with or without Lin. The jagged increase from 5 to 15 in Lin's contract would have been harder to fit as a salary matcher, though, than the normal percent raise.
Matching "any offer" was the Knicks narrative. The Knicks didn't make an offer out of the gate. They and Lin understood from the start that Lin would seek out the best deal on the market, which is a normal strategy for restricted free agents. 4/29 (3/20) was higher than the Knicks max offer, too. Given the snap-decision nature of signing Felton, at the end of a week in which equal-or-better PGs at approximately the same price were snapped up, it looks like Dolan and Grunwald are reacting out of anger to the last-minute increase, rather than the offer in and of itself.
A story is floating that the Knicks are angry with Lin for renegotiating the offer sheet. The insinuation is that Lin used 'inside' or 'confidential' information that the Knicks planned to match the offer. But the Rockets didn't need insider info from Lin - the Knicks public stance from the start was they'd match on Lin, even when a max (4/40) offer was viewed as a real possibility. It was the media consensus and Woodson and 'sources' repeatedly affirmed it.
The obvious change in the Rockets position isn't Lin's agent re-approaching them, it's their Howard push. The Rockets status switched from a rebuilding team with a chaotic roster to a win-now push, not for an NBA title, but to convince Howard to stay. The Rockets could have used a good - and popular - PG before; they now need a good PG to pair with Howard, and the PG market is rapidly drying up.
If Grunwald and Dolan are angry at the Rockets, rather than Lin, and acting out of spite rather than basketball sense, they can get their revenge on the Rockets by matching on Lin and grabbing Felton, thus removing the last viable starting PG from the market.
Hard to see the Knicks carrying 4 PGs. But picking Felton doesn't close the door (all the way) on matching on Lin. The Knicks needed another guard, though a SG or combo guard would have been a better fit than a 4th PG. But, if Lin is used as a SG/combo and/or Kidd is used exclusively at the 2, the guard rotation could still work.
With the Rockets, Lin can fall back onto his comfort zone. The Rockets aren't a win-now team like the Knicks. They will be an underdog team with low expectations, like Palo Alto HS, like Harvard. Coming in with a star contract, Lin can take over as the Rockets team leader from day one. He'll be able to play to his strengths, dominate the ball, be aggressive as a scorer, and control his team.
Lin is destined to be the centerpiece of a team who molds that team in his image. I've wanted him to gain more seasoning as a Knick and then shouldering that burden as a mature veteran in Nash-to-Suns fashion. But, like #1 overall picks immediately thrust into franchise savior roles, it looks like the future for Lin is now. Ready or not.
Oops, I left out a Lin-led team ... They will be an underdog team with low expectations, like Palo Alto HS, like Harvard, and like the 'Linsanity' Knicks.
DeleteAnd then there's the ACTUAL explanation that is openly circulating in the media:
DeleteThe Rockets need a starting pg and Lin is their man.
It really is that simple. Excuses for Dwight Howard DON'T RATE.
Well, sure. The Rockets need for a starting PG accounts for the 1st offer that Lin and Rockets agreed upon, but by itself, doesn't account for the changed offer a week later.
DeletePursuit of Howard in the interim, thus changing the Rockets need for a good PG, is a more logical explanation than the Rockets making an unusual decision to change their offer a week later without a corresponding change in need.
It's not necessarily their pursuit of Howard that caused the Rockets change - he's just the obvious explanation. Something else, like an alternative PG going off the market last week, may have pushed the Rockets.
From all I have read yesterday and today I don't believe Knicks will match. That being said we will find out Tuesday at midnite. So, I'm not jazzed right now about Houston's team D12 would be a great addition but I'm not holding my breath. Hopefully the Rockets can add a couple pieces to the roster.
DeleteRumors going around that Lin crossed James Dolan when he showed "disloyalty" to him by reneging on the original offer from Houston, AFTER Woodson came out and said Lin would start no matter what, which then saw the Felton deal rushed through, because Dolan is "done" with Lin. Disloyal...Way to foster loyalty Dolan, using scare tactics in hopes of low balling someone while you never intended that person as your first option, and opting for damage control after Nash declined. For the type of blind loyalty Dolan wants, he's better off getting a dog and naming it Jeremy Lin. I really hope Lin ends up in Houston. I know business is business and finding an owner that cares more than themselves is asking for too much, but at least for now Lin will be away from the cancer that is NY and be able to help a team rebuild.
Delete@Kenoshi
DeleteIf that story is true, it's pretty revealing and funny.
Dolan's bloated ego strikes again.
Don't mess with The Irish Godfather!
Eric, you're trying again to make something out of nothing just because you're a Knicks fan.
DeleteHouston put an offer sheet. Ny crowed about how they wanted to match it. Houston put out a higher offer sheet to punk NY. NY got punked.
I'm sorry that you might be losing your starting point guard. Don't worry, Jason Kidd and Raymond Felton will both do a good job. At least you won't have to worry about Lin's supposedly "combo" skills getting in anybody's way.
Anybody hear Stephen A. Smith yet?
ReplyDeleteHe is coming out of the closet big time with his recent an anti-Lin rant on BSPN radio. You know that boy was just itching for the right excuse.
And the New York media shills (like Alan Hahn, New York Post) are predictably turning anti-Lin with various "leaks" about how JLin was divisive in the locker room, ungrateful to the Knicks, etc.
Even Melo is getting into the act with a typically passive aggressive comment on Twitter about how, while he would "love" to have JLin back, it's up to the Knicks management on whether they want to match that "ridiculous contract that's out there" from Houston.
Meanwhile, New York is counting on Raymond Felton as a point guard to fulfill their championship delusions... I mean ambitions.
New York City is proving to be more wacked than the Kardashian sisters.
Grab your popcorn and watch the unReality TV show that is the New York Knicks!
I honestly didn't believe all that locker room shit. This is the culture in this country "you build them up, then you tear them down". They make up blatant lies to bring you down. Melo have the power in the boardroom and it's clear he don't want Lin in the team. Jeremy & Landry are the 2 guys that basically are not on Melo's good books. I believe Lin & his team might have gone out their way to push for more money but i think it's primarily because he wants out.
DeleteAnyone who threatens melo's alpha role, stoudmeier included, will be his target. Let it be because he's running out of time. Knicks still has to contest Heats, Celtics, and now Nets for attention. I don't see them any better than last year. Novak became a sharp shooter due to Lin's distribution that was Dantoni's system.
DeleteKnicks problem is not Lin but stoudmeier and melo incompatibility. Remember when stoudmeier hurt his hand last season in the playoff? Chandler's frustration? Lin will have little effects on them and that's why Knicks were losing. Dantonio brought in Lin when both stoudmeier and melo were out and he shinned. This remains the case now.
ReplyDeleteGreat point.
DeleteNow that Jeremy's out, Melo can find someone else to blame for his own weakness and incompetence. My guess is Amare and him will clash heads again when they continue losing. Tyson and amare also seem to be overlapping each other and that's not good.
But I can totally see how Melo is feeling. The rise of Jeremy last season almost wiped out Melos reputation to a point where nobody wanted him back.
So that's why there's so much bitterness inside Melo towards Jeremy.
From that point of view, Lin is better no in NY. Dantoni was the key in Lin's success and he is no longer there. Lin just has to start all over in Houston like he always does, except HS is getting paid really well and there lies the expectation. We will all be Rockets' fans, again.
DeleteHahaha watching Melo get booed over and over in MSG made my year earlier this year, I'm guessing that really got the point across and he can't help but hate Lin after that. Melo is Melo, no matter how much media tries to spin his positives, his actions speak for itself. NYC will never win a series let alone finals under his watch.
DeleteYes, but there's a lot more to the story than simply Melo trying to end Linsanity. Melo was just a pawn. It was not in the organizations best interests to keep Linsanity going because that considerably raised the bench's value (Novak, Fields, Lin) which is a nightmare for the owner/management because they won't be able to afford to pay them if these players became too important, which is what ultimately happened. So I believe that Melo and Stat were just following a bigger persons' orders to try to end Linsanity. It's the dark side of business. Truth.
DeleteJR Smith just chipped in saying Lin's contract will be an issue in the locker room since a lot more guys deserve more. They why aren't they getting it? This is typical of the mentality that Asians can't play in NBA. Lin just has to prove them wrong in Houston. Too bad Rockets are going to own the Asians market again not NY.
Delete@Muyuan Ma They're not getting it because it's not reasonable. Nor is it reasonable for Jeremy Lin to get paid as much as he is for such little body of work. That's where I believe JR's point of view is coming from.
DeleteEven the Houston Rockets were cautious of him. They knew about the backloaded "poison pill" contract and yet their first offer was for just 9 mil for the 3rd and 4th years with the 4th year being a *team* option. Meaning if the Rockets find out he wasn't worth it they can release him after the 3rd year because the 4th year isn't guaranteed. It wasn't until they lost all their point guards that they got desperate and upped the ante to 15 mil... close to a max contract.
Think about it if he weren't asian. Let's say it was a black guy who was just really short (think Earl Boykins short) who was a bench warmer until he broke out the way Lin broke out. And now that same balck guy was offered this contract: max rookie contract for the first 2 years then 84% of a max contract in the 3rd year. All that based on... let's round up... let's say 30 games of significant play time. Would you think it's fair? It's unfortunate but Jeremy just didn't put enough time to prove he's worth the contract. And what if he gets hurt like Chien Ming Wang or Yao Ming did? By show of hands, how many *knew* Jeremy Lin was going to blow out his left knee and be out for the rest of the season before it actually happened? I don't think JR is being racist at all... I think it's a fair assessment. I actually thought I saw good chemistry between him and Lin too.
By the way, I'm asian and I really really want him to stay in NY but that asshole Daryl Morey screwed us over. If he stuck with the original offer we wouldn't be in this mess.
On the flip-side though, if Lin really wanted to stay in NY he would've negotiated to keep the first offer. He should know the Knicks salary cap issues and 9 mil is already an over 10x increase in his current salary. He'll be getting paid SOOO much more than everyone else from his 'draft' year (2010) even with the 9 mil.
http://www.nesn.com/2012/07/jeremy-lin-is-smart-to-skip-dysfunctional-knicks-become-his-own-player-with-rockets.html
ReplyDeleteGreat article. That's exactly how I feel about this whole thing.
Deletehttp://espn.go.com/newyork/conversations/_/id/8168185/2012-nba-free-agency-new-york-knicks-match-jeremy-lin-houston-rockets-offer-sheet-source-says
ReplyDeleteStephen A Smith spouting more nonsense. Saying Lin showed a lack of commitment and "appreciation" for NY by not playing in the playoffs.
I REALLY hope NY doesn't match. Eff that team, its media and its fanbase.
Stephen A Smith is never in a position to fairly evaluate Lin. So, I tend to disregard his opinion.
DeleteHe's biased. Move on Linsanity! No need to stay where you're not welcome.
DeleteThere is someone on youtube that might be Jeremy Lin biggest fan/obsession...
ReplyDeleteHis youtube user name is: Filipinos4Islanders
[URL="http://www.youtube.com/user/Filipinos4Islanders?feature=watch"]http://www.youtube.com/user/Filipinos4Islanders?feature=watch[/URL]
Jeremy is better in Houston. He'll be an all star in Houston,
ReplyDeleteGod bless Jeremy Ln.
Only if he gets more votes than Steve Nash, Russell Westbrook, Tony Parker, and Chris Paul .... Linsanity is nowhere near as popular in China as Yao Ming was.
DeleteHouston is in a rebuilding mode. They have no real talent. They might not even make the playoffs in the 3-years that Lin will be playing there. And they will probably blame him for that.
ReplyDeleteThe best place for Lin would have been the Dallas Mavericks. They have much better pieces in place and veterans with Championship experience to help him through.
Unfortunately Dallas didn't show any interest, and neither did Toronto.
Lin would be blamed if the Rockets MADE the playoffs!
DeleteTake the money and run - up and down the hardwood.