LINSANITY LEAVES NEW YORK

It came out of nowhere, catching everyone off guard.  Soon, it swept through an arena, mesmerizing a city, then the league, then a nation.  “Linsanity” was born in New York City, unexpectedly reviving the struggling New York Knicks.  But last night, it left the city of its birth!

Jeremy Lin, the 23-year-old Asian-American point guard who took the NBA by storm during a few surprise weeks of play last winter, has played his last game at Madison Square Garden.  Last night, the New York Knicks opted not to match his contract offer, shocking everyone and sending him to the Houston Rockets — for nothing.

Lin became a RFA (Restricted Free Agent) this summer, meaning he was allowed to seek the best financial deal he could find from any NBA team, with the stipulation that New York could still match that deal to retain his services if they wanted.  Lin had previously been cut from the Golden State Warriors and the Houston Rockets, but once those teams saw the birth of “Linsanity” in New York, they wanted him back at all cost.

Houston offered Lin a 3 year contract worth about $19. million ($5. million for each of the 1st 2 years, then $9. million in the final year), of which New York said it had every intention of matching.  But then something strange happened:  Lin and his new agent went back to Houston and convinced them to up their offer to $25. million, which would have included a final year “poison pill” for New York of $15. million dollars.  Under the new NBA collective bargaining agreement, the luxury tax penalty to New York would have been about double the salary, meaning it would have cost the Knicks $30. million dollars for Lin in the final year of his contract.  That was unacceptable.

James Dolan

MSG chairman and owner of the Knicks, James Dolan, reportedly felt slighted.  He is said to have been livid that the Harvard educated Lin was trying to fleece him for more money.  He also couldn’t see the value in paying $30. million dollars in one season to an unproven player fresh off of knee surgery.  Lin overplayed his hand and was sent packing.

It is rumored that Lin’s teammates were not as excited about having him come back as they appeared on the surface.  NBA veteran J.R. Smith agreed to take less money ($2. million) this season just to return to the Knicks, which reportedly didn’t mesh with the rookie Lin’s proposed $30. million deal in his final year. Despite Lin’s on court success, players are said to believe he hasn’t paid his “dues” to be worth such an enormous payday, which is simply unheard of in the NBA. Finally, there also seems to be some leftover resentment from when Lin himself said he was 85% healthy during the playoffs (after his surgery), but refused to take the court and help his injury depleted team against the Miami Heat.

So this is where it ends.  Over the weekend, the Knicks signed an agreement to bring back point guard Raymond Felton, who was originally shipped to Denver in the Carmelo Anthony trade.  Felton will join a new back court of veteran Jason Kidd and Argentinian sensation Pablo Prigioni.

So, Jeremy Lin is now a member of the Houston Rockets.  As for “Linsanity” — at least in New York — it is dead and done!