New York Knicks Rumors: Jeremy Lin Could Be Returning To The Team That First Sparked ‘Linsanity’
The New York Knicks are rumored to be considering a reunion with Jeremy Lin, re-connecting with the well-traveled guard four years after he sparked the Linsanity phenomenon in the New York sports scene.
Lin opted out of his contract with the Charlotte Hornets this month and will become a free agent on July 1. He reportedly has a few interviews lined up for when free agency begins, and there are reports that the Knicks could be the top choice.
Lin has bounced around the league quite a bit since leaving the Big Apple after his breakout season, spending some otherwise forgettable tenures with the Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets, and Charlotte Hornets.
But Jeremy Lin seems to have a special affection for the New York Knicks, and there are rumors that the team is considering a second tenure for him.
Lin himself is open to the idea, though admitted it could be tricky after the Knicks already made a big move for another star point guard.
“It’s not looking likely because they just traded for Derrick Rose,” Lin said, via ESPN. “But I will say that ever since I left, I’ve always been open to going back and I still am. Never say never, that’s the one thing in the NBA, never say never. So I’ve always been open but right now, I’m not sure if it’s the best timing. But if it happens, it happens.”
If the rumors connecting Jeremy Lin to the New York Knicks are true, then he might not necessarily be competing with Derrick Rose for playing time. While Lin was a starter at most of his stops through the NBA after breaking out with the Knicks, he has seen his production fall off in the past year and he only ended up starting 13 games with the Hornets. Lin shot just 41 percent from the floor last year, and if he does return to the Knicks, it would be in a backup role.
The Hornets may lose Jeremy Lin, who has three meetings lined up for July 1. Story: https://t.co/8rZNX7mRgn pic.twitter.com/DR6yQ5b6Uh
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) June 27, 2016
But there could be another, much bigger free agent the New York Knicks have their eyes on. The Knicks are reportedly one of about six teams expected to make a major run at Oklahoma City Thunder star Kevin Durant, who will be a free agent this summer.
Knicks star Carmelo Anthony said that he’s already doing his best to recruit Durant to the Big Apple.
?”I’m with KD now; he’s right downstairs,” Anthony told ESPN. “We’ve been together. We’ve been talking.
“We’re friends. We hang out,” Anthony said. “It’s magnified now because he’s a free agent and we’re in New York. But last year nobody was talking about us hanging out, going to work out or going to dinner or things like that. So, yeah, those conversations do come up, but it’s not something that I’m constantly on him, throwing at him, because i was in that situation before.”
The New York Knicks are rumored to be one of the fringe contenders for Kevin Durant, but could have a much better shot at Jeremy Lin. The Hornets guard reportedly has just three meetings planned for when free agency starts July 1, and his drop-off in production could mean he comes at a cheaper price than before. While he’s not likely to spark a return of Linsanity, he could provide some stability to the point guard spot that had been a weak point for the Knicks in the past year.
[Photo by Sreeter Lecka/Getty Images]
