Jeremy Lin News: NY Knicks Owner Doesn't Regret Losing Linsanity in 2012
New York Knicks owner James Dolan is not regretting his decision to let point guard Jeremy Lin walk away and join the Houston Rockets two years ago, believing he made the right decision after all.
Dolan, who owns the NBA's most valuable franchise, did not mince any word in saying that he was wise not to match the Rockets' three-year, $23 million poison pill offer to Lin in the summer of 2012.
"No," Dolan said in interview on the Michael Kay show. "No regrets with Jeremy Lin. I wish Jeremy the best of luck, but he's going to get paid $19 million next year, and imagine what our team would be like if we, you know, we'd be stuck for a long time, so no."
Lin is currently averaging at least 12 points and 4 dimes per game in a sixth man role for the Houston Rockets, but his inconsistency and durability issues could prompt the team's front office to trade the Asian American star or perhaps amnesty him next season, where he's due to get $15 million.
Two years ago, Lin ignited the Madison Square Garden after helping the then struggling Knicks reach the postseason. The Knickerbockers were in a rough position then, but Lin came out of Mike D'Antoni's doghouse to lead the team to a series of wins despite playing with injured stars Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire.
Unfortunately for the Knicks, there were not able to lock in Lin, as Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey used a poison pill deal to snatch the Asian-American star from the Big Apple.
In the report by Frank Isola of the New York Daily News, Dolan was reportedly livid and felt betrayed by the decision of Lin to take more money in Houston.
"According to Isola and his sources, Dolan not only felt "upset" and "livid," but also "deceived" and "betrayed." After Houston's initial offer sheet to Lin would have payed him $9.3 million in the third year of the deal, the Knicks promised to match the offer sheet," reported Bleacher Report.
Before the trade deadline, there were rumours that the Knicks are interested to bring back Lin in a trade proposal that also involves Omer Asik in exchange for Tim Hardaway Jr. and Tyson Chandler. However, the potential trade never materialised.