Report: Knicks Intend To Match Jeremy Lin's Offer From Houston
NEW YORK (WFAN/AP) -- They say everything is bigger in Texas. We'll soon find out concerning Jeremy Lin's contract.
The restricted free-agent point guard and the Houston Rockets have agreed to terms on a four-year offer, according to multiple reports.
Lin can sign the offer sheet with Houston on July 11, and the Knicks will then have three days to match the offer. The team has repeatedly said that they plan to keep Lin, and expectations have been that they will match.
The Knicks will do just that to keep Linsanity at MSG, according to the New York Post.
"He's their guy," a league source with knowledge of the team's thinking told the paper. "They'll match."
The contract is worth $10.2 million over the first two seasons and $9.3 million in each of the last two years, the Associated Press reported. The fourth season is a team option.
The New York Times reported the Knicks "are determined to keep Lin, even if the contract costs them millions more in luxury-tax payments"
The Rockets had Lin in training camp, but waived him because they had already had Kyle Lowry and Goran Dragic on their roster. Now that they've traded Lowry, and with Dragic headed to Phoenix, Houston is trying to get Lin back.
The Rockets "don't believe" Lin will suit up for Houston next season, the New York Daily News reported.
Lin was claimed by the Knicks after the Rockets let him go and soon became New York's starting point guard and "Linsanity" ensued.
He averaged 14.6 points, 6.2 assists and 3.1 rebounds in 35 games with 25 starts before his season was cut short because of surgery to repair torn cartilage in his knee.
Lin, who went undrafted out of Harvard, became a sensation with a remarkable stretch in February where he scored at least 20 points in nine of 10 games. A high point of that span came when he scored 38 points with seven assists in a 92-85 win over the Lakers on Feb. 10.
The Rockets are already popular in Asia because of the career of former star Yao Ming, who retired in 2011. With Yao's retirement, Lin could add to their appeal there as the first American-born player of Chinese or Taiwanese decent.
The Knicks reportedly agreed to terms on a three-year deal with free agent point guard Jason Kidd on Thursday.
Do you think the Knicks should match? Make your case in the comments below...
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