New York Knicks: How to Destroy Your Own Momentum

New York Knicks, are you kidding me?


You are not going to sign Jeremy Lin?


You are not going to sign the biggest (good) news to happen to the organization since the 99 Knicks shocked the NBA world? On a business standpoint and on a quality standpoint, this was a dumbfounded stupid move to the utmost level.

The business side of me marvels at the fact that a player that has worldwide appeal just as well as stateside appeal isn’t being considered. The Knicks back in February were practically the biggest name in Taiwan, Vietnam, and China. The merchandise sales virtually exploded in the Far East coast when his name started dropping everywhere. Not signing him means someone else can ride the hype of the Linsanity and help their economic status in a league that has only 3-4 teams making legit money. The Rockets, Magic, Mavericks each can benefit greatly from a little extra positive exposure from Jeremy Lin. Quoting lightly another writer, isn’t it more than just coincidence that the one team with a heavy Asian market in the past (Yao Ming anyone?) ran after Lin with full fury?

And then let’s go to the quality standpoint. Jeremy Lin saved the Knicks’ season. They were on the ropes, down for the count. And then Carmelo Anthony goes down, and New York was practically waiting for baseball season. Jeremy Lin rises from out of nowhere and with his fast-paced energy, selfless style of play, and gambling style of point guard behavior transformed the Knicks into a legit playoff team. All in a span of a month. Basketball was exciting in the Big Apple for the first time in forever.

But they still want it to be Melo’s team, even though that has yet to work in their favor at any given moment. Even if it’s Melo’s team, Lin could have been an excellent bench player that can spark energy and life into the Knicks at any given moment. I don’t care how much he will be making on the third year, the Knicks actually looked fearful for the first time in ages—I would pay top dollar to continue this trend. Few players can influence and inspire a whole team and fanbase. Jeremy Lin accomplished this and who knows what could have happened if he had remained healthy at the start of the playoffs. For the record, you decided to sign an aging Jason Kidd over an emerging burst of energy known as the Linsanity.

I am beginning to believe you guys just don’t want to win.