Lin emerged from the end of the Knicks' bench in 2012 to establish himself as a global phenomenon by sparking New York to six straight wins and helping the club reach the postseason.

Many expected the Knicks to re-sign Lin, a restricted free agent, in the summer of 2012. But the Houston Rockets and the guard agreed to a three-year, $25 million offer sheet. The Knicks declined to match.
"I've always been open to it. But I don't think they're as open to it," Jeremy Lin said of a return to the Knicks. Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

Lin, who signed with Charlotte over the summer, told the Daily News he's never ruled out a return to the Knicks.

"I've always been open to it, ever since I, you know, I don't want to say I necessarily left, ever since [they decided they didn't want to re-sign me]," Lin said. "But I've always been open to it. But I don't think they're as open to it.

"[There's no animosity] from my perspective," Lin added. "I understand. And I understand why it happened. But no animosity. To be honest, I'm very much past it."

Despite a report in July that the Knicks were interested in signing Lin, the club never considered it. They acquired Notre Dame guard Jerian Grant in a draft-day trade and were comfortable starting the season with veteran Jose Calderon at point guard.

Lin hasn't duplicated the on-court success that he enjoyed in 2012 with the Knicks in subsequent seasons, including a stint with the Los Angeles Lakers.

"It was very difficult for various reasons. In Houston, they kind of brought me in and didn't know they were going to get James (Harden). Me and James are both ball-dominant pick-and-roll players," he said. "And L.A. was just a different system and they were going in a different direction in general."

Lin, 27, is optimistic about his new role in Charlotte.

"I can play [shooting guard]," Lin said. "I played it in college. So I've always said my bread and butter would be the point guard, but I have no problem playing the 2 as well. I consider myself a combo guard. And honestly in this system it's at times interchangeable."

CrushAlot wrote:The quote where he said they chose not to resign me oissed me off. The Knicks were going to match the original deal offered to Lin but couldn't match the poison pill deal. I really liked Lin as a knick but he needs to take some ownership for chasing the money. He got paid but he owned ny and his career probably would have had a different path had he not put the Knicks in a position where matching his offer was almost financially not possuble. the aw shucks its all good I just want to get back to linsanity isn't cutting it anymore in my opinion.

Revisionist's history. He must be a Republican.

CrushAlot wrote:

Sangfroid wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:The quote where he said they chose not to resign me oissed me off. The Knicks were going to match the original deal offered to Lin but couldn't match the poison pill deal. I really liked Lin as a knick but he needs to take some ownership for chasing the money. He got paid but he owned ny and his career probably would have had a different path had he not put the Knicks in a position where matching his offer was almost financially not possuble. the aw shucks its all good I just want to get back to linsanity isn't cutting it anymore in my opinion.

Revisionist's history. He must be a Republican.

Really? You don't think Lin went for the money? I have said this since that July by the way.

He most definitely went for the money. That contract was ridiculous. It was fun while it lasted. We are on to much better things.

CrushAlot wrote:

Sangfroid wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:The quote where he said they chose not to resign me oissed me off. The Knicks were going to match the original deal offered to Lin but couldn't match the poison pill deal. I really liked Lin as a knick but he needs to take some ownership for chasing the money. He got paid but he owned ny and his career probably would have had a different path had he not put the Knicks in a position where matching his offer was almost financially not possuble. the aw shucks its all good I just want to get back to linsanity isn't cutting it anymore in my opinion.

Revisionist's history. He must be a Republican.

Really? You don't think Lin went for the money? I have said this since that July by the way.

He DEFINITELY went for the dollar. The team was preparing to sign him and then Lin took that contract BACK to the Rockets, where they inserted the poisoned third year of that contract. I was impressed with his little run, but was disenchanted with his non-appearance in the playoffs. I could never understand how all the Lin-atics never got that.

crzymdups wrote:Lin would be a terrible fit for the Triangle. Moving on. Even if he can't.

And what about the defence of Calderon? To a point, we have to look at both sides of the ball. Calderon can shoot and pace the starters, but not anything on the other side of the ball and that hurts.
Lin would be a good Triangle PG as far as his intelligence is concerned, but more of a second unit change of pace guy, like Grant.
But, I'd rather have Lin out there than Calderon, due to his two way play.
But, the Lin ship has sailed, curious about that Travice Trice guy...

CrushAlot wrote:

knickscity wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:The quote where he said they chose not to resign me oissed me off. The Knicks were going to match the original deal offered to Lin but couldn't match the poison pill deal. I really liked Lin as a knick but he needs to take some ownership for chasing the money. He got paid but he owned ny and his career probably would have had a different path had he not put the Knicks in a position where matching his offer was almost financially not possuble. the aw shucks its all good I just want to get back to linsanity isn't cutting it anymore in my opinion.

Firstly, the Knicks had already secured a deal with Felton before the Lin decision. they never intended on bringing him back, and even duped Kidd into signing under pretenses he would be a mentor, when he wound up being a key rotational player and broke down.

The underlying fact is Lin did nothing but what the Kniks told him to. The Knicks told Lin to go find a deal and they'll match it. The Knicks could have just offered the 4/24 deal from the start, but THEY did not. Ironically they didnt tell Novak to go find a deal...they gave him his without having to secure one first. Sma situation of both players, and what made the Knicks look so stupid is the NBA players Assoc. fought for them to keep Lin and Novak as they would have lost both for nothing without the EB ruling.

So off Lin goes, and the team that wanted him back offered a deal, a poison pill one. Knicks did not match though, but the players currently on the team sure had words to say about another mans money, which I've always felt was a huge no-no....

Melo: “It’s not up to me,” Anthony said laughing. “It’s up to the organization to say that they want to match that ridiculous contract that’s out there.

Tyson:“Jeremy was a young point guard who was inexperienced, who brought a great light to the organization,” Chandler said. “But as far as being able to run the offense and putting players in the right position he just wasn't there. We got some veteran point guards that are capable of doing that."

JR: "Without a doubt," he said. "I think some guys take it personal, because they've been doing it longer and haven't received any reward for it yet. I think it's a tough subject to touch on for a lot of guys."

Novak: “It can be looked at as a ridiculous contract in the sense that it’s a $5 [million], a $5 [million] and a $15 [million over the first three years],” Novak told SNY.tv Wednesday at the Steve Novak Basketball Camp at Sleepy Hollow High School.

“It is kind of ridiculous in terms of the structure. I don’t think in terms of Jeremy’s value that it’s ridiculous. I think everybody knows that. He’s very valuable….I wasn’t there when Carmelo said it but ‘ridiculous contract,’ I think probably means more the fact that there’s a max offer being offered in the third year when the first two was a five.”

The Knicks signed Felton after they were presented the poison pill deal. It was during the time period where they could match Lin's deal. Once that happened it seemed obvious that they were moving on but they still had not committed either way in regards to lin.

July 5th....“They’ve shown great interest, but there’s stuff they’ve had to get through,’’ Dutt told the Post.

“He loved playing in New York. Our choice was to never have left New York. There were no hard feelings. Management handled it the best they could. I don’t think they ever misled us and I never felt they wanted him in that trade.’’

The Knicks have the $3.09 million taxpayer mid-level exception to offer Felton, though Dutt said he hoped a sign-and-trade can be done with Portland to get an increased salary.

“I consider them definitely on his high list,’’ Dutt said. “He would love to go back. He loved New York and was playing at an all-star level.’’

I realize we as fans want to diss the ex players and laud the team, but the team made this decision happen. Unless they offered the 4/24 deal they could have just like they gave Novak...this was all on them.

StarksEwing1 wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:

Sangfroid wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:The quote where he said they chose not to resign me oissed me off. The Knicks were going to match the original deal offered to Lin but couldn't match the poison pill deal. I really liked Lin as a knick but he needs to take some ownership for chasing the money. He got paid but he owned ny and his career probably would have had a different path had he not put the Knicks in a position where matching his offer was almost financially not possuble. the aw shucks its all good I just want to get back to linsanity isn't cutting it anymore in my opinion.

Revisionist's history. He must be a Republican.

Really? You don't think Lin went for the money? I have said this since that July by the way.

its not fair to bash lin for chasing the money because EVERY player chases the money. Lets be honest melo is a knick because we could offer him much more than anyone otherwise he would have went to chicago. LINSANITY was probably the best time we have had as knick fans since 2000