Jeremy Lin cheered on Aaron Brooks and the Rockets while sidelined with an injury in Game 5. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Rockets guard Jeremy Lin will be available to play Friday night in Game 6 of the team’s playoff series with the Thunder, but will not be in the starting lineup.

Lin, who was limited in Game 3 and missed Game 4 after bruising a chest muscle in Game 2, was cleared to play after a Thursday workout and shooting drills on Friday.

Rockets coach Kevin McHale said he will try to work Lin into situations without disrupting the rhythm his team has established in back-to-back wins over the Thunder. Oklahoma city leads the best-of-seven series, 3-2.

“Playoff series end up having kind of a life of their own and a rhythm,” McHale said via the Houston Chronicle. “To be thrown in in the middle of that rhythm a lot of times, it’s hard to catch the rhythm. Our guys have a little bit of rhythm in this series, as Oklahoma City has a rhythm in the series. To be thrown out there – that’s why we have to be a little bit careful. Jeremy hasn’t played in a while. And not only has he not played, he hasn’t been able to shoot and do anything with any kind of contact for … a week or so or longer.

“We’ll bring him off the bench and see how much juice he has in the tank. It’s hard to enter a series when you haven’t played in a while, but we’re going to try to keep what we have going. Jeremy, we’ll try to fit him in there, see how he is and see how his arm feels. If he gets hit or anything happens.”

Houston’s two wins without Lin have led some to question if the team is better off with him coming off the bench.

Lin, who made only 1 of 8 shots in 18 minutes while struggling through the injury in Game 3, said game-time would bring a rush of adrenaline that should ease his pain.

“Once game-time comes around, I probably won’t feel anything,” Lin said. “It’s been the longest week, a really, really long week. Just the fact I get to play is a huge, huge burden off of my shoulders.”

Jeremy Lin will be out for the Houston Rockets’ Game 4 matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night, Yahoo Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski reported.

Lin has a bruised chest and was listed as day-to-day on the Rockets’ injury report. Lin’s absence means that the matchup looks even more daunting for the Rockets, who already trail the Thunder 3-0 in the best-of-seven series.

Lin had been a non-factor through the first three losses of the series — the last two of which both came by just three points. Lin had only 4.3 points and 2.7 assists per game, while shooting 25 percent from the field. He also had 2.3 turnovers per game.

Francisco Garcia will start in Lin’s place. Garcia scored 18 points in the Rockets’ Game 3 loss.

Jeremy Lin is out for Houston in Game 4 against OKC, league sources tell Y! He has a bruised chest. Francisco Garcia will start for Rockets.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) April 29, 2013

Jeremy Lin’s first game in Madison Square Garden wearing a Rockets uniform will attract the NBA’s spotlight Monday night. Lin, who made his transformation from undrafted, much-traveled benchwarmer to NBA phenomenon as a Knick, would just as soon put the game behind him and provide some closure to last year’s New York coming-out party.

“Linsanity” was born when the journeyman came off the bench to score 25 points and dish out seven assists against the Nets on Feb. 4. Lin averaged 24.4 points and 9.1 assists, giving the Knicks a much-needed shot of excitement and their fans some hope in the form of a seven-game win streak that became the catalyst for a playoff berth.

Lin’s breakout performance increased his free-agent market value and put the Knicks on the spot. While most fans initially were not happy with the team’s decision not to match Houston’s three-year, $25.1- million offer, the Knicks’ Eastern Conference-leading 18-5 start to the 2012-13 season has seemingly justified letting Lin go.

“If I were to be realistic, there will probably be a little bit of nostalgia or reminiscing and thankful for those times because those were great times,” Lin told reporters following the Rockets’ 103-96 loss to the Raptors Sunday. “At the same time, it’s the next chapter.

“I’m definitely ready to get it over with. I think in some sense there will be some closure. This will be the first return back to MSG, and there will never be another first return. We’re going to go out and play and have some fun.”

Knicks players sound as if they wouldn’t mind an end to media questions and talk about Lin’s short legacy.

“He came in and what he did was amazing,” Lin’s successor, Raymond Felton said via Newsday. “I was watching every game. He hit game-winners, he was doing all that. He was amazing. But it’s time to move on. We’re 18-5, whatever the record is, we’re 10-0 at home. There’s no need to talk about that no more.”

Jeremy Lin thinks his former teammates, Amar’e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony can put their egos aside and play together once Stoudemire is healthy. Lin will reunite with his former team on Friday in Houston. (Chris Chambers/Getty Images)

Rockets point guard Jeremy Lin said his former Knicks teammates Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire could work together and were ready to forget about their egos, reports the NY Post’s Marc Berman:

After practice, Lin said, “I honestly I think it can work because they’re so talented. It’s their approach to the game and they’re both really ready to buy in and do whatever it takes to throw all that other stuff out the window. You guys got to give them time.”

The Knicks lead the Eastern Conference with a 8-2 record, and Stoudemire has yet to play in a game. The 30-year-old forward has been recovering from knee surgery and is expected to return in December. But there has been speculation about where Stoudemire will fit in once he’s healthy. The Knicks have a losing record when both Anthony and Stoudemire are in the lineup, and the two have struggled to develop an effective chemistry.

Knicks head coach Mike Woodson declined to answer the question when asked about whether Stoudemire would return as a starter:

“I’m going to address that when we get to that point,” Woodson said. “Right now I’m just taking it a day at a time and work the guys we have in uniform.”

Lin played with the two forwards under Woodson last season and will reunite with his former team when the Rockets take on the Knicks on Friday night in Houston. The second-year point guard is coming off a five-turnover performance against the Bulls on Wednesday but told the NY Post that he is ready to “play his heart out” against the Knicks.

“I’m just going to keep playing – it’s a blessing,” Lin said after Wednesday’s game. “It’s ironic that Thanksgiving is around the corner because it’s a good reminder to be thankful for everything I have. I’m going to go out there on Friday and just play my heart out and just try to approach it the same, just play my heart out and be OK with the results, whatever they may be, trusting in God.”

Despite struggling against the Spurs during the preseason, Rockets coach Kevin McHale isn’t concerned about Jeremy Lin’s performance. (Bill Baptist/Getty Images)

Rockets coach Kevin McHale isn’t too concerned about Jeremy Lin’s struggles during the preseason yet. The team’s young point guard, signed by the Rockets in July, did not play in Monday’s preseason loss to the Mavs. In Sunday’s loss to the Spurs, Lin had only 4 points in 25 minutes on 1 of 10 shooting. But McHale said Monday’s benching was planned to give Lin rest after coming back from knee surgery, and that there wasn’t any reason to be worried, according to the Houston Chronicle’s Jonathan Feigen.

“He’s finding his way, as always happens when you haven’t played in a long time,” McHale said. “He had surgery and took a long time off. He’s just getting his confidence back, trying to get his mojo going which is very common.”

Prior to training camp which kicked off on Oct. 2, Lin had not played since March. He underwent surgery in April to repair a meniscus tear in his left knee. Lin averaged 14.6 points and 6.2 assists per game with the Knicks last year.

Point guard Jeremy Lin will be wearing a Houston Rockets uniform this season because the New York Knicks did not want to match the Rockets 3-year, $25 million offer. (Bill Baptist/Getty Images)

The New York Knicks let popular point guard Jeremy Lin go to the Houston Rockets via free agency based on one reason: finances, reports ESPN.com.

“Basically, it comes down to the fact that Houston made a commitment to him that we weren’t prepared to make,” Knicks general manager Glen Grunwald said. “But I’m very happy for Jeremy that things worked out for him personally and for his family and I wish him the best.”

Lin eventually signed a 3-year, $25.1 million offer sheet from the Rockets in July. The deal includes a $14.8 million payment in the third year.

The Knicks instead brought in veteran point guards Raymond Felton and Jason Kidd. Felton shot just 41 percent last season while averaging 11.5 points and 6.5 assists a game.

“I was out of shape when we first went there,” Felton said. “I’m in shape now, ready to go and I’ve got a big, big chip on my shoulder. So I look forward to this season and I’m definitely happy to be back in this New York Knicks jersey.”

When Jeremy Lin burst on to the scene as the New York Knicks’ starting point guard last season, he did so while sleeping on his brother’s couch. Some things never change, according to a tweet from Lin’s new Houston Rockets teammate Chandler Parsons.

Glad all that @NBA money didn't change him @JLin7. http://t.co/c2IZG1eY—
Chandler Parsons (@ChandlerParsons) September 16, 2012

Lin joined the Rockets after the Knicks declined to match Houston’s three-year, $25 million contract in the offseason. In the aftermath of the saga Lin was criticized by some (including ESPN‘s Stephen A. Smith) for caring more about money than his humble, down-to-earth nature would let on. However, it now appears that Lin isn’t opposed to some couchsurfing after his big payday.

President Obama called his administration the Miami Heat, while Mitt Romney is Jeremy Lin. (Mandel Ngan/Getty Images)

President Barack Obama referenced the dismal performance Jeremy Lin had against the Miami Heat in February in a comment to The New York Times about how he sees himself and Republican nominee Mitt Romney as the campaign reaches its final stretch heading into the November elections.

Obama reportedly said that his campaign will cut Romney off at every turn, much like the Heat did with their full court press on Lin in that game, which caused “linsanity” to cough up as many turnovers (8) as he had points:

No matter what moves Mr. Romney made, the president said, he and his team were going to cut him off and block him at every turn. “We’re the Miami Heat, and he’s Jeremy Lin,” Mr. Obama said, according to the aide.

Obama has never been shy to bring basketball into the conversation. In August, he attended the “Obama Classic,” a fundraiser in New York City attended by Michael Jordan, Carmelo Anthony, Patrick Ewing, David Stern and others from the NBA.

According to a Reuters poll, Obama and Romney were tied as the president readies for the Democratic National Convention.

Carmelo Anthony pinpointed Jeremy Lin’s rise as the point when people started calling him “selfish.” (Nathaniel S. Butler/Getty Images)

New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony thinks the idea of him being a “selfish” player started with Jeremy Lin’s unthinkable rise to stardom this season.

“Let’s be frank about it,” Anthony told USA Today in London, where he is playing in the 2012 Summer Olympics for Team USA. “When it comes to the Knicks, we’re talking about one particular point in time. We’re talking about the whole ‘Linsanity’ thing. That’s when it started. That’s when it started to escalate as far as people saying I was selfish.”

Anthony and Lin had an at-times rocky on-court relationship, mostly because their styles of play never completely got in sync. Anthony was sidelined with a right groin injury when Lin began his unthinkable ascent. The Knicks went 8-1 with Lin leading the way in Anthony’s absence.

Then Anthony returned, and the Knicks went through a 2-8 skid. He said the “selfish meme” doesn’t bother him, however.

“Lin came and we started winning games and then we started losing games, and they could only point to one thing, which is me, the leader of the team,” Anthony said. “They’re not going to point to Amar’e. They’re not going to point to (guard) Iman Shumpert. They’re going to point to me. I accept that. It doesn’t bother me.”

Lin, of course, signed with the Houston Rockets this offseason, and the Knicks declined to match the contract offer. When the Knicks were deciding whether to match the offer, Anthony called it a “ridiculous” contract.

New Rockets guard Jeremy Lin said in an interview that he wanted to remain a Knick heading into free agency. (Bill Baptist/Getty Images)

Newly signed Houston Rockets guard Jeremy Lin reiterated his intended desire to remain with the New York Knicks heading into free agency, saying he wished New York had done more early in the process to keep him.

In a wide-ranging interview with the San Jose Mercury News’ Marcus Thompson II published Monday night, Lin said that the choice to sign an offer sheet with the Rockets was simple when he looked at his options. From Lin’s interview with Thompson:

Lin said he expected to — wanted to — re-sign with the Knicks. But the Rockets, who reportedly pegged him as a primary target, came after him hard. First, they agreed to a four-year, $28 million offer sheet, paying him about $9 million in each of the final two years. But by the time Lin arrived in Houston to sign the offer sheet, the Rockets — after reports the Knicks would match — had pulled the first offer and changed the deal. The new offer sheet was for three years, with a third-year salary of $14.8 million.

“I didn’t go back to them and ask for more money,” Lin said. “It wasn’t like they gave me the choice to sign one of the two and I chose the one that would hurt the Knicks. I had one contract offer. That was it.”

Lin echoed statements made to SI’s Pablo S. Torre last week, when he said his preference was always to remain a Knick after a whirlwind season that saw him rise from obscurity to perhaps the biggest star in New York. The Knicks, of course, did not match the Rockets’ offer sheet and let Lin walk to Houston last week.

“Honestly, I preferred New York,” Lin said. “But my main goal in free agency was to go to a team that had plans for me and wanted me. I wanted to have fun playing basketball. … Now I’m definitely relieved.”

Lin also told the San Jose Mercury News that the phenomenon his season became — the “Linsanity” — made him relatively uncomfortable. And he also said it got into his head at points.

“If I’m being honest, in some ways, yes,” Lin said. “I fought it every day. But I think subconsciously, it had its effect, everyone catering to you. People were saying only good things for so long that when people said negative stuff, it was like, ‘Whoa, what’s going on?’ “

Isiah Thomas, a confidant to New York Knicks owner James Dolan, was reportedly “lukewarm” on Jeremy Lin. (D. Lippitt/Einstein, Getty Images)

With Jeremy Lin set to begin a new chapter in Houston in his already-infamous NBA career, the discussion has now turned to why New York Knicks owner James Dolan, whose MSG stock reportedly lost $100 million over the last week, decided not to match the $25 million offer sheet tendered by the Rockets.

Among those who Dolan reportedly considers confidants is former Knicks coach and president Isiah Thomas, who wasn’t sold on Jeremy Lin being a $25 million point guard, according to Henry Abbott of ESPN.com:

Most tellingly, perhaps, Isiah Thomas is close to Dolan, Wesley, Grunwald, Woodson and others with the Knicks, according to sources. The former Knicks president and coach is still a very influential voice in Dolan’s ear, and those behind the scenes say he is lukewarm toward Lin.

Despite a Hall-of-Fame career as a point guard for the Detroit Pistons, Thomas’ tenure as a coach and executive has been marred by controversy, ranging from a sexual harrasment lawsuit brought on by a former Madison Square Garden employee to a reported drug overdose at his Westchester County residence. In two seasons as head coach of the Knicks, he went 56-108. In April, Thomas was fired as head coach of Florida International.

Although he no longer holds an official position with the Knicks, he is still believed to have close ties as an adviser to the organization.

MSG stock is down 8.5 percent since the Knicks refused to match the Rockets offer sheet for Jeremy Lin. (Bill Baptist/NBA/Getty Images)

Chalk it up to bad luck or bad decision making, but the folks at Madison Square Garden and those who invest in that company can’t like what’s been going on the past couple of days.

MSG’s stock has lost over $100 million in the past five days, reports CBS News.com.

Speculation could be that investors are upset over point guard Jeremy Lin signing with the Houston Rockets when the New York Knicks had every opportunity to re-sign him.

When Lin made his first start on February 6, MSG stocks were at $29.49.  Two weeks ago, the stock was sitting pretty at $38.80, a 30 percent jump, when many in the Knicks organization, including head coach Mike Woodson thought the Knicks would match the Rockets offer sheet for Lin.

The shares have now dropped to $35.50, an 8.5 percent fall.

Still being assured that losing Lin has virtually no impact on the financials, but MSG investors are still fearful.—
darren rovell (@darrenrovell) July 20, 2012

New York Knicks point guard Raymond Felton said he is better than Jeremy Lin. (Nathaniel S. Butler/Getty Images)

The New York Knicks’ trade for point guard Raymond Felton was seen by many as a strong sign the team wouldn’t be bringing back point guard Jeremy Lin. Felton said in a television interview Thursday that he is better than the former Knicks’ sensation who now plays for the Houston Rockets, though there is “nothing personal between me and Jeremy.”

“I am a competitor,” Felton said. “I am a point guard just like he is, so do I think I am better? Of course, I am going to say that. I think I am better than any point guard. That’s the way I am supposed to think.”

Felton has received criticism for not being in top shape last season.

“I am hearing from everybody, ‘He wasn’t in shape last year,’” Felton said. “I played in the league seven years, about to be eight, came in out of shape one year and that’s all everybody wants to talk about. … I look forward to this year and shutting up everybody’s mouth.

…”I wasn’t at the weight I normally (am). I am the first one to say, ‘I wasn’t in shape.’ I don’t make no excuses, I don’t blame anyone else.”

The 28-year-old Felton averaged 11.4 points and 6.5 assists per game last season with the Portland Trail Blazers.  He and veteran Jason Kidd will handle New York’s point guard duties this season.

Jeremy Lin merchandise across New York is getting discounted after the point guard signed with Houston. (Mark Ralston/Getty Images)

Fathead will have to produce a new poster for Houston Rockets’ point guard Jeremy Lin.

The wall poster of Lin in a Knicks uniform that once retailed for $99.99 has been discounted to $16.36.

And that number isn’t arbitrary, either. Lin’s alma mater, Harvard University, was founded in 1636.

Late Tuesday night, the Knicks did not match the Rockets’ offer to Lin, allowing one of the most talked-about NBA players to find a new home in Houston.

Lin merchandise has been discounted across New York since it appeared the Knicks would not re-sign the point guard. Jersey t-shirts prices were slashed in half, and a book on Lin was marked at $4.99 after selling for $24.95 three months ago, according to the Yahoo report.

In an exclusive interview with SI.com’s Pablo Torre, Lin said he “preferred New York” at the start of free agency.

The New York Knicks will reportedly decline to match the Houston Rockets’ offer sheet for Jeremy Lin. (Bill Baptist/Getty Images)

The New York Knicks have decided not to match the Houston Rockets’ $25 million offer to Jeremy Lin, according to a report on Tuesday from Howard Beck of The New York Times:

The Knicks plan to cut ties with Jeremy Lin on Tuesday night, according to a person briefed on the decision, ending a brief, spectacular and now bittersweet love affair between the 23-year-old point guard and his adoring fan base. Lin will play next season for the Houston Rockets, who signed him to a three-year, $25.1 million offer sheet that the Knicks have elected not to match.

The Knicks officially have until 11:59 p.m. tonight to decide whether to retain Lin or let him go to Houston. With the offseason acquisitions of Raymond Felton from the Portland Trail Blazers and Jason Kidd from the Dallas Mavericks, rumors began to swirl that Lin’s days in New York were numbered.

In 35 games last season, he averaged 26 minutes, 14.6 points on 44-percent shooting and 6.2 rebounds. The Rockets quickly found themselves in a hole at the point guard position this offseason, with the departure of Goran Dragic, who reunited with the Phoenix Suns, and Kyle Lowry, now a member of the Toronto Raptors.

Fans are petitioning the Knicks management to keep Jeremy Lin in New York. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Nearly 13,000 people have signed an online petition aiming to keep Jeremy Lin in New York to play for the Knicks instead of moving to Texas to play for the Houston Rockets, according to the petition at Change.org:

Jeremy Lin is the best thing that has happened to New York Knicks basketball in the last 20 years. [H]e’s the one player the New York Knicks need to keep, not lose.  Don’t let Jeremy Lin go – match the Rockets’ offer.

The petition, created by a member with the user name, “I am Linsane,” is addressed to “New York Knicks Management” and was created on July 15. Signatures of the petition to keep Lin on the Knicks are from people from around the world.

According to Change.org, the mission of the site is to “build an international network of people empowered to fight for what’s right locally, nationally, and globally.” Among its tens of thousands of petitions are calls to “stop online puppy mills” and to “end abuse of autistic students.”

The Knicks have until 11:59 p.m. tonight to decide whether to match the Houston Rockets’ offer, which pays Lin $15 million over three years including approximately $15 million in his third year.

All good? Now Carmelo Anthony says he hopes the Knicks match the Rockets’ contract offer to Jeremy Lin. (Nathaniel S. Butler/Getty Images)

The New York Knicks will have to decide whether to match the Houston Rockets’ contract offer to point guard Jeremy Lin on Tuesday, and they got surprising approval from their superstar on Monday night.

Speaking to reporters after Team USA’s 80-69 win over Brazil on Monday night in preparation for the 2012 London Olympics, Carmelo Anthony said that he hoped the Knicks could “get it done” and get Lin back.

“I hope we can get it done, man,” Anthony said, according to CBS Sports’ Ken Berger. “I would love to see him back. Honestly, I would definitely love to see him back. But knowing the business of basketball, it’s kind of a tough situation for both parties. For Jeremy, I know that he definitely wants to be back in New York and (Madison Square Garden chairman) James Dolan definitely wants him back. But it’s just a matter of figuring it out at this point.”

Berger reported that it’s still unclear whether or not the Knicks will match, but most indications point to them letting Lin walk. But Anthony’s position comes as a shift from Sunday, when he called the Rockets’ three-year, $25 million offer to Lin — which pays Lin $15 million in the third year — “ridiculous.”

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

Anthony tried to clarify that comment on Monday, putting the onus of the “ridiculous” contract more on the Rockets’ side of negotiations.

“It was ridiculous for them to do what they did as far as throwing that out there and making it tough on us to sign him back. That’s why it’s called free agency, though,” Anthony said.

Knicks teammate J.R. Smith backed up Anthony when speaking with SI’s Sam Amick on Sunday. Smith suggested that  Lin’s contract could cause problems in the locker room  with the Knicks’ chemistry.

“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.”

Carmelo Anthony thinks Jeremy Lin’s offer from the Rockets is “ridiculous.” (Nathaniel S. Butler, Getty Images)

As the New York Knicks look more and more like they will be losing point guard Jeremy Lin, one of their stars has come out swinging at what the point guard will be paid in coming seasons.

Speaking after a Team USA practice (AP Report), Knicks shooting guard Carmelo Anthony spoke to reporters about the possibility of Lin leaving New York:

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

The contract Anthony refers to comes from the Houston Rockets, who offered Lin a three-year, $25 million deal that pays $15 million in its third year. The Knicks were widely expected to match whatever offer Lin received, but the size of the Rockets’ proposed contract could wreak havoc with the Knicks’ cap situation in the last year of the deal.

Raymond Felton is on his way to New York after the Knicks traded for him Saturday night.  (Rocky Widner/NBA/Getty Images)

UPDATE: (10:52 p.m.)

The New York Knicks search for a point guard may be over. The Knicks obtained guard Raymond Felton and veteran forward Kurt Thomas from the Portland Trail Blazers late Saturday night, reports The New York Daily News.  Felton will sign a three-year, $10 million deal, according to league sources.

Felton has played eight seasons in the NBA, including five with the Charlotte Bobcats, and spent a year each with the Knicks, Denver Nuggets and Trail Blazers.

Felton averaged 11.4 points and 6.5 assists per game last season.  The Knicks are still deciding on whether to match the offer sheet that guard Jeremy Lin signed with the Houston Rockets.

The Knicks have three days to match Houston’s offer and coach Mike Woodson said week that Lin would ”absolutely” return. The Knicks also signed veteran guard Jason Kidd to a contract.

The Knicks have acquired Raymond Felton and Kurt Thomas from Portland for Jared Jeffries and Dan Gadzuric, sources tell the Daily News—
Frank Isola (@FisolaNYDN) July 15, 2012

Knicks close to obtaining point guard Raymond Felton in sign and trade with Blazers, source tells Y! Sports.—
Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo) July 15, 2012

The future of Jeremy Lin should be known in the next few days.

According to TNT’s David Aldridge, Lin officially signed a Houston Rockets offer sheet. Now, it’s the Knicks’ turn.

Source says that Jeremy Lin has officially signed three-year, $25.1M offer sheet with the Rockets. Knicks will have three days to match.

—
David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) July 13, 2012

It is understood New York will match Houston’s offer after head coach Mike Woodson confirmed it without hesitation on Thursday. If they retain Lin, the Knicks will be set in the backcourt with future Hall of Famer Jason Kidd as his backup.

The Rockets are in need of a starting point guard after trading away Kyle Lowry for a future draft pick. The Rockets are also in contention for Dwight Howard.

New York Knicks coach Mike Woodson told the assembled media before the team’s first summer league practice that the Knicks will match any offers for restricted free agent point guard Jeremy Lin, and that Lin would enter training camp as the starter, with newly signed Jason Kidd as the backup.

Mike Woodson said the knicks 'absolutely' will match Lin's offer sheet after he signs it.—
Al Iannazzone (@Al_Iannazzone) July 11, 2012

Mike Woodson says that Jeremy Lin is his starting point guard and that Jason Kidd is the back- up. But who plays the last six minutes?—
Frank Isola (@FisolaNYDN) July 11, 2012

In other New York point guard news, the team will sign Argentine Pablo Prigioni, his agent confirmed to Marc Berman of the New York Post.

Pablo Prigioni's U.S. agent says Grunwald has been a big fan for several years. Calls him "pass-first'' PG like Kidd.—
Marc Berman (@NYPost_Berman) July 11, 2012

Prigioni is 6’4″, 35 years old and has played in Spain since 1999. Countryman Manu Ginobili rolled out the welcome mat on Twitter:

Very happy that the Knicks signed ARG's PG Prigioni. Great guy & player who's gonna be a rookie at 35!!—
Manu Ginobili (@manuginobili) July 11, 2012

Marcus Camby has agreed to sign a three-year, $13.2 million deal with the New York Knicks, Yahoo! Sports‘ Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Twitter Monday night. The deal is part of a sign-and-trade between the Knicks and Houston Rockets. In return, the Rockets will receive Toney Douglas, Jerome Jordan, Josh Harrellson and two second-round picks.

Marcus Camby has reached agreement on a deal with the Knicks, league sources tell Y! Sports.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 9, 2012

Houston and New York agreed on a sign-and-trade deal sending Douglas, Harrelson, Jordan to Rockets for picks, sources said.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 9, 2012

The Rockets will get the Knicks’ second round picks in 2014 and 2015, source tells Y! The Knicks will pay Toney Douglas’ salary in Houston.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 9, 2012

Camby has agreed to a three year, $13.2 million deal with the Knicks, source tells Y! The final year includes a partial guarantee.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 9, 2012

The Knicks had been reported as the front-runners for Camby after the Miami Heat signed free-agent guard Ray Allen over the weekend. The San Antonio Spurs and Brooklyn Nets had also expressed interest in signing Camby.

Because they executed a sign-and-trade with the Rockets, the Knicks can now sign point guard Jason Kidd, their other prized free-agent acquisition, to their full mid-level exception. The Knicks also intend to match the four-year, $28.8 million offer sheet that point guard Jeremy Lin recently signed with the Rockets.

The 38-year-old Camby played in 59 games last season with the Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers. He averaged 4.9 points and nine rebounds per game. Camby previously played with the Knicks from 1998-2002.

The New York Knicks have reached a deal to bring back Steve Novak, the sharp-shooting forward who excelled after point guard Jeremy Lin broke into the lineup, according to multiple reports.

Agent Mark Bartlestein says F Steve Novak re-signing with the Knicks.

—
David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) July 09, 2012

Deal is four years, $15 million, according to Bartlestein.

—
David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) July 09, 2012

The 29-year-old Novak has bounced around the NBA during his six seasons in the league, but he seemed to find a home with New York last year. He led the league in three-point shooting by hitting 47.2 percent of his attempts and averaged a career-best 8.8 points per game off the bench.

Novak’s re-signing was made possible by an arbitrator’s ruling in a dispute over the requirements for a player to keep his early “Bird rights.” The disagreement between the NBA and the players’ association hinged on whether a player who had been waived would keep his “Bird rights,” which allow his team to exceed the salary cap to re-sign him. The arbitrator ruled for the players’ association, which let the Knicks bring back Novak when they otherwise likely would not have had enough cap room to do so.

The numbers on the offer sheet that the Houston Rockets and Jeremy Lin have agreed to are out, and they are in line with what has been predicted over the past several days: Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports was first to report that it is a three-year deal with a team option on the fourth year, and as best as we can tell, Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld.com was first to report the total value of $30 million.

Not quite $30 million. Wojnarowski reports that the numbers total $28.8 million (salaries of $5 million, $5.2 million, $9.3 million and $9.3 million), with only $19.5 million guaranteed.

Every indication is that the Knicks will match the offer, even with Jason Kidd now in the fold, but the “poison pill” design of the deal could give New York pause.

All signs point to Jason Kidd closing his career with the team that drafted him 18 years ago.

According to ESPN’s Marc Stein, the 39-year-old point guard has signed a three-year deal that will likely keep him with the Mavericks until he ends his Hall of Fame career.

UPDATE: Sources tell @espnsteinline that J-Kidd's deal w/ #Mavs is for 3 years, $9M. That'd take him to age 42. Story: es.pn/LqtQK5

—
  (@ESPNDallas) July 05, 2012

As originally reported by ESPNDallas.com’s Jeff Caplan, Kidd had interest in the Brooklyn Nets, but when Deron Williams chose to stay with the team, those talks ended. He narrowed his list to the New York Knicks and Mavericks before choosing to rejoin the 2011 NBA champions.

“I’ve always loved playing with Dallas and I’d love to finish my career there,” Kidd said Wednesday.

Not signing Kidd is yet another miss for the Knicks, who also couldn’t snag two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash from Phoenix. Now all eyes are on Jeremy Lin, who received an offer sheet from the Houston Rockets on Wednesday evening.

According to HoopsWorld.com’s Alex Kennedy, New York will do all it can to keep Lin in a Knicks uniform.

After missing on Steve Nash, sources close to the situation say it's very likely the Knicks will match any offer that Jeremy Lin receives.

—
Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) July 05, 2012

Jeremy Lin, pictured here in a Rockets jersey during the 2011 preseason, could be headed back to Houston. (Bill Baptist/Getty Images)

New York Knicks restricted free-agent Jeremy Lin received a multiyear offer from the Rockets on Wednesday evening after spending the day with the team in Houston, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports:

Houston’s multiyear offer to Jeremy Lin includes back-loaded money designed to hit the Knicks hard on the luxury tax, sources close to Lin said.

The contract could be structured in similar fashion to the three-year, $25 million offer the Rockets made to Chicago Bulls center Omer Asik when the free agency period began on July 1. That offer will give Asik $5 million per year for the first two seasons and then $15 million in the third year.

Players cannot sign with a team until July 11. A team in jeopardy of losing a restricted free-agent has three days to decide whether to match the offer. Assuming Lin agrees to the deal on July 11, the Knicks will have until July 14 to decide whether to match Houston’s offer.

Lin played in two games for the Rockets in the 2011 preseason but was cut before the season began to clear-cap space to sign Samuel Dalembert. The Knicks picked him off the waivers three days later.

Rockets general manager Daryl Morey said following his offer to Lin on Wednesday that the team cutting Lin back in December probably worked out in Lin’s best interest for the long run:

“Even if he stayed here, we probably wouldn’t have recognized his talent as much as we should’ve,” Rockets general manager Daryl Morey said. “He probably wouldn’t have played much at all, and then would’ve been released at the end of the year. I didn’t know he could play this well, and if I did, we would’ve kept him.”

Will Steve Nash reunite with the Dallas Mavericks and play alongside Dirk Nowitzki? (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Mark Cuban and his Dallas Mavericks are pursuing free agents Steve Nash and Jeremy Lin now that his team lost the Deron Williams sweepstakes to Jay-Z and the Brooklyn Nets, according to ESPN’s Marc Stein in a report from ESPN Dallas:

The Dallas Mavericks’ point guard priorities are now shifting to 39-year-old and former Mav Steve Nash and one-time Mavs Summer League hand Jeremy Lin, sources told ESPN.com’s Marc Stein.

Sources say the Mavs will pursue Nash and the New York Knicks’ Lin, who is a restricted free agent. As such, the Knicks can match any offer made to Lin.

Nash is only a year younger than Kidd and can still be among the best starting point guards in the league. It’s unclear whether Kidd will stay in Dallas as a back-up or look elsewhere, perhaps to Brooklyn to be with his old franchise in a new city. The report also noted that Ric Bucher of ESPN The Magazine was told by a source that Kidd is deciding between staying in Dallas and moving to New York to play for the Knicks.

We already know about the ESPN report that free-agent point guard Jeremy Lin will be spending the Fourth of July with one of his former clubs, the Houston Rockets.

Now comes word, from Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle, that the Rockets will indeed make Lin an offer.

The Twitter feed of MySportsLegion.com cites a source who says that Houston will offer Lin a three-year, $24 million deal. Chris Broussard of ESPN.com already wrote that the Knicks may not be able to match a backloaded offer sheet, and Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld.com tweets that the Rockets offer could include salaries of $5 million, $5.2 million and $13.8 million.

Kennedy also indicated that Houston might be willing to add a year and go to four years and $32 million.

Lin spent 12 days with the Rockets during the preseason last December and was waived on Dec. 24. General manager Daryl Morey famously tweeted after Linsanity took hold in New York: “We should have kept [Jeremy Lin]. Did not know he was this good. Anyone who says they knew misleading U.”

Jeremy Lin will reportedly spend Independence Day in Houston talking to the Rockets. (Nathaniel S. Butler/Getty Images)

Jeremy Lin, a free agent with the Knicks, will reportedly spend Independence Day in Houston to meet with Rockets team officials, according to a tweet from ESPN NBA beat writer Chris Broussard on Tuesday. David Aldridge of TNT Sports tweeted that sources have confirmed Broussard’s report that Lin will, in fact, be in Houston on July 4 to visit the Rockets.

Aldridge also reported today via Twitter that conversations have stalled between the Rockets and Goran Dragic, who was expected to become the teams starting point guard once Houston figured out an exit plan for Kyle Lowry. Dragic is reportedly looking for $10 million per year.

With Lin in talks with Houston, the Phoenix Suns are looking at Dragic as a possible replacement for Steve Nash if the two-time MVP decides to leave the team, according to a tweet from Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports. According to Wojnarowski, Phoenix is looking to sign Dragic to a deal estimated at $9 million per year.

Nash has been linked to the Toronto Raptors for a three-year deal worth approximately $36 million and to the New York Knicks to play in a much bigger market but for considerably less money.

Jeremy Lin will visit the Houston Rockets tomorrow, sources say.—
Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) July 03, 2012

Source confirms @Chris_Broussard report that @JLin7 will visit the Rockets tomorrow.—
David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) July 03, 2012

Rockets look like they're moving on from Goran Dragic negotiations, which have gone nowhere. Dragic looking for $10M/yr.—
David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) July 03, 2012

So Phoenix trades Goran Dragic AND a 1st pick for Aaron Brooks in 2011, and now wants to pay Dragic between $8M-$9M per year to return? Wow.—
Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 03, 2012

The Knicks could balk at matching an offer sheet for point guard Jeremy Lin if it is heavily backloaded. (Nathaniel S. Butler/Getty Images)

Jeremy Lin’s return to the Knicks is not a sure thing.

ESPN’s Chris Broussard reported Sunday how the Knicks could feasibly lose Lin, a restricted free agent. From the report:

While both Lin and the Knicks are hoping for a reunion, sources say that if any clubs offer Lin, a restricted free agent, a backloaded contract that pays him an eight-figure salary in the third and fourth years, the Knicks could be given pause about matching the offer.

With the new collective bargaining agreement employing a more punitive luxury tax, beginning in the 2013-14 season, the Knicks are extremely concerned about the financial ramifications of such a deal.

That type of contract is known around the NBA as a “poison pill” deal, which backloads a good chunk of the money on the contract. The Houston Rockets’ reported deal with restricted free agent Omer Asik — in which Asik will make $15 million in the third year of the deal — is a good example.

Broussard pegs the Toronto Raptors as “perhaps the only team” that would think about offering Lin such a contract. But for now, they have their sights set on Steve Nash, and have offered him a contract that would pay him $12 million annually, SI’s Sam Amick reported Sunday. Broussard also notes that the Dallas Mavericks and Brooklyn Nets have expressed interest in Lin. Broussard broke down what type of contract could give the Knicks pause:

The Knicks can offer Lin a four-year deal worth $24.5 million. But an opposing team can offer Lin a poison pill that could go as high as $40 million over four years. Such a contract would pay Lin $5 million in each of the first two years and then go as high as $15 million in each of the last two years.

Matching such a contract would give the Knicks four players — Lin, Carmelo Anthony, Amare Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler – making more than $14 million in the 2014-2015 season. Those four players alone would have a combined salary of $72 million, nearly $2 million above the luxury tax.

Lin produced something of a fairy-tale season with the Knicks last year before it ended due to injury. He averaged 14.6 points and 6.2 assists per game, helping to lead the Knicks back into the playoffs.

The Phoenix Suns have reportedly expressed interest in New York Knicks guard Landry Fields as part of a deal that would send Steve Nash to the Big Apple, according to a tweet from Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports:

To free up cap space, the Knicks would also likely part with Iman Shumpert, a young and talented defender, along with center Dan Gadzuric’s $1.9 million non-guaranteed contract, according to Mark Berman of the New York Post. Steve Novak and Jared Jeffries are two Knicks free-agents that the Suns could be interested in signing as well, and if that were to happen, the Knicks would be able to offer Nash more than a $3.09 million mid-level exception contract, which is all the team can afford at the moment.

According to the report, a source said the three-year deal the Toronto Raptors offered Nash on Sunday for a reported $36 million is “false,” “untrue” and inflated.

Nash would serve as a mentor to Jeremy Lin, who would see a decrease in playing time next season, but would figure to become an even better point guard over the long-term because of Nash’s arrival.

Phoenix has expressed interest with Landry Fields as part of possible sign-and-trade package with New York for Steve Nash, sources tell Y!—
Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 01, 2012

Source repeats $36M offer to Steve Nash is "untrue.'' Won't say what offer was. Raptors may want the $36M number out there.—
Marc Berman (@NYPost_Berman) July 01, 2012

The NBA announced on Friday that it will appeal an arbitrator’s decision approving of Jeremy Lin’s free agent status under the Early Bird Rights. (Rob Carr/Getty Images)

An arbitrator ruled on Friday that Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin has been approved under the Early Bird Rights and can remain with the team, but now the league will appeal the decision, according to a tweet from Sean Deveney of Sporting News.

With free agency set to begin July 1, the appeal could mean that the Knicks won’t know what the future holds for Lin as it prepares for next season.

Arbitrator Kenneth Dam had ruled Friday afternoon that even though the Knicks had picked up Lin off the waivers last season shortly after the Rockets announced they would part ways with the then-unknown point guard, New York would be able to retain him and sign him to a long-term contract. The NBA followed up on Friday afternoon, issuing a press release that said “The NBA will appeal the ruling.”

Lin’s teammate Steve Novak, along with Clippers point guard Chauncey Billups and J.J. Hickson of the Portland Trail Blazers were also approved under the Early Bird Rights, but will have to wait for the appeals process to run its course before they can sign with a team.

NBA's statement on the Lin-Novak-Hickson-Billups Bird rights ruling closes with: "The NBA will appeal the ruling." Not gonna be done on 7-1.—
Sean Deveney (@SeanDeveney) June 22, 2012

Kobe Bryant and Derrick Rose have the best selling jerseys outside the United States. (Noah Graham/Getty Images)

Kobe Bryant, Derrick Rose and LeBron James have the three best selling NBA jerseys outside the United States, respectively, according to The New York Times, which obtained a copy of the rankings released by the league on June 21:

According to figures released by the league, Bryant’s jersey is the most popular in China, Europe and Latin America. Derrick Rose of the Bulls has the second-most popular jersey globally, followed by LeBron James, Kevin Garnett and Dwight Howard.

The list is based on sales  from Adidas stores outside the U.S. during the 2011-12 NBA season.

According to the Times, Pau Gasol, Dirk Nowitzki, Tony Parker and rookie Ricky Rubio were among international players with popular jerseys worldwide as well.

In April, Derrick Rose and Jeremy Lin had the most popular jersey’s in the U.S., respectively. They had generated the most jersey sales and team merchandise, but it should be noted that, according to NBA.com, these figures were based on “sales at the temporary NBA Store on Fifth Avenue and on NBAStore.com.”

Steve Nash said he’s definitely interested in the Knicks if they’re interested in him. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Steve Nash said Wednesday that he’d be interested in playing in New York for the Knicks if they expressed an interest in him this offseason when he becomes a free agent, according to Jared Zwerling of ESPN.com, who spoke with Nash at a promotional event in New York City:

“The Knicks are a great franchise and I live in New York City (each summer), so I’d definitely consider them if they were interested,” the Phoenix Suns’ mainstay said at a promotional appearance in Manhattan.

Nash said that even though he can’t make a decision until after free agency begins on July 1, he will consider every possibility once he’s able:

“I want to wait and see what’s actually on the table,” he said. “I’m open and excited. I’m looking at every possibility right now.”

Zwerling reported that Knicks legend Walt “Clyde” Frazier was also on hand at the event and publicly said, “We need you to come to New York!” to which Nash responded by saying he’s “flattered.”

It’s unlikely the Knicks will have the money to sign Nash, who made $11.6 million in the final year of his contract with the Suns. According to Zwerling, the best offer the Knicks could make the two-time MVP would be a veterans minimum contract, which means a pay cut for Nash, and that scenario is possible only if the Knicks don’t re-sign restricted free agents Jeremy Lin and Steve Novak.

New York Knicks coach Mike Woodson said Jeremy Lin is his starting point guard heading into next season. (Nathaniel S. Butler/Getty Images)

New York Knicks coach Mike Woodson seems confident his team will re-sign Jeremy Lin, and when it does, he plans on the point guard leading the team again, Woodson said on ESPN Radio, according to a report by the New York Post. 

Lin, who emerged from the end of the bench to star in a historic run that set off a wave of “Linsanity” this season, is a restricted free agent. Lin also injured his knee in March and missed the rest of the season. Despite those questions, Woodson backed Lin.

“Right now, he is our starting point guard, without a doubt,” Woodson said. “I’ve always believed this: When a starter goes down he doesn’t lose his job because of an injury. You welcome him back with open arms when he gets healthy and you keep it moving.”

“That’s what we’re going to do when we get [Lin] signed,” Woodson continued. “We’ll get him back in uniform … and get him ready for practice and camp and throw the ball in his hands and say, ‘Let’s go.’ “

A lot could change for New York by the start of training camp. Lin and Steve Novak could both leave as free agents, and Amare Stoudemire’s name has been mentioned occasionally in trade rumors. Other free agents, including point guards Steve Nash, Jason Kidd and Andre Miller, could find their way to New York — although salary cap issues would make those acquisitions tricky.

But for now, Lin’s job appears safe.