The American Spectator

Goodbye New York. Hello again Houston.

Point guard Jeremy Lin has returned to the Houston Rockets after the New York Knicks were unwilling to match the Rockets’ three year, $25 million contract offer.

Earlier this year, Lin became an overnight sensation with the Knicks last February after injuries to key players like Carmelo Anthony and Baron Davis forced then head coach Mike D’Antoni to turn to the untested, undrafted, unheralded Harvard alum. All Lin did was revive a moribund Knicks offense and outplay elite NBA players like Kobe Bryant and Dirk Nowitzki in victories over the Lakers and Mavericks. Lin’s sterling play made him a sensation with appeal both in North America and in Asia, particularly in China and Taiwan. The Knicks had claimed Lin off waivers from none other than the Houston Rockets who didn’t know what they had.

Unfortunately, Lin’s season ended due to a left knee injury which required surgery. The Knicks were able to reach the playoff with the return of Carmelo Anthony but they were eliminated by the eventual NBA champion Miami Heat. Anthony’s presence on the team rendered Lin expendable thus giving the Rockets the opportunity to make amends. Rockets GM Daryl Morey tweeted, “We plan to hang on to you this time.” If nothing else, Lin will boost ticket sales in Houston.

Somehow I think this decision to not to keep Lin is going to come back to haunt the Knicks.