New York Knicks: Jeremy Lin The Ideal Backup To Derrick Rose

Jeremy Lin publicly stated that he’s open to returning to New York. Should the New York Knicks offer Lin a contract during the summer of 2016?

Jeremy Lin was a glaring omission from the recently published article outlining the free agent point guards who’d thrive as the backup to Derrick Rose. Lin being left off was done for a very simple reason: Lin may be able to secure a starting job elsewhere.

A recent development has set an entirely new possibility in motion—one that simply cannot be ignored.

Lin returning to the Knicks has become something of a folk tale in the sports world. Enamored as many fans may be with the man responsible for Linsanity, the talk of his impending return has been unfounded—until now.

During a recent conversation with the World Economic Forum, Lin expressed a desire to play for the Knicks again.

"“It’s not looking likely because they just traded for Derrick Rose, but I will say, ever since I left I’ve always been open to going back. And I still am.”"

A player’s desire to play for an organization can’t be more clearly outlined than that.

Derrick Rose is locked in as the starter, but he’s battled a consistent string of injuries over the past five seasons. He tore his ACL in 2011-12, was sidelined for the entire 2012-13 campaign, and played in just 10 games in 2013-14.

The promising news is that Rose was active for 51 games in 2014-15 and 66 in 2015-16.

For as intriguing a talent as Rose may be, there’s a rational desire to fill the role of a backup with a high-caliber talent. Lin certainly fits the bill, although the polarizing nature of his potential return to New York is undeniable.

It’s never an easy decision to sign a player to a multi-year contract, but Lin is one of the 2016 free agents who deserves such an opportunity with the Knicks.

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