Jeremy Lin could be the solution the New York Knicks are looking for to address their point guard woes.
The Knicks are in dire need of a point guard upgrade in a season where the team's PG rotation of Jose Calderon, Jerian Grant and Tony Wroten did not contribute much on the floor. With the free agency looming, the Knicks have a chance to address their need of a decent point guard and a familiar name would probably fit as New York's potential target.
Daily Knicks writer Maxwell Ogden listed the pros and cons of pursuing Lin back into the Big Apple. One of the pros Ogden noted of pursuing Lin is having an immediate value to the team's aspirations of reaching the playoffs.
"Kristaps Porzingis, Jerian Grant, and Tony Wroten keep New York strong in the upside department, but Carmelo Anthony needs help right now," Ogden wrote.
"If nothing else, it's all but certain that Jeremy Lin would provide immediate value to the Knicks' pursuit of the postseason."
The Knicks have been lacking production from their point guards, with Calderon and Grant only averaging a combined total of 6.6 points per game in the 2015-2016 season.
Lin would bring instant offense off the Knicks' backcourt rotation, averaging 11.7 points per game during the regular season. While the 27-year-old has displayed inconsistency on the defensive end, he has shown at times he could be reliable as he held opponents to 41.7 percent shooting, as noted by Ogden.
However, as intriguing as it is to have a dose of Linsanity back in New York, there are also cons of pursuing Lin in free agency. The most realistic disadvantage Ogden noted is Lin's three-point shooting ability, which is essentially needed when running the triangle offense.
Lin only shot 33.6 percent from beyond the arc during the regular season, but his shooting from downtown was worst in the postseason (21.4 percent). If Lin could improve on that department, he would be a perfect fit in New York's Phil Jackson-inspired offense.
Lin has expressed his desire to stay with the Hornets, where he seemingly reignited his career after a lost season with the Los Angeles Lakers two years ago. However, the former Knicks admitted he would also seek out every chance of being the best player he can be, which could possibly mean he plans on running his own show again like what he did during his breakthrough performance in 2012.
"For free agency, I will seek out every opportunity that gives me the greatest chance to be the best player I can be," he said Thursday on Facebook page. "I believe I'm just getting started. I have more to give and more to accomplish."
Certainly, New York is the perfect place for Lin to be a bona fide starter, with the team struggling to get decent outputs from their list of point guards. But that could only be the case if Lin could improve his relationship with Carmelo Anthony, who, according to Amar'e Stoudemire, was not pleased with Lin's sudden fame at the Madison Square Garden back then.
But as Ogden stated, if the two could improve their relationship on and off the court, an experienced Jeremy Lin could work out in a Knicks team looking for an immediate success.