The Houston Rockets have offered Knicks restricted free agent Jeremy Lin a four-year deal worth $31 million, according to the New York Post.
The backloaded deal is reportedly worth $5 million in the first year and $5.2 million in the second, before it jumps to about $10.5 million in the third. There is a player option for the fourth year.
Rockets GM Daryl Morey reportedly wined and dined Lin in Houston and also Tweeted Wednesday: “RedNation please help me welcome [Lin] back 2Houston today! Fitting on July4 as America is land of 2nd chances.’’
The Knicks, who missed out on Steve Nash Wednesday when he agreed to a sign-and-trade with the Lakers, have the right to match any offer for Lin, who gave birth to the global phenomenon known as Linsanity.
Lin played two games for the Rockets in the 2011 preseason but he was waived before the season began to to make room for Samuel Dalembert. The Knicks picked him up off waivers three days later.
“Even if he stayed here, we probably wouldn’t have recognized his talent as much as we should’ve,” Morey told Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports. “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.”
The Dallas Mavericks, who missed out on Deron Williams when he signed with the Brooklyn Nets, are also interested in Lin.
