Jeremy Lin Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Knicks Notes: Lin, Stoudemire, Woodson

May 7th, 2012 at 3:11pm CST by Luke Adams

Amare Stoudemire looked great in his return to the New York lineup yesterday, but another Knicks' starter, Jeremy Lin, may not make it back before the end of the first round. Coach Mike Woodson told reporters, including Marc Berman of the New York Post, that Lin isn't in great shape and that he's not counting on the point guard to return for Game Five. Here are few more of the latest Knicks items:

Even if Lin doesn't return this season, Iman Shumpert is confident his teammate will be back in New York next season, as Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com writes. "Oh yeah, oh yeah," Shumpert said. "We all miss him. But if he's not able to come back this year, next year I'll be back with him, so we'll all be back together again."
In his latest column for Bulls.com, Sam Smith tries to find potential trade partners for the Knicks and Stoudemire. Meanwhile, Mike Vaccaro of the New York Post says Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony showed in Game Four that they can thrive playing alongside one another in New York.
TNT's David Aldridge gives his opinion on 10 up-in-the-air offseason situations, including the Knicks' head coaching job. According to Aldridge, the Knicks should give Woodson a contract extension rather than pursuing Phil Jackson.

Ryan Anderson Wins Most Improved Player

May 4th, 2012 at 12:35pm CST by Luke Adams

12:35pm: Anderson has officially been named the league's Most Improved Player. Ersan Ilyasova was the runner-up, with Nikola Pekovic, Greg Monroe, and Andrew Bynum rounding out the top five. Jeremy Lin finished sixth.

8:46am: The Magic have announced a press conference for 12:30pm CT today, and Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel tweets that the team and league will announce an award winner at that time: Ryan Anderson will be named the NBA's Most Improved Player.

After averaging 8.6 points and 4.5 rebounds per contest in 193 games over his first three years in the league, the Magic forward broke out this season, increasing his averages to 16.1 PPG and 7.7 RPG. While an increase in minutes, from 22.3 MPG in 2010/11 to 32.2 MPG in 2011/12, played a part in his increased production, Anderson also set career highs in rate stats like FG% (.439), 3PT% (.393), FT% (.877), and PER (21.2).

Ersan Ilyasova, Jeremy Lin, Goran Dragic, and Nikola Pekovic were among the other players expected to be in the running for the award.

Knicks Notes: Jackson, Carmelo, Injuries, Novak

May 4th, 2012 at 8:34am CST by Luke Adams

When I asked Hoops Rumors readers earlier this week whether the Heat would finish off the Knicks in four games, over 64% of poll respondents predicted a sweep. Last night, Miami took another step toward sending New York home early, handing the Knicks their 13th consecutive postseason loss. Let's catch up on the latest out of New York, where the situation looks bleak for the hometown team:

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports believes the best move the Knicks could make this offseason involves luring Phil Jackson to New York. With no salary limitations in play, the Knicks should offer three years and $40MM+, says Wojnarowski. The Yahoo! scribe adds that the Zen Master "isn't enthralled" with the Knicks' roster, though that doesn't necessarily mean he'd rule out the job.
Carmelo Anthony's performance in this series will rekindle discussion about whether the Knicks can win a championship with 'Melo leading the way, writes George Willis of the New York Post.
Jeremy Lin and Amare Stoudemire don't look like good bets to return for Game Four on Sunday. Lin says he's still too sore and not in good enough condition for game action, while Mike Woodson downplayed the likelihood of Amare being ready.
Steve Novak, who will become an unrestricted free agent this summer, has failed to impress in the playoffs, as Mark Hale of the New York Post writes. After going scoreless in Game Three, Novak has just nine points in the series, and his free agent stock could be taking a hit.

Odds & Ends: Odom, Novak, Lottery, Sessions

May 3rd, 2012 at 9:57pm CST by Michael Pina

Bob Young from AZCentral.com thinks the Suns should take a long, hard look at signing Lamar Odom this offseason. The reigning Sixth Man of the Year has a ton to prove coming off a terrible experiment with the Mavericks.

Earlier tonight, the Heat defeated the Knicks—who were without starting power forward Amare Stoudemire—87-70. In Stoudemire's place, New York head coach Mike Woodson chose to start Steve Novak. The results were disastrous, writes Newsday's Roderick Boone.
After the obvious tanking strategy we saw employed by teams like the Warriors and Hornets, the Houston Chronicle's Jonathan Feigen calls for the weighted lottery to become a true lottery, giving every team that doesn't make the playoffs an equal chance at the number one overall pick.
FoxSportsOhio.com's Sam Amico writes that Ramon Sessions ability to fit in with the Lakers has once again made them a championship contender.
Every team faces tough decisions in the offseason, but this summer the Suns will have an incredibly difficult decision staring them down, as they figure out whether they should continue the Steve Nash era, or finally move on. Hoopsworld.com's Jason Fleming dissects the team's dire situation.
Melissa Isaacson from ESPNChicago.com writes that a first round loss to the Sixers could have a long-term negative impact on the Bulls.
After initially believing he might be able to return for Game 4 of his series against the Heat, Jeremy Lin has all but ruled himself out for the early return, according to ESPNNewYork.com's Ian Begley.
ESPNChicago.com's Donald Hunt talks about Jrue Holiday's need to keep up his stellar play if the Sixers want to pull off an upset.
While Shawn Marion is keeping Kevin Durant in check through the first two games of their series, Russell Westbrook has had a field day, and it'll be interesting to see whether the Mavericks choose to change their match-ups as the series moves forward, writes the Dallas Morning News' Brad Townsend.
Hoopsworld.com's Eric Pincus talks about how the Lakers should look to bring back Jordan Hill, who's a free agent this offseason.

Knicks Notes: Lin, Chandler, Stoudemire

May 2nd, 2012 at 7:39pm CST by Ryan Raroque

In two consecutive postseasons, the Knicks have faced the previous year's Eastern Conference champion in the first round of the playoffs. They've also lost Amare Stoudemire to injuries caused by unnecessary mishaps before the start of Game Three. ESPN's Stephen A. Smith wrote earlier that tomorrow's game will give New York a chance to re-earn the respect that was lost after two demoralizing losses to start the series, as well as provide the chance for certain players to prove their worth. For right now, here's the latest out of Manhattan:

Al Ianazzonne of Newsday says that Jeremy Lin played a game of full court three-on-three after Wednesday's practice and showed some expected rust. Coach Mike Woodson said that any potential return of Lin during the series would hinge on how he feels after doing some running tomorrow and what the doctors say.
Ian Begley of ESPN New York reports that Tyson Chandler is "close to 100%" heading into Thursday night's game at Madison Square Garden. Chandler had been recovering from flu-like symptoms over the last five days.
In his first public appearance since leaving the American Airlines Arena on Monday night, Amare Stoudemire told reporters that there's a "great chance" he'll return for Game 4 on Sunday, immediately adding that he's "not totally sure yet" (according to Adam Zagoria of Zagsblog.com).
Chandler is the first player in Knicks history to win the Defensive Player of the Year award. Jared Zwerling of ESPN New York writes about how former Knick Charles Oakley played an instrumental role in shaping Chandler's mindset defensively. The two had been teammates on the Bulls, when Chandler was still a young prospect and Oakley was nearing retirement.

Jeremy Lin Hopes To Return This Season

April 29th, 2012 at 3:03pm CST by Michael Pina

Knicks guard Jeremy Lin said at Sunday's praetice that he thinks coming back for New York's first round series against Miami is a realistic possibility, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post. During Saturday's Game One loss, the Knicks lost guard Iman Shumpert to a torn ACL, and had starting point guard Baron Davis suffer a minor back injury. The team is in desperate need of back court assistance.

On March 31, the Knicks announced Lin would undergo knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. The timetable for recovery was between four and six weeks, so for Lin to return by the end of his team's first round series wouldn't be a total shock, but before today's comments it wasn't expected.

In his one game against the Heat earlier this season, Lin went 1-11 from the field in one of the worst outings of his short career.

Top 5 Offseason Acquisitions Of 2011/2012

April 14th, 2012 at 9:53pm CST by Daniel Seco

While not all trades or free-agent signings work out as planned (right, Lamar?), an offseason addition can mean the difference between making the playoffs and spending late spring on an early vacation. Whether a player provides MVP-like numbers or veteran leadership to a youthful squad, adding the right player to the right team can prove to be a difficult process. Let's look at the top five offseason acquisitions of the 2011/2012 and see how these players impacted their respective teams.

Chris Paul: Almost landing with the other Los Angeles team, Paul has done wonders for the Clippers as the squad has solidified its standing as one of the best in the Western Conference. The former Wake Forest star has given the youthful team an identity while improving the play of his teammates, especially young big men Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan. With averages of 19.3 PPG and 8.9 APG, Paul is among the top contenders for league MVP.
Tyson Chandler: After helping the Mavericks take the NBA title last season, Chandler landed with the Knicks after it became clear the squad wasn't going to be able to land Paul or Dwight Howard. Brought in to provide a big body in the paint and championship experience, Chandler has exceeded all expectations with his quality of play and locker room leadership. While factors outside of Chandler's control have kept the Knicks from achieving their lofty preseason goals, the team could still make some noise in the playoffs as the seventh or eighth seed in the Eastern Conference.
Jeremy Lin*: Technically acquired after the start of the season (two days after Christmas), Lin captivated the basketball world with a dynamic style of play during the month of February. The undrafted former Harvard star struggled in his first season as a member of the Warriors before going on to average 14.6 PPG and 6.1 APG in 35 appearances with the Knicks. Unfortunately for Lin, his season came to an early end when he had surgery on April 3rd to repair a torn meniscus.
Shane Battier: Not known for his ability to score 20 points in a game or grab double-digit rebounds, Battier has made a living in the NBA by playing highly-effective basketball. The former Duke star has provided exceptional defense to a Heat squad loaded with offensive firepower. As his value to his team doesn't always show up in the box score, Battier must be judged beyond his 4.8 PPG and 2.3 RPG with the Heat.
Brandon Bass: With sincere apologies to David West, the Celtics' trade with the Magic to rid themselves of Glen Davis netted them arguably the fifth-best acquisition of the entire 2011/2012 offseason. Originally slotted to provide the Celtics' second unit with depth and a youthful spark off the bench, Bass' role quickly shifted when injuries plagued the team's roster. Given the opportunity to start regularly for the first time in his career, Bass has responded with 12.3 PPG and 6.1 RPG as the squad's starting power forward.

Odds & Ends: Lin, Cole, Davis

April 8th, 2012 at 3:05pm CST by Michael Pina

As was expected after he underwent knee surgery, Jeremy Lin doubts he will be available for first round action should the Knicks make the playoffs, according to ESPNNY.com's Ian Begley. The original timetable for Lin's return was six weeks, and he'll resume running activities next week.

The Miami Herald's Joseph Goodman takes a look at Heat guard Norris Cole's recent struggles. Goodman expects that when Mike Miller returns from injury, that Cole's quickly fading minutes may be reduced to nothing.
On the flip side, Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel examines the stellar play of Glen Davis, who's really come on as of late thanks to a few injuries on Orlando's front line.

Poll: Will The Knicks Re-Sign Jeremy Lin?

April 6th, 2012 at 10:10pm CST by Sean Highkin

Talk is heating up in recent days about the future of Jeremy Lin. The second-year guard, who became a global sensation as he emerged as a leader for the Knicks, is set to be a restricted free agent this summer. Do you think New York will retain the rising star?

Stein On Jeremy Lin’s Future

April 6th, 2012 at 5:34pm CST by Sean Highkin

ESPN.com's Marc Stein posted a column reflecting on Knicks guard Jeremy Lin's unlikely breakout season. Stein, citing sources around the league and within the Knicks organization, discusses the future of Lin, who is set to become a restricted free agent this summer.

Stein's sources around the league are convinced that the Knicks will retain Lin, due to both his enormous on-court potential and to the lucrative endorsement opportunities he promises as an icon in the Asian-American community. Stein also hears that a Knicks run at Steve Nash is a long shot, because they will not have the money to sign both Nash and Lin.

As a restricted free agent with less than three years of service time, Lin is subject to the Gilbert Arenas rule, meaning teams wishing to sign him to an offer sheet are not allowed to go above the mid-level exception.