GREENBURGH, N.Y. — In their first public comments on Jeremy Lin since the point guard signed with the Houston Rockets in mid-July, the Knicks say they wish him luck but are happy with the team they have.
“I’m not going to discuss Jeremy Lin,” Knicks coach Mike Woodson said Monday at media day.
“I think as a franchise we wish Jeremy nothing but the best with the process that he went through. And we were able to get a player by the name of Raymond Felton and a guy by the name of Jason Kidd and Pablo [Prigioni] in here. Thee solid point guards that I think will help our ballclub as we move down the road as an organization.
“And as a coach I wish Jeremy nothing but the best.”
Neither Woodson nor Knicks GM Glen Grunwald had spoken publicly about the decision not to re-sign Lin in the two and a half months since he signed a three-year deal with the Rockets worth more than $25 million.
The Knicks had initially said they would “absolutely” re-sign the point guard whose rights they controlled. But after Houston changed its original contract offer, the Knicks opted not to pay Linsanity the $14.8 million Houston paid him in the third year of the deal — known as a “poison pill.”
Lin averaged 14.6 points, 6.2 assists and 3.1 rebounds in 35 games with 25 starts as a Knick, and, more importantly, triggered a worldwide interest in his persona and his unique background.
“Basically, it comes down to the fact that Houston made a commitment to him that we weren’t prepared to make,” Knicks GM Glen Grunwald said. “And I’m very happy for Jeremy that things worked out for him very well personally and for his family and I wish him the best. But I’m more excited for our team by the team we’ve assembled right now.”
Grunwald said he believes that Felton — who succeeded during his half-year stint with the Knicks during the 2010-11 season — can be that player again. The Knicks acquired Felton in a sign-and-trade with Portland, and he agreed to a three-year deal worth $10 million.
“We’re very excited to have Raymond back,” Grunwald said. “He had a great year with us, or half a year with us when he was here. And we think he’s a great point guard to add to this team and we think it’s going to make a big difference.”
He added: “I know he had a bit of an off year last year but he had a tremendous summer. Not only did he get married but he also worked very hard and showed up here in great shape.”
Felton said he has a “big chip” on his shoulder and wants to prove that last year’s numbers — 11.4 ppg, 6.5 apg — were an aberration.
“Last year I came into Portland out of shape,” Felton said. “Being in a lockout year I just got really relaxed and got complacent. I’m going to go ahead and say that I was out of shape when I first went there.
“But I’m in shape now and ready to go and I got a big, big chip on my shoulder. I’m definitely happy to be back in this New York Knicks uniform.”
