Should Jeremy Lin stay with the New York Knicks?

Writers from around the Tribune Co. discuss New York Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin, who will be a restricted free agent this off-season. Feel free to join the conversation with a comment of your own.

Baxter Holmes, Los Angeles Times

Whose meteoric rise boosted sales traffic to the Knicks’ online store by more than 4,000%; made a Knicks ticket at Madison Square Garden a must-buy (and about 200% more expensive by StubHub.com’s tabulations); increased MSG’s TV ratings by some 70% in New York; helped raise MSG stock by double-digit percentage points; and had marketers valuing his worth at some $300 million?

The New York Knicks need Jeremy Lin, and he needs them, because A) they can offer more money than any other team because he’s a restricted free agent, and B) the city’s advertising dollars could make him wildly rich.

As for the basketball part of it, Knicks Coach Mike Woodson probably won’t utilize Lin as Mike D’Antoni did.

Then again, Woodson might be forced to feature him. Either way, Lin won’t find greener grass anywhere else.

Shannon J. Owens, Orlando Sentinel

Jeremy Lin should go with the best offer, wherever that lands him.

He’s 23 years old, he’s talented, he’s marketable and that makes him a hot commodity in today’s star-branding version of the NBA.

The New York Knicks should offer Lin a good enough contract to entice him to stay because, quite frankly, they need him. Baron Davis went down with a grotesque-looking knee injury during the first round of the playoffs, Mike Bibby is old and nearing the end of his career and former Florida State guard Toney Douglas doesn’t appear primed to beat Lin out in the rotation anytime soon.

There’s no bigger media stage than New York. And Lin has a story for the ages that has already netted him major endorsements with the promise of more to follow.

From a business and playing perspective, the Knicks could be a great fit for Lin.

So while he should entertain the best offer, staying might be the best option.

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Should Jeremy Lin stay with the New York Knicks?