Knicks Notes: Lin, Bargnani, Smith

Here’s the latest out of MSG, where Iman Shumpert appears to be staying for now..

  • Knicks owner James Dolan‘s decision to rid the garden of Jeremy Lin and the Linsanity that came with him has backfired bigtime, writes Ian O’Connor of ESPNNewYork.com.  Rather than match’s Lin’s three-year, $25.1MM offer sheet from Houston, the Knicks let the talented 23-year-old guard walk for nothing.  What O’Connor doesn’t address is the fact that the Rockets’ offer was heavily backloaded, which would have cost the Knicks a bundle in luxury tax penalties.  Lin and the Rockets return to the Garden tonight.
  • Matt Moore of CBSSports.com isn’t ready to push the panic button and he gives ten reasons why the Knicks fans are going to be just fine.  One of Moore’s reasons for optimism is the better-than-expected play of offseason acquisition Andrea Bargnani.
  • It looks like Knicks guard J.R. Smith and Pistons guard Brandon Jennings might have a budding rivalry.  As recapped on ESPNNewYork.com, Jennings threw a jab at Chris Smith on Twitter, implying that nepotism landed him an NBA gig while Pooh Jeter and Bobby Brown aren’t in the Association.  The ever classy J.R. Smith responded by threatening to send his “street homies” to Detroit, presumably to settle the score with Jennings.  Many have speculated that the younger Smith was given a roster spot with the Knicks over more worthy candidates as a favor to his brother, who re-signed with the club on a three-year deal this past summer.
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