Tag: Goran Dragic

Rockets reportedly land Lin as Knicks don’t match offer sheet

Jeremy Lin is headed to the Houston Rockets. ASSOCIATED PRESS

HOUSTON — Jeremy Lin is leaving New York and taking Linsanity to Houston.

The New York Knicks announced Tuesday night that they will not match the Houston Rockets’ three-year, $25 million offer for Lin, a restricted free agent.

New York officially had until 11:59 p.m. EDT to decide whether to re-sign Lin, who became an international phenomenon in the media glare of the Big Apple.

The Rockets made it tough for the Knicks to sign off on keeping him by backloading their offer sheet with a $15 million salary in the third season. If the Knicks agreed to that deal, they would have faced a hefty luxury tax in 2014-15 because of other big contracts on their books — between $30-40 million.

Lin now returns to Houston, where he spent about two weeks in December during training camp. The Rockets liked what they saw in the undrafted point guard but had to waive him because they had Kyle Lowry and Goran Dragic on the roster.

The New York Times initially reported the Knicks’ decision, citing an unidentified person briefed on the situation.

One sports consultant said the adjustment to the offer sheet was a stroke of genius by Rockets general manager Daryl Morey.

“The Rockets deserve a lot of credit for the way they’ve gone about this,” said Marc Ganis, president of Chicago-based SportsCorp. “It was extremely intelligent — with an assassin’s touch.”

The Knicks, though, gave Lin his first shot, picking him up after the Rockets waived him. He was briefly demoted to the development league, recalled, and finally got his chance when coach Mike D’Antoni put him in with the Knicks floundering at 8-15. Lin scored a career-high 25 points in a 99-92 win over New Jersey, and “Linsanity” was born.

Lin had slept on teammate Landry Fields’ couch the night before, refusing to get his own place as he headed into that week, knowing the Knicks would have to decide whether to cut him or guarantee his contract for the rest of the season.

But Lin proved more than just an overnight sensation — he had 28 and 23 points in his first two NBA starts.

Jefferson’s late hoop leads Utah’s rally, paces Thursday’s S&Ds

Al Jefferson wasn’t sure Devin Harris’ shot would be close to the basket.

Harris joked after the game that it actually was a pass.

Fortunately for Utah, Jefferson was in the right place at the right time Thursday night. Jefferson rammed home a rebound basket for the game-winning shot with 0.9 seconds left to lead the Jazz to a 103-102 victory at Sacramento.

“It was just great to get the win, man,” Jefferson told the Salt Lake City Deseret News. “We’ll get it any way we have to.”

The final hoop capped a big night for Jefferson that included 26 points, seven rebounds and four blocks.

“I honestly thought it was a short shot,” Jefferson told the Associated Press. “I was at the basket by myself and that was the only way he could get it to me. It was a perfect pass.”

Utah rallied after squandering a 14-point second-half  lead, scoring on four of its last five shots after going almost 9 minutes without a basket.

“The greatest thing about it is that we hung in there. We didn’t hang our heads. We continued to fight,” Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin told the Deseret News. “What a big finish.”

STUDS

Utah C Al Jefferson: Hit the game-winning basket with 0.9 seconds left, part of a strong effort that included 26 points, seven rebounds and four blocks in the Jazz’s triumph at Sacramento.

New Orleans’ defense: The Hornets limited the Los Angeles Clippers  to 11 points and 17.4 percent shooting in the fourth quarter and forced them to miss their last 19 3-point attempts in their victory over  the Clippers.

Boston F Paul Pierce: Went for 25 points, nine rebounds, two assists, two blocks and was plus-10 in the Celtics’ victory at Milwaukee.

Sacramento C DeMarcus Cousins: Notched 22 points, 18 rebounds, three assists, two steals and was plus-6 in the Kings’ loss to Utah.

Houston G Goran Dragic: Produced 17 points, nine assists, three rebounds and three steals and was a game-best plus-27 in the Rockets’ victory over Golden State.

DUDS

Los Angeles Clippers G Randy Foye: Clanked through a miserable 1-for-14 shooting night and was a team-worst minus-7 in the Clippers’ loss at New Orleans.

Houston F Chase Budinger: Missed  all seven shots in the Rockets’ victory at  Golden State.

Sacramento G Isaiah Thomas: Went 4 for 10 from the field with four turnovers and was a team-worst minus-18 in the Kings’ loss to Utah.

Milwaukee C Drew Gooden: Struggled in a 2-for-12 shooting performance with two turnovers and was minus-4 in the Bucks’ loss to Boston.

Washington G Roger Mason: Missed all five shots with a turnover and was minus-6 in the Wizards’ loss to Indiana.