Knicks to match Lin offer sheet

The Knicks will match the Houston Rockets offer sheet to Jeremy Lin after all.

Two days after the Rockets offered Lin a back-loaded four year $30 million contract with $10 million a year coming to him in year's three and four of the contract, the Knicks have decided it is worth trying to keep their young star on the team.

The Knicks will be allowed to sign the offer sheet next week when free agents are allowed to sign on with their new teams.

If the Knicks match, then Lin will likely remain a Knick.

While the Rockets offer might have been tantalizing it is surpising that Lin gave them the light of day considering they once cut Lin because they didn't believe in his abilities, and were to kiss and makeup with the point guard.

Even if the Knicks sign Lin to the back-loaded contract, there will be financial ramifications that could affect the Knicks in the future.  The Knicks would be well over the salary cap, but at least by the time Lin's fourth year kicks in, the deals of Carmelo Anthony, Amar'e Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler will be off the books.

If Lin returns to New York he will be joined by the guy many people say he resembles on the court, Jason Kidd. Kidd signed a three-year, $9 million contract with the Knicks on Thursday, to be the team's back-up point guard and mentor to Lin.

Kidd's return to the New York has been speculated for weeks. However the prevailing thought at the time was that he would return to the Nets once Deron Williams agreed to return to that club.

 While Kidd is not the player who led the Nets to back-to-back NBA Finals appearances, he still can be a major contributor, and played a big role in the Mavericks 2011 NBA title.