After a day filled with intrigue, suspicion and misdirection, the Knicks parted

After a day filled with intrigue, suspicion and misdirection, the Knicks parted ways with one starting guard and sent ambiguous signals about another. As of late Saturday night, the future of Linsanity was anything but clear.

The Knicks let Landry Fields leave for Toronto, choosing not to match his three-year, $18.7 million offer sheet. That decision came after nearly three days of silence on the matter, and as reports emerged Saturday of a possible deal to acquire Raymond Felton, it left one anxiety-filled question for Knicks fans: what of Jeremy Lin?

Lin, a restricted free agent, signed a three-year, $25 million offer sheet with the Houston Rockets on Friday. It has been widely assumed that the Knicks will match the offer and keep Lin. Team officials have said as much for weeks, both before and after the Rockets made the offer to Lin.

Two reports late Saturday cast doubt on that assumption, both indicating that Felton would rejoin the Knicks and take Lin’s place.

The first report came via the Twitter account of a South Carolina television reporter, Mark Haggard, who said that Felton had told him that the Knicks planned to let Lin leave for Houston. A short time later, Yahoo Sports reported that Lin “appears close” to joining the Rockets, in light of Felton’s deal with the Knicks.

Knicks officials declined to comment on the reports.

Coach Mike Woodson said earlier this week that the Knicks would not only match Houston’s offer, but that Lin would be the team’s starting point guard.

It was not immediately clear whether Felton would join the Knicks in a sign-and-trade deal from Portland, his former team, or sign outright with the Knicks. Felton signed with the Knicks in July 2010 but was dealt to Denver the following February as part of the Carmelo Anthony trade.

Felton played 54 games for the Knicks, averaging 17.1 points and 9 assists in Coach Mike D’Antoni’s fast-paced offense.

Felton’s agent, Tony Dutt, did not immediately return messages.

The addition of Felton would not necessarily lead to the Knicks’ letting Lin go, but it would create a crowded backcourt. The Knicks have already signed Jason Kidd. Teams rarely play three point guards, although Kidd has played off guard as well, and it is not inconceivable that the Knicks could use all three, especially after losing Fields. Also, given Kidd’s age (39) and Lin’s inexperience, it would be justifiable to have a third veteran point guard available.

Fields agreed to terms with Toronto on July 3, during the N.B.A.’s signings moratorium, and he signed his contract on Wednesday. The Knicks had until Saturday night to match the offer or let him go.

Fields, a second-round draft pick in 2010, started at shooting guard the last two seasons, although he struggled badly last season, averaging only 8.8 points and 4.2 rebounds. J. R. Smith, who re-signed with the Knicks last week, will most likely slide into Fields’s spot.

James White, who played the last two years in the highest level in Italian professional basketball, also signed a one-year contract with the Knicks. Eventually, Iman Shumpert will return to the guard rotation as well after recovering from knee surgery, though he is expected to be out until January.

Throughout Saturday, the Knicks dodged the Rockets in an attempt to avoid receiving the offer sheet that Lin signed, adding another layer of intrigue. They will have three days to either sign it or let Lin go, but that period does not begin until they officially receive the offer sheet.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/15/sports/basketball/jeremy-lins-future-with-knicks-seems-uncertain.html