Jeremy Lin unhappy with Rockets' pursuit of Carmelo, feels 'disrespected'
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Two things are clear: The Houston Rockets want to sign forward Carmelo Anthony, and they want to trade point guard Jeremy Lin.
That's fine. Teams move heaven and earth for even the faintest chance of landing a superstar like Anthony. If trading Lin carves out enough cap room for the Rockets to sign Anthony, all is fair. It's business.
However, there's a way to go about it that doesn't disrespect the players currently under salary.
In their pitch to Anthony, the Rockets decorated the Toyota Center with a huge banner of Carmelo in a number seven Rockets jersey.
The Rockets will host Carmelo Anthony and have pictures of Carmelo in Rockets uniforms on Toyota Center marquis pic.twitter.com/2VfycvqlkN
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) July 2, 2014
But there's already someone on the roster wearing the number seven, that player being Lin. As you can imagine, he didn't take too kindly to the Rockets' brazen ploy.
Luke 6:29 - If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them
— Jeremy Lin (@JLin7) July 2, 2014
@EmodMarco im entitled to standup for myself/say i felt disrespected as i did thru tweet but point is love unconditionally/as jesus loved me
— Jeremy Lin (@JLin7) July 2, 2014
And no, neither Lin, nor his representatives were notified of the Rockets' plans of giving his number to Carmelo.
Spoke to Lin's agents, Jim Tanner/Roger Montgomery, who say that Houston did NOT inform Lin that the No. 7 would be used for Melo images.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 2, 2014