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Chapter 246: Opportunity Favors the Prepared
🕑 Added 2025-07-20 15:33:25 +0000 UTCAs the Knicks’ general manager, Donnie Walsh was visibly tense. And for good reason — he didn’t want to screw up what the Knicks had become. They had gone from a regular-season punching bag to an NBA playoff-bound team.
Sure, Amar’e Stoudemire was tempting. But Donnie kept that urge in check.
One thing he liked was that Lin Yi was polite and easygoing when he shared his ideas on transfers. So he did his best to please his franchise guy within a limit.
The deal with the Rockets went down smoothly.
Eddy Curry’s bloated contract, once a headache, suddenly became an asset now that it was expiring. That alone made him tradable.
The Rockets, meanwhile, were pivoting to rebuild. Even though Yao Ming was expected back next season, Daryl Morey could see the writing on the wall — Yao had already hinted at retiring when his current deal was up. Morey, as sharp as ever, knew it was time to act.
The Knicks shipped Curry and starting point guard Toney Douglas to Houston and got Shane Battier.
Douglas had played 67 games last season, starting 59, averaging 8.5 points and 5.4 assists while shooting an impressive 41% from three. On paper, Douglas looked better than he was — and for Morey, who lived by the numbers, this deal was a no-brainer.
Shane’s departure wasn’t a huge hit to the Rockets since his deal was expiring, too. The difference was that Battier could still play at a high level, and Morey worried he might help Houston win just enough games to derail a rebuild. If you’re gonna tank, tank properly.
Lin Yi, meanwhile, remembered how badly the Rockets mishandled Battier later on with Memphis. This time, New York pounced first.
When Shane got the call that he was headed to New York, he wasn’t exactly thrilled, but he wasn’t shocked either. In Houston, even with Yao, he’d become a bigger name in China than some actual stars. With the Rockets no longer competitive, he figured he might as well ride another Chinese wave.
On top of that, Donnie signed Tony Allen from free agency to a 3-year, $10 million deal — another name on Lin’s list.
When Tony heard New York’s offer, he didn’t think twice. He packed his bags, bought a ticket, and headed straight for the Big Apple. After playing against the Knicks last year, he knew exactly how much fight they had.
Anyone tough enough to challenge even an aging Kevin Garnett wasn’t just some flash in the pan.
In Tony’s eyes, Lin Yi was destined to be one of the best in the league — and between New York and Memphis, it wasn’t even close.
The Knicks’ sincerity, plus a personal phone call from Lin himself, sealed the deal. Tony was floored — and ready.
Meanwhile, Knicks fans were a little… confused.
Everywhere you looked, fans were asking: “How many wings do we need?”
They’d already picked up Danny Green’s second-year option, drafted Lance Stephenson this year, still had Wilson Chandler locking down the perimeter, and now added Tony Allen and Battier.
What was the plan? Was the front office just collecting wings like trading cards?
Zhong Muchen was just as baffled when he got wind of the moves. He’d expected the Knicks to swing for big-name stars to help Lin. Instead… Battier and Tony Allen?
Sensing his disappointment, Lin chuckled and clapped Zhong on the shoulder.
“Don’t look so down, man. Trust me — this is the best reinforcement we could get.”
In Lin’s mind, adding Battier alone was enough to anchor his confidence. If he stayed healthy, why couldn’t they take down the Heat?
Everyone hyped up Miami’s Big Three.
But in Lin’s head, the Knicks were building their squad.
With the Lin and Tyson Chandler wall inside, plus Battier, Wilson Chandler, Tony Allen, Livingston, Stephenson, and Danny Green on the wings… Lin didn’t see how LeBron and Wade could get past them.
Even if someone got into foul trouble? No big deal — they still had another five ready to go.
Plus, they managed to pry Tyson Chandler loose so that dented Dallas' chances of making it to the Finals.
Whether it was the Spurs or Lakers waiting in the West, Lin knew one thing: having Tony Allen on your side was never a bad idea.
Tony Allen’s offensive game was… average. But for the price the Knicks paid, he didn’t need to be anything more than that. He was a bench piece who was known for his tenacity and was more than good enough.
Danny Green? Still raw — plenty of room to grow.
Stephenson? Just a rookie.
But when you’re staring down the Thunder, Lin Yi couldn’t help but remember: Tony Allen had given Durant fits once or twice back in the day.
Sure, Lin’s main mission next season was still clear: keep leveling up, level up the team, keep chasing that MVP. But the old saying stuck with him: opportunity only favors those who are prepared.
In his mind, you could never have too many 3-and-D guys. They were the perfect complement to his game, second only to an elite playmaker. The one-star-and-shooters strategy wasn’t just talk — it worked.
And Battier? He’d watched the Heat pick up veterans like Battier for a reason. Shane was the kind of glue guy championship teams needed — a knock-down spot-up shooter, could credibly defend positions two through four, didn’t need touches, didn’t pout, just played his role.
Chasing a big-name star this year? Forget it.
The way Lin saw it, the Knicks could put together an All-Star-caliber starting five as soon as next season anyway. For now, they had a crew of guys flying under the radar, which worked in his favor. Everyone plays better around him since he facilitates a lot and isn't a ball hog, and if they didn’t? At least they’d defend.
It was his experience against the Celtics that drove it home. Boston didn’t just smother teams by relying on Garnett alone — they brought that collective defensive energy and held opponents to 40% shooting on a bad night.
That was the blueprint.
And besides, Lin wasn’t worried about his reputation taking a hit playing with a bunch of strong role players. If anything, it would make him look even better — carrying a weaker squad while still racking up wins only raised his stock.
Even if next year’s team added a bunch of talented rookies, nobody was going to say Lin’s legacy was cheapened. They’d just see him as a star who elevated everyone around him — the kind of player who combined individual brilliance with team success.
That’s why people loved the 2014–15 Warriors so much — a core that grew together without shortcuts.
Next season was his pivotal year. The year he could prove he belonged at the very top, ahead of all the NBA superstars.
He knew better than anyone: reputation and results went hand in hand. Like the saying goes, a revolution is fought on two fronts.
So, after wrapping up his final trip to China and saying goodbye to his parents, Lin boarded his flight back to the U.S. with a quiet fire in his chest.
The summer training camp was about to begin.
Time to get to work.
