National Basketball Association

Report: Coach wines, dines 'Melo, Lin

Published Jun. 25, 2012 1:00 a.m. ET

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New York Knicks head coach Mike Woodson returned this weekend from a five-day trip to Los Angeles where he visited several Knicks players to meet and work out, including free-agent-to-be Jeremy Lin, according to a source.

Tyson Chandler and Carmelo Anthony also are working out together in Los Angeles as they train for the upcoming Olympics.

Woodson wined and dined Lin, Chandler and Anthony for a team-bonding dinner in Beverly Hills, according to a source.

Woodson reportedly was joined on his trip by assistant coaches Darrell Walker and Jim Todd. Woodson also went to Anaheim to work out Knicks guard Landry Fields, who becomes a free agent on July 1.

Lin, who lives in Palo Alto, Calif., flew to LA to see Woodson, who clearly wants Lin to feel how valuable he is to the team's future. The Knicks cannot begin negotiating with Lin until his free agent status takes hold on July 1.

Woodson reportedly made the trip partly to create more camaraderie among his star players. Anthony and Lin did not jell particularly well on the court during their brief time together this season, with Anthony complaining he was not used to a point guard holding the ball as much as Lin.