Depth has team better equipped for life after Lin

Even as coach Kenny Atkinson tried to console Jeremy Lin — who had seasonending knee surgery Friday — it was the injured point guard that consoled his coach, pointing out that this season’s retooled Nets are far better equipped for life without Lin than last year’s shorthanded bunch.

Now they’ll get to spend the rest of the season trying to prove that.

“That was kind of cool, one of the first things Jeremy said to me was we’re more equipped this year to handle this,” Atkinson said. “It’s great of him to remind me of that under tough circumstances.”

Lin is getting used to tough circumstances. After hamstring woes limited him to just 36 games last season, he had surgery Friday for a ruptured patellar tendon. A few hours later, the Nets beat the Magic 126-121 in their home opener with Allen Crabbe starting for Lin.

“This is a great opportunity for these guys to seize the moment, to rise up,” general manager Sean Marks said. “They all miss Jeremy. That’s sincerely. It’s not sharks circling. … If you look at their Instagrams, social media and the way they’ve been communicating with Jeremy, that’s a reflection of just how tight this group is.”

The question is: Where will this group go from here?

The Nets have $3.4 million in practical cap space, although they would have to create a roster spot to use it. Marks said he’s undecided whether they’ll apply for a Disabled Player Exception.

The Nets can’t apply until they’re about to sign or trade for a player that would push them over the cap. They have until Jan. 15 to apply, and if it’s approved it would be for $6 million — although it could only be used on either a free agent or expiring deal.

“We’re looking at all kinds of options. That’s one tool we potentially have,” Marks said.

Some players have come back from ruptured patellar tendons in timelines that would imply there’s a chance Lin can play this season, but he already has been ruled out.

“After the surgery it’s clear: Look, he’ll be out for the season. So we’ll move on,” Marks said. “We’re not even going to go down that road [of playing this season]. With Jeremy it’s pretty clear. You don’t return from these injuries quickly. But I think he’s expecting a full recovery, we’re expecting a full recovery.”

But what Marks wouldn’t say was that he’s confident Lin will be the same player.

“We’re definitely confident in what Dr. Riley [Williams] did. But obviously that’s above my pay grade,” Marks said. “And we’ve got to trust our doctors, our medical team our performance team to do the rehab and also let things lay for a bit. I don’t want to jump to conclusions and say we’re expecting him to be ready on this particular day or that day and this is how he’s going to perform.”

Lin has started 34 games through the first two seasons of a three-year, $36 million deal.