OT: Melo is sooo dumb

[WestCoastHusky]

There's nothing wrong with the structure of the deal. It's a rule that helps the Knicks match, otherwise they'd lose Lin like Arenas & Boozer.

Carmelo was calling out the idea of Lin getting paid 15 million in a year, but from Lin's perspective it's no different than getting 8 million a year. I don't think 8 million a year is too much considering Fields got 7 million a year minus the potential commercial appeal.

$8M per year is what Lin will get and that's basically market value for him. The backup PG for Houston that went to Phoenix got around the same amount so Lin is worth every penny of that. Houston is smart so they did what they had to do to get rid of the Knicks in the bidding. It looks like Lin will be going to Houston to get a fresh start. Perhaps Houston will let him free wheeling like he did earlier with Mike D'Antonio so he can play like his former self. In NYC, he has to keep feeding the ball to Melo so it might not be ideal for him.

Anyway, it looks like Knicks got out maneuvered yet again.

 

[Waquoit]

yep playing with the scrubs they have in Houston would be a better option, what can you say Melo is as evil as Adolf Hitler

You aren't aware of the rules of internet debate are you? First person who says Hitler, loses.

Linsanity died when Melo came back, not when Lin got hurt. Melo's demands neutralized Lin's strengths. Why would that change next year? Why would Lin want to deal with that for the next 3 or 4 years? Much better to start fresh.

 

[caw]

@caw: I meant foolish for the Knicks. It is an entirely different calculus for Houston with different numbers and different assumptions. First, it only costs them the $8.3M average against their cap in the third year, versus the actual $14.98M charge that the Knicks would get against their cap. And if Houston stays under the cap, it costs them even less--in that scenario Lin's third year would cost Houston some $40M less than it would cost the Knicks.

Well, that I agree, it is foolish for the Knicks, though moreso due to other contracts on the books there.

Really, it's all about perspective. For the Knicks, they have too many bad contracts (does this ever change for them?).

A three year contract really isn't that bad, the problem is the Knicks just have some incredibly bloated contracts right now:

Amare: 20, 21.5, 23.4
Melo: 19.5, 21.5, 23.5 (Player Option)
Chandler: 13.6, 14.1, 14.6

That's freaking 53.1, 57.1, 61.5 for 3 freaking players. That is much more of an issue than Lin's contract. Lin may not be worth 15.5 for one year (though the first two are cheap), but Melo and Amare sure as hell aren't worth a combined 40 million.

I know that Lin may not be worth 8 per year, but it's not that outrageous, and you can't blame the balloon/tax cost of his contract on him. The Knicks signed 3 players to the equivalent of the entire cap and only 9 million under the luxury tax threshold. That's just silly.

Kidd: 3, 3, 3
Felton: 3, 3, 3 (average at least)
Shumpert: 1.7, 1.8, 2.8
Novak: 3.8, 3.8, 3.8 (average at least)
Smith: 2.8, 2.8
Camby: 4.4, 4.4, 4.4 (average at least)

That's an additional 18.7, 18.8, 17. So they will be at the luxury tax for those 9 players next year, about 5 million over in year 2 and 8 million over in year 3.

So the Knicks will be taxed at least 7.5 in year 2 and 12.75 in year 3. Considering they will be over for 2013, 2014, 2015, they are likely going to be in the "repeat offender base". That will push year 3 to about 20.75 without Lin and with Felton.

If they didn't sign Felton and signed Lin, they would be paying almost 67 million in tax alone in year three (if they are a "repeat offender"). If they aren't a "repeat offender" then it comes out to about 46 in tax in year 3.

Even under the "old" contract of 4 years at 30 million Lin would have added 7.5 in year 3. This would equate to either 35 or 22.5 million in tax (considering Felton not joining the Knicks). Of course that is based off salary for 8 players. So they would need to sign another 5 players.

So in the end the difference between Lin's first contract and second would be about 20-30 million in tax.

Of course, you then add on the salaries of 5 additional players and this gets even larger.

I don't see how this is on Lin though. Melo/Amare are the bigger issues (in terms of silly contracts).

 

[visitor123]

$8M per year is what Lin will get and that's basically market value for him. The backup PG for Houston that went to Phoenix got around the same amount so Lin is worth every penny of that. Houston is smart so they did what they had to do to get rid of the Knicks in the bidding. It looks like Lin will be going to Houston to get a fresh start. Perhaps Houston will let him free wheeling like he did earlier with Mike D'Antonio so he can play like his former self. In NYC, he has to keep feeding the ball to Melo so it might not be ideal for him.

Anyway, it looks like Knicks got out maneuvered yet again.

I totally agree with you. Lin's market value should be every bit as high as Dragic and Dragic got 4 years. Dragic also only had a short stretch of 30 games where he was able to perform as a starting caliber PG. Plus he doesn't have the vast commercial appeal of Lin.

I was just saying Carmelo is nearsighted is can only see that Lin will be making 15 million in the 3rd year for the Knicks and therefore is upset that Lin is a '$15 million' player, even though really he's just getting 8.

 

[Huskies4ever]

Calls Lin's contract ridiculous.

Granted he's right, and yes Lin will probably end up in Houston, but that probably isn't the best thing to say about someone who could still potentially be your teammate.

Not just this, but how about taking the higher road, and thanking the guy for his spectacular play in righting the ship, and congratulating him on a big contract? Obviously, Melo doesn't know about class. Lin's certainly earned more money. Who in the NBA isn't overpaid? Certainly not Melo.
Melo's supposed to be representing our country. Maybe Coach K can speak for him throughout the Olympics. Sorry for the rant. I just get sick of these overprivileged prima-donnas running their mouths. Shut up and play basketball.

 

[8893]

The first offer is pure speculation. Is there an actual copy of the offer sheet signed by Lin that wasn't presented to the Knicks? Of course not, it's just a report from 'sources'. From the start there was speculation that the Rockets could offer up to 4 years/40 million. Then came the report that Lin had agreed to a deal with the Rockets just before the moratorium ended, after that came the speculation that it was 3 years 20 million and everyone just ran with that. There was never any actual proof Lin agreed to this deal.

Just as a sidebar. Dragic got 8.5 million with the Suns, Fields got 6.5 million with the Raptors. Houston just lost Lowry & Dragic, they have no point guard, they need Lin. You think they were confident with a 6.5 million offer to Lin to not be matched? Then somehow despite the Knicks publicly stating they would match anything, the Knicks were able to state something to Lin privately passed onto Houston that made them change their mind and suddenly believe the Knicks will match but won't match if they added 6 million?

Well if there was no first offer and if Lin did not fly to Las Vegas to re-do it, this is the first I've heard of anyone who questions those facts.

 

[visitor123]

Well, that I agree, it is foolish for the Knicks, though moreso due to other contracts on the books there.

Really, it's all about perspective. For the Knicks, they have too many bad contracts (does this ever change for them?).

Amare: 20, 21.5, 23.4
Melo: 19.5, 21.5, 23.5 (Player Option)
Chandler: 13.6, 14.1, 14.6

If they Knicks really believed in Lin, or if Carmelo really wanted Lin back, they could match. If it works out, OK you pay a ton of taxes, but at least you are a contender in the east. You're already paying a ton of taxes for a lottery team for many years.

If it doesn't work out. You can easily move Chandler in year 3, he's valuable even with his contract. Signing Camby also helps with that. Melo is a max player no matter what and he might opt out anyway to sign a final 5 year extension. Unlikely as it is, if you wanted to move him you can. Amare will be expiring and could be perfect fodder for a rebuilding team way under the cap wanting to find a star/face of the franchise/excitement for 1 year. The point is, the Knicks can pull themselves out of the luxury tax hell in year 3 if they want to blow it up. They probably honestly think Felton will be as good or close and probably will not impact negatively on Carmelo's happiness.

 

[visitor123]

Well if there was no first offer and if Lin did not fly to Las Vegas to re-do it, this is the first I've heard of anyone who questions those facts.

The scenario just has too many holes for me. For it to be true, Houston had to have believed initially that their 3 year 20 million contract was good enough to not be matched. That can't be true. If anything, the deal wasn't done, it was prematurely reported. Lin could have flown to Vegas to finish up the deal. Or perhaps Dragic leaving impacted on Houston's desperation, where at first they didn't care if the Knicks matched, then changed their mind and wanted the Knicks to be priced out. I just don't believe that Lin somehow went to the Knicks and then went behind their backs using some secret info he got from the Knicks.

I think it's telling that when he was thought to be a Knick all the inside sources and reports were about how they'll match anything. Now that it looks like the Knicks won't match all the reports are about how he went behind their back, how he's screwed the Knicks, how he quit on them in the playoffs and didn't want to play through pain. It's pretty transparent to me.

 

[WestCoastHusky]

I totally agree with you. Lin's market value should be every bit as high as Dragic and Dragic got 4 years. Dragic also only had a short stretch of 30 games where he was able to perform as a starting caliber PG. Plus he doesn't have the vast commercial appeal of Lin.

I was just saying Carmelo is nearsighted is can only see that Lin will be making 15 million in the 3rd year for the Knicks and therefore is upset that Lin is a '$15 million' player, even though really he's just getting 8.

Carmelo needs to go take some math classes because he obviously has no financial sense. From Lin's perspective, he is getting $8M per year and that's less than what Dragic got from Phoenix for 4 years at $8.5M per year. Lin's upside and his marketing appeal is way greater than Dragic. To me, I think Houston got a bargain comparing to Phoenix. That's pretty much the much value for a decent starting PG. If Lin is really able to excel, he will get paid big time in 3 years which is also smart on his behalf.

Either way, Houston really wants him and it looks like he will end up in Houston. For the Knicks, I just hope all those bloated egos will keep the team together. I just don't see Melo as the kind of player that can deliver like Kobe. I doubt Felton will get them over the hump either.

 

[willinphilly]

Melo is a favorite whipping boy, deservedly so for the most part. But the attempts to lay all this at his feet is narrow-minded imo; and it ignores the fact that he is the one responsible for urging the Knicks to give Lin a shot in the first place.[/quote]

No, that's not true at all. Even Melo backtracked from that statement when he was asked directly about giving Lin a shot. There is no question that Melo is incredibly talented. But he's a petty, jealous, stupid person much like James Dolan. Even if Lin was making $2mm/yr, he'd would still have a problem with Lin since Lin gets more attention and the lion's share of the post-game interviews -- things Lin do not have an interest in. JR Smith is a as well. I'd be much more interested in hearing what Chandler has to say about the situation.

As for the betrayal? The Knicks did not offer him a contract; they verbally indicated they would match Houston's offer and told everyone in the world they would do so. Lin receives a better offer from Houston (signs it - you'd be crazy not to sign it) and then Dolan goes nuts. Letting Lin go for nothing is really dumb, a pure emotional decision. Blaming Lin for luxury taxes is also stupid. You pay a guy with an uninsurable contract max dollars who has no knees...ugh...whatever, Dolan is so dumb.

 

[businesslawyer]

By all reports, the first offer sheet was signed. It was binding on Lin and the Rockets if the Knicks did not match it. Also by all reports, the Knicks told Lin that they would match the offer and that they were simply waiting to be presented with it. Lin then went and shared that information with the Rockets, and the two of them conspired to re-do the offer as it is now before presenting it to the Knicks. In other words, the Knicks never had a chance to match the first offer because it was never -presented to them.

Please let me know if you are aware of any facts that contradict any of that. I have not seen any source, any where, suggest that the Rockets somehow took the first offer off the table, or that they were even able to do so without Lin's agreement to re-do it. Where are you getting that?

That's not my understanding. When Lin and Houston reached their first agreement, they couldn't have signed a term sheet. The terms leaked out and the Knicks said they would match. Houston then revised the terms.

That is my understanding, but if that's incorrect -- if the first term sheet was ever signed -- the analysis would be different. that having been said, if the first term sheet was ever signed my understanding of the rules is the Knicks could have matched it and Houston didn't get a second bite of the apple.

 

[8893]

Where does this "letting Lin go for nothing" concept come in? I don't get it. They had no contract rights to him. They made a calculated decision to let the market set his price. It may have been the wrong decision strategically, but I don't see how they "let him go for nothing." If they offered him $25 million out of the gates as many here suggest they should have done, I'm sure those same people would be saying that the Knicks were fools for overpaying an unknown quantity.

Sure, they already have a lot of bad contracts and are still suffering the effects of a decade of doling them out, but they can't change Melo's or Amar'e's deals now. They can control what they spend going forward. However it came about, I'm glad that they didn't match the Lin offer. I didn't see that working out here at the end of the day.

 

[NHUConnfan]

Where's JyNcYe (or however you spell it)? I thought the Knicks were going to dominate.

 

[ZenConn]

The Knicks will just need to get Nene and Kmart so they can rename their team to the NY Nuggets.

 

[WestCoastHusky]

That's not my understanding. When Lin and Houston reached their first agreement, they couldn't have signed a term sheet. The terms leaked out and the Knicks said they would match. Houston then revised the terms.

That is my understanding, but if that's incorrect -- if the first term sheet was ever signed -- the analysis would be different. that having been said, if the first term sheet was ever signed my understanding of the rules is the Knicks could have matched it and Houston didn't get a second bite of the apple.

Knicks going to match Lin's offer is public knowledge. Lin really has no saying in this other than agreeing to Houston's deal. He has to agree to that to give Knicks' a chance to match. Either way, the whole thing is almost out of Lin's control. Houston wants Lin and they know exactly how much it will take to hurt Knicks to discourage them from matching. Houston did the right thing by making the deal harder to match. At end of the day, they want their guy and it looks like they will get him.

 

[8893]

Uh oh. Francesa has the same exact take as I do. I don't know if this has ever happened before. Perhaps I am wrong about this after all.

 

[businesslawyer]

Where does this "letting Lin go for nothing" concept come in? I don't get it. They had no contract rights to him. They made a calculated decision to let the market set his price. It may have been the wrong decision strategically, but I don't see how they "let him go for nothing." If they offered him $25 million out of the gates as many here suggest they should have done, I'm sure those same people would be saying that the Knicks were fools for overpaying an unknown quantity.

Sure, they already have a lot of bad contracts and are still suffering the effects of a decade of doling them out, but they can't change Melo's or Amar'e's deals now. They can control what they spend going forward. However it came about, I'm glad that they didn't match the Lin offer. I didn't see that working out here at the end of the day.

See, that position is perfectly fine. You have a basketball opinion on what will make the team better. But I don't understand why you, or anyone else, needs to turn this around and try to be blaming Lin for not being loyal or having screwed the Knicks. He has done exactly what he should have done. If the Knicks don't think he's good enough to demand that kind of money, man up and say so. But don't whine about how he was disloyal.

 

[8893]

See, that position is perfectly fine. You have a basketball opinion on what will make the team better. But I don't understand why you, or anyone else, needs to turn this around and try to be blaming Lin for not being loyal or having screwed the Knicks. He has done exactly what he should have done. If the Knicks don't think he's good enough to demand that kind of money, man up and say so. But don't whine about how he was disloyal.

I'm not saying that I think he was disloyal; I'm saying that, based on what is being reported, I think Dolan's sense that Lin was disloyal played a part in the decision not to match (um, that is, if they don't match, which they still may, but shouldn't imo). And I can understand how Dolan could feel that way, if it is true--and I haven't heard anyone suggest anything to the contrary--that:

Lin had an offer from the Rockets to which he and the Rockets agreed.

The terms of that offer were accurately reported to the Knicks.

The Knicks told Lin--and everyone who would listen--that they would match that offer, but they were never presented with it.

Lin went back to the Rockets and reworked the deal to make it harder for the Knicks to match, and that's the only deal that has ever been presented to the Knicks.

Whether it was disloyal to the Knicks or screwed them is beside the point imo. He certainly did what he should have done if he was concerned primarily about getting a higher guarantee, and however anyone reads the collateral fallout is up to them. The fact is that he reworked the offer, after being told the Knicks would match it, to make himself more guaranteed money, knowing fully well that the Knicks were less likely to match it. I'm not "blaming" him per se, but if he or anyone else is upset when he doesn't end up with the Knicks, I think it's fair to say that he was a knowing and willing participant in the circumstances that brought about that result. Simply put, if he kept his trap shut and didn't go back to Vegas to re-do the offer, he would be heading to New York. The choice was his, and like most people he went for more guaranteed money. In Houston.

 

[Waquoit]

The choice was his, and like most people he went for more guaranteed money. In Houston.

I don't think it was just about the guarantee money, it was about making tougher for the Knicks to match. Like I said he's a smart guy, he wants no part of that cluster***k in blue and orange.

 

[WestCoastHusky]

I don't think it was just about the guarantee money, it was about making tougher for the Knicks to match. Like I said he's a smart guy, he wants no part of that cluster***k in blue and orange.

I agree with you. I think in Houston Lin will get to run his own team and he can go free style like he did when Melo was out. In NYC, he will get Kidd and that Argentinian guard they just signed on his back. Every time he has a bad game, all the media and fans would want to take him off the starting role. In Houston, he will have less pressure to produce every single game. He can really develop there. Also, 3rd year $15M guaranteed vs. $9M third year plus $9M 4th year at team's option is not even comparable from Lin's perspective. You take the $15M 3rd year and go get a bigger deal after that if he is an all star. $25M vs. $20M guaranteed is not comparable. New 3 years deal he signed is much better.

 

[businesslawyer]

I'm not saying that I think he was disloyal; I'm saying that, based on what is being reported, I think Dolan's sense that Lin was disloyal played a part in the decision not to match (um, that is, if they don't match, which they still may, but shouldn't imo). And I can understand how Dolan could feel that way, if it is true--and I haven't heard anyone suggest anything to the contrary--that:

Lin had an offer from the Rockets to which he and the Rockets agreed.

The terms of that offer were accurately reported to the Knicks.

The Knicks told Lin--and everyone who would listen--that they would match that offer, but they were never presented with it.

Lin went back to the Rockets and reworked the deal to make it harder for the Knicks to match, and that's the only deal that has ever been presented to the Knicks.

Whether it was disloyal to the Knicks or screwed them is beside the point imo. He certainly did what he should have done if he was concerned primarily about getting a higher guarantee, and however anyone reads the collateral fallout is up to them. The fact is that he reworked the offer, after being told the Knicks would match it, to make himself more guaranteed money, knowing fully well that the Knicks were less likely to match it. I'm not "blaming" him per se, but if he or anyone else is upset when he doesn't end up with the Knicks, I think it's fair to say that he was a knowing and willing participant in the circumstances that brought about that result. Simply put, if he kept his trap shut and didn't go back to Vegas to re-do the offer, he would be heading to New York. The choice was his, and like most people he went for more guaranteed money. In Houston.

You are missing the point. At least, my point. He didn't have a signed offer. The Rockets presumably had little interest in signing one that was DOA. Lin needed something signed by someone, the Knicks had made clear that they wouldn't go first so Lin ultimately had to sign what Houston was willing to sign.

Even Dolan isn't so stupid as to think Lin was disloyal. Presumably, Dolan leaked that they would match to try to get Houston to do something that he would have cover for not matching.

 

[8893]

You are missing the point. At least, my point. He didn't have a signed offer. The Rockets presumably had little interest in signing one that was DOA. Lin needed something signed by someone, the Knicks had made clear that they wouldn't go first so Lin ultimately had to sign what Houston was willing to sign.

Even Dolan isn't so stupid as to think Lin was disloyal. Presumably, Dolan leaked that they would match to try to get Houston to do something that he would have cover for not matching.

Well then in your scenario everybody got exactly what they wanted and no one should be upset. Lin got the most money he could; the Rockets got the player they wanted; and the Knicks got cover for not signing a fan favorite.

Perhaps we'll never know, but unlike you, I don't presume that the Rockets would not have signed the original offer sheet, or that they did not sign it. I also presume that Lin could have signed the original offer sheet on July 11, and that--as has been widely reported--he instead went back to the Rockets and tried to get them to up the ante for the third year after he was told that the Knicks would match the original offer. It was a shrewd business move, and it got him more money and out of NYC--if that's what he wanted. And it got the Rockets their man--if that's what they wanted. All I'm saying is that it took both Lin and Houston to tango and change the original offer. I have not heard anyone other than you suggest that the Rockets would not have stuck to the original offer if Lin would have as well.

 

[businesslawyer]

Well then in your scenario everybody got exactly what they wanted and no one should be upset. Lin got the most money he could; the Rockets got the player they wanted; and the Knicks got cover for not signing a fan favorite.

Perhaps we'll never know, but unlike you, I don't presume that the Rockets would not have signed the original offer sheet, or that they did not sign it. I also presume that Lin could have signed the original offer sheet on July 11, and that--as has been widely reported--he instead went back to the Rockets and tried to get them to up the ante for the third year after he was told that the Knicks would match the original offer. It was a shrewd business move, and it got him more money and out of NYC--if that's what he wanted. And it got the Rockets their man--if that's what they wanted. All I'm saying is that it took both Lin and Houston to tango and change the original offer. I have not heard anyone other than you suggest that the Rockets would not have stuck to the original offer if Lin would have as well.

Are you Dolan's brother. You're not able to follow the bouncing ball on a matter that someone without a horse in the race should be able to.

I'm a Knick fan. I'm mad at Dolan for not getting Lin signed, and for not having the balls to say we're not signing him because we can do better for our money (or, because 'Melo won't be happy, which is still my guess). If I'm proven wrong as a basketball matter, so be it. But there is no defense for how Dolan played this if you take what he's saying seriously.

If Lin got what he wanted, good for him. But I don't see any reason to think what he wanted is exactly what he said, which is to have NY pay him what he is worth.

 

[Scoe]

You aren't aware of the rules of internet debate are you? First person who says Hitler, loses.

Linsanity died when Melo came back, not when Lin got hurt. Melo's demands neutralized Lin's strengths. Why would that change next year? Why would Lin want to deal with that for the next 3 or 4 years? Much better to start fresh.

What am I trying to win here? I dont go by the rules of internet debate I dont make myself a slave to the internet. Maybe Lin wants to accept that offer sheet to make more money? just a thought, I dont think Lin would be that dissapointed to play in NYC with 2 allstars a border line allstar and an emerging young player and learning from a HOF pg. Either way he is getting his money.

 

[8893]

Are you Dolan's brother. You're not able to follow the bouncing ball on a matter that someone without a horse in the race should be able to.

I'm a Knick fan. I'm mad at Dolan for not getting Lin signed, and for not having the balls to say we're not signing him because we can do better for our money (or, because 'Melo won't be happy, which is still my guess). If I'm proven wrong as a basketball matter, so be it. But there is no defense for how Dolan played this if you take what he's saying seriously.

If Lin got what he wanted, good for him. But I don't see any reason to think what he wanted is exactly what he said, which is to have NY pay him what he is worth.

I'm not sure what you think I'm not following. I simply disagree with your conclusions about the factors that lead to this result and the assumptions required to reach those conclusions.

You assume that there was an agreed-to value for Lin. I disagree. I think it's very subjective, and different for each team, depending on very specific circumstances. I have said from the start that, if the Knicks were truly set on keeping Lin, it is fair to question the wisdom in their decision to let the market set the value. At this point it's hindsight. They agreed to the process that the league provides to determine value in these circumstances. If the Knicks wanted to keep Lin, they almost won that gamble because I don't believe anyone else was considering offers in the same area code, and even the initial Houston offer wasn't as bad as it could have been.

You assume that the Knicks have an infinite amount of money. I disagree. Assuming that the amount offered by Houston is Lin's "value" (let me know if you have a better gauge than an arm's length transaction), you apparently believe that the Knicks should simply match it. I think you underestimate the effects of the new luxury tax rules and overestimate the ability of the Knicks to realize enough of an increase in "global marketing" revenue to offset the penalty they would face under the present offer.

You assume that Lin's global marketing potential is enough to offset the luxury tax penalty. I disagree. It is my understanding that merchandise revenue is divided among the NBA teams, which, if true, lessens whatever this would net. The Knicks do not have a problem selling tickets, with or without Lin. I think this factor is vastly overrated, and too dependent on other assumptions to let it figure as much in the equation as many suggest it should. For starters, it assumes that the Knicks do well enough, and that Lin be enough a part of that success, to provide the significant increase in exposure that would be needed for the Knicks to count on receiving enough of an economic boost to offset materially the luxury tax penalty. I'm not betting on that quinella.

You assume that the decision was premeditated and based solely on Dolan's assessment--however reached--that Lin didn't fit the Knicks' plans. I disagree. I don't think it's that simple. I think it was (and is) a fluid situation. I believe that the Knicks would have matched the initial offer. I think there were limits beyond which they could not justify the deal, and that Houston and Lin found that limit. But even that could change. I'm not one to praise the Knicks' basketball acumen, but in general I agree with their policy of not explaining what they don't need to explain, and not making their final decision known until they have to. Say it turns out that Kidd is seriously hurt from the DUI incident, or that they sour on him and see that as an out for his contract. At least until tomorrow night they still have the opportunity to overpay for Lin. Which is pretty much what happened to Houston between the first and second deal; i.e., they apparently lost too many other options in the meantime and Lin suddenly became more valuable to them--so valuable that they structured the deal to make sure that they get him, because now they really need him. The Knicks hardly cured their situation with Felton, but it at least it prevented them from being held captive in a deal they probably weren't sure they wanted in the first place, but could have justified as a reasonable risk.

 

[Huskies4ever]

Uh oh. Francesa has the same exact take as I do. I don't know if this has ever happened before. Perhaps I am wrong about this after all.

I feel so sorry for you

 

[Huskies4ever]

Everybody's missing the big point: How difficult is it going to be to have Jeremy Lin and Jeremy Lamb in the same backcourt? Commentator: "Jeremy Lin to the basket!" Fans: "Did he say Lin or Lamb?"

 

[Waquoit]

What am I trying to win here? I dont go by the rules of internet debate I dont make myself a slave to the internet.

This the thanks I get for trying to help you out? Actually, 1st person who uses Hitler in argument loses anywhere. It's telling people that you got nothing, because if you did you wouldn't be using Hitler.

 

[8893]

@ BL: This is what the NYT reports:

The Knicks wanted to keep Lin, but his financial situation was complicated. Because he was a restricted free agent, the Knicks had the right to match any offer. Yet under N.B.A. rules, they could offer him no more than $16.13 million in a three-year deal, and a maximum of $28.75 million over five years. Only a rival team was allowed to include the third-year balloon payment. So it was up to Lin to set his own market value by getting an outside offer. He initially agreed with Houston on a three-year, $19.5 million deal, including a $9.3 million balloon payment in the third year. That deal was agreed to in principle but never signed.
When it became apparent that the Knicks would match, the Rockets — having traded Lowry and lost Dragic — increased the third-year salary to $14.9 million. Because the Knicks are already expected to exceed the tax threshold, Lin’s salary would have cost them tens of millions more under the league’s more punitive new system. When the Rockets bumped Lin’s third-year salary by $5 million, it meant an additional $21.25 million for the Knicks.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/18/s...s-lin-rockets-offer-sheet.html?pagewanted=all

Did you know the bolded part? I didn't until today.