Jeremy Lin's Contract Saga: Part VII

[Deeeez Knicks]

The thing is, we can sit here and call it a strictly basketball decision but we don't have the money invested in this team. We have an owner who has spent over 100 million dollars on the team in the past and to think he's an awful owner for not making that kind of investment again, especially when the tipping point is a player with only a 25 game sample...It's really not fair to the guy. How many owners in this league would actually make that investment? Maybe 3 or 4?

So to simplify as "if Lin and Landry makes us better, you match them" isn't fair to the guy putting the money down or the management that has to make every decision seem reasonable to that owner.

The issue is we spent a ton of money the last 2 offseasons. If there's a limit to what we can spend and don't match Lin because of that, then we made some idiotic moves this offseason.

[Knicks_Fan2]

I won't be devastated the level to which some of you will be if we don't match but i think it's definitely the wrong move. one thing I will never believe-that it was about the money.

[UnderdogKnicks]

K fine I'm sorry I'm pissed as hell for following this franchise for years with nothing to gain. I'm leaving the board until the decision is final.

[SelbyCobra]

I won't be devastated the level to which some of you will be if we don't match but i think it's definitely the wrong move.

I completely agree with this. Dolan needs to be a ruthless businessman here and just match to own Lin's rights. Make him come off the bench, throw him to the locker room sharks, but retain the asset.

[mpharris36]

Nash is 38 and he required Shumo and $9M per. Lin costs an average of $8M and no assets. He's 23 with 10-15 good years ahead of him -- this would be much worse, to me, sham.

i know you don't agree kg but nash is so much better. do you really believe if you put lin on last year's suns they could go .500 in the west. nash makes everyone better and he does it with ease. unless he completely drops off this year, he'll have a better year again.

But Jeremy was essentially a rookie and lit it up.

It's funny but I think Linsanity has become a synonym for fluke -- I honestly think that's just wrong. He is really good.

Nash is still better but Lin has a mind for the game and some physical attributes that Nash never had. Nash is aging -- Suns wouldn't have been as good with Lin but Nash didn't start his career on a 25 and 8 tear either.

Like a reporter said over the weekend...Lin is the most overrated and underrated at the same time.

The guys that love Lin think he is going to be better than he actually will be.
The guys that hate lin think he is going to be worse than he actually will be.

I tend to sit right in the middle. I think he is better suited for a 6th man (james harden type role). Where he comes off the bench for instant offense and energy. Nothing is wrong with that the question will knicks fan allow that to happen. This could be the Tim Tebow situation all over again booing Mark Sanchez because he throws an interception. If Lin comes off the bench you know dum Knicks fan will be chanting Lin when he is not in. We can't have those distrations.

But I do want Lin back in the secondary bench role which I think he will thrive in.

[god shammgod]

Nash is 38 and he required Shumo and $9M per. Lin costs an average of $8M and no assets. He's 23 with 10-15 good years ahead of him -- this would be much worse, to me, sham.

i know you don't agree kg but nash is so much better. do you really believe if you put lin on last year's suns they could go .500 in the west. nash makes everyone better and he does it with ease. unless he completely drops off this year, he'll have a better year again.

But Jeremy was essentially a rookie and lit it up.

It's funny but I think Linsanity has become a synonym for fluke -- I honestly think that's just wrong. He is really good.

Nash is still better but Lin has a mind for the game and some physical attributes that Nash never had. Nash is aging -- Suns wouldn't have been as good with Lin but Nash didn't start his career on a 25 and 8 tear either.

i do think he's good but i can't accurately say how good. i know how good nash is. i guess that's the difference for me.

[ZeroStatic2]

Tommy Dee: Going off the Lin radar unless I hear something. As of last night all my intell was that he will not be back. Can change in a Ny minutes. 1 minute ago

Frank Isola: I wonder if Carmelo and J.R. burn Jeremy Lin's jersey in the streets if Jim Dolan announces Lin is staying or leaving. 2 minutes ago

[BALLINari]

You know what, what are the odds A'mare can even play three years from now? His body has broken down the past two seasons, a history like that suggests A'mare could be forced to retire by 2014.

Even though his contract isn't insured I don't think retired players contract count in the cap, in fact, it would be a great trade asset.

[NBA Fan 1234]

You guys do know there's a report button, right?

[SelbyCobra]

You know what, what are the odds A'mare can even play three years from now? His body has broken down the past two seasons, a history like that suggests A'mare could be forced to retire by 2014.

Even though his contract isn't insured I don't think retired players contract count in the cap, in fact, it would be a great trade asset.

Retired players don't get paid, either. Amar'e isn't retiring, even if he becomes a double amputee.

[jzmagik]

So it looks like the Knicks are not matching.

Time to roll with Iso-Melo!

[ChartFiction]

Don't know why there is so much doubt over Lin. I'm not saying he's going to be 26/10 GOAT PG, but he can be anywhere from average to a top 10 PG in the league.

This guy got a triple double in his last game in the D-League before his Knicks season. He gets to start and goes ham. Why not give him the benefit of the doubt? To me, he's just like any other young player that shows alot of promise. For him to be a complete dud is really unlikely.

[No35]

Nash is 38 and he required Shumo and $9M per. Lin costs an average of $8M and no assets. He's 23 with 10-15 good years ahead of him -- this would be much worse, to me, sham.

i know you don't agree kg but nash is so much better. do you really believe if you put lin on last year's suns they could go .500 in the west. nash makes everyone better and he does it with ease. unless he completely drops off this year, he'll have a better year again.

What's sad to me is that we could have had them BOTH. Harvard learning from one of the GOAT.

Now we have Fat learning from Drunk.

If Lin isn't matched, thank you in advance for my new sig.

[moocow007]

Can someone paste the quote from Lin's camp recently about Lin thinking that the Knicks would match any offer and his surprise about the reactions coming from the Knicks?

[xxrainnn]

Only the Knicks could make such an easy decision so damn difficult, smh..

[j4remi]

The thing is, we can sit here and call it a strictly basketball decision but we don't have the money invested in this team. We have an owner who has spent over 100 million dollars on the team in the past and to think he's an awful owner for not making that kind of investment again, especially when the tipping point is a player with only a 25 game sample...It's really not fair to the guy. How many owners in this league would actually make that investment? Maybe 3 or 4?

So to simplify as "if Lin and Landry makes us better, you match them" isn't fair to the guy putting the money down or the management that has to make every decision seem reasonable to that owner.

Remi, if you'd like to defend Jim Dolan's right to turn a profit, good for you.

Personally, that's not my bag. I'm much more interested in Jim Dolan somehow turning this team into a champion again.

If you think Lin is the difference in turning a championship contender then that's on you...Nash would have been that. As of now, Melo, Amare and TC are far more important than Lin in a championship effort in my opinion and thus, I'm not throwing such a fit over this move. I don't think Lin makes THAT big a difference from Felton/Kidd.

[spaceballer]

I know the Daily News isn't very reliable, and there are no quotes here, but this is a piece of information I haven't seen before:

The Knicks were already upset with Lin for hiring a publicist without consulting with them first, and then Lin sought to rework his contract.
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baske ... z20sWVfcC0

If true, this feeds into the whole Dolan ego thing. He regards the Knicks as his personal plaything and gets mad if he can't have absolute control. Woodson had to fire his agent and show he towed the company line. Lin showing independence by hiring his own publicist, which is part of the his new agency's firm's standing partners, doesn't sit well with them, I guess. Dolan needs to feel like the boss and be in absolute control and own everyone on his staff and team. If he tells you to fire an agent, you obey. This whole ego and "loyalty" bs that Dolan's got going interfering with basketball and business decisions. I hope it's just the Daily News making crap up.

[ezmoney707]

Only the Knicks could make such an easy decision so damn difficult, smh..

I know right. Let the kid walk already. I kidd I kidd

[ZeroStatic2]

Frank Isola: Of course, the good people of Argentina will tell you that with Pablo Prigioni on the roster, Lin will be Knicks fourth string point guard 2 minutes ago

Frank Isola: When you get right down to it we're all wasting a lot of time wondering if Jeremy Lin is going to be the Knicks third string point guard. 3 minutes ago

lol..what?

[j4remi]

The thing is, we can sit here and call it a strictly basketball decision but we don't have the money invested in this team. We have an owner who has spent over 100 million dollars on the team in the past and to think he's an awful owner for not making that kind of investment again, especially when the tipping point is a player with only a 25 game sample...It's really not fair to the guy. How many owners in this league would actually make that investment? Maybe 3 or 4?

So to simplify as "if Lin and Landry makes us better, you match them" isn't fair to the guy putting the money down or the management that has to make every decision seem reasonable to that owner.

The issue is we spent a ton of money the last 2 offseasons. If there's a limit to what we can spend and don't match Lin because of that, then we made some idiotic moves this offseason.

That's fair and my only response would be that what Morey and Lin collaborated on was a tactic I've never seen and that I don't think the Knicks expected when they were making their decisions. They got played and they look stupid...that's for sure but again, I don't think the amount of drama we're seeing is suitable for that.