While both Lin and the Knicks are hoping for a reunion, sources say that if any clubs offer Lin, a restricted free agent, a backloaded contract that pays him an eight-figure salary in the third and fourth years, the Knicks could be given pause about matching the offer.

With the new collective bargaining agreement employing a more punitive luxury tax, beginning in the 2013-14 season, the Knicks are extremely concerned about the financial ramifications of such a deal.

Toronto is perhaps the only team that might consider offering Lin a backloaded contract, known as a "poison pill" deal. The Raptors are currently going all-out to sign Steve Nash. Toronto has offered Nash a three-year deal worth $36 million, sources told ESPN.com's Marc Stein.

But if Nash, who is also considering Phoenix, New York, Dallas and Brooklyn, rejects Toronto's offer, the Raptors may turn their attention toward Lin.

The Knicks can offer Lin a four-year deal worth $24.5 million. But an opposing team can offer Lin a poison pill that could go as high as $40 million over four years. Such a contract would pay Lin $5 million in each of the first two years and then go as high as $15 million in each of the last two years.

Matching such a contract would give the Knicks four players -- Lin, Carmelo Anthony, Amare Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler -- making more than $14 million in the 2014-2015 season. Those four players alone would have a combined salary of $72 million, nearly $2 million above the luxury tax.

While it may be doubtful that a club goes as high as $15 million in a season for Lin, even if one offered Lin roughly $10 million in the third and fourth years of a contract, the Knicks would be cautious about matching, according to a source.

Toronto, Dallas and Brooklyn have all expressed interest in Lin, according to sources, though he is a backup plan for each of the clubs.

The Knicks have said they plan to let the market dictate Lin's value, so they have not offered him a contract yet. With the ability to match any offer he receives, they plan to wait and see what Lin commands as a free agent. They just hope he doesn't command too much.
http://m.espn.go.com/nba/story?storyId=8121358&wjb

Elite wrote:if we let Lin go and get Nash mark my words karma will doom us

But if we sign lin for 15 mil/yr, karma will also doom us.

matt wrote:If some stupid team (the Nets) wants to offer him a deal where at any point he gets 15 million a year, they can have him. That's a 4yr/$40 million Gerald Wallace type deal

Im with U no way in hell he is worth that.

So a backup PG with a huge upside on marketing based on a month in Cinderellaville is going to command 10 mil a year?

This sounds like agents talking to the media, while Lin's busy getting that knee in shape.

Im sure the Raptors are thinking about the Nite of Linsanity and the full house they had. Toronto basically has its team on a national cable deal as its the only team in the country so his value, as is Nash if very high.

Its a a play out of the Yankees to gain viewership on its cable channel.

Its a starphuch of sorts, but one that pays a return on investment.

Its always possible Nash degrades and Lin does not get much better. But 15-8 in 25 games with some bad games thrown in and some on a bad knee is not too shabby.

Paying for potential is nothing new.