Anji wrote:I wanna see who is going to give Lin the full MLE.

He's coming of a knee injury, were he basically broke down in 20 some odd games being the starter.

He also lost what, at lease 2 point guard battles for a backup spot in GState last year and Houston this season coming bout of training camp.

And this team isn't as point reliant anymore, Novack and a point that can start the offense might take us further than throwing the whole MLE at a guy because of a 10 game run and jersey sales.

I would wait to see who all these suitors are. Might be better off seeing if he comes back for the QO for 1 season,imo.

Love Lin, but personally wouldn't mind Goran Dragic instead. He's basically a Slovenian Jeremy Lin, but with a bigger sample size.

Nalod wrote:
Fields is discounted on these pages. This guy does so many things well and we take him for granted.

His shot needs work. The dude is a keeper.

nalod - The alley oop catch, high above the rim, was a beautiful thing. You cannot teach hops like Fields.

He will solidify the second shift and flourish in space. He moves without the ball and hits the open man.

Melo has at least 4-5 years of play left
Amare has at least 2 years of play left
Chandler has another 3-5 years of play left

We just need Shumpert and Lin to live up to expectations and we should be a top 4 team in the West.

Bonn1997 wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:To be clear, when I say MLE for Lin, all I mean is that we'll have to dip into the MLE (rather than getting him for the $5 mil, 2 year LLE). I don't think it should take the *full* MLE to get him. Ideally, between the MLE and LLE, we'd have enough money to keep Lin, Fields, and Novak, but that's probably unrealistic.

I know people are really excited about us finishing strong this year but it's quite possible this year is the team's peak. Our big 3 have played twenty-nine seasons and have injury histories. Statistically, each should be expected to decline. And we will likely lose two to three of Lin, Fields, Novak, Baron, and Smith. We do not have draft picks or anything else to replace those losses with.

Nice going Debbie Downer.

AnubisADL wrote:This team has yet to peak.

Melo has at least 4-5 years of play left
Amare has at least 2 years of play left
Chandler has another 3-5 years of play left

We just need Shumpert and Lin to live up to expectations and we should be a top 4 team in the West.

Bonn1997 wrote:If we have to use the MLE and LLE on these guys (none come just with Bird's rights), then it's Lin for the MLE and the LLE offered to Novak. If he declines, then it's the LLE for Fields.

Fields gets signed with the early bird exception. He doesn't need the MLE or LLE.

Bonn1997 wrote:

AnubisADL wrote:This team has yet to peak.

Melo has at least 4-5 years of play left
Amare has at least 2 years of play left
Chandler has another 3-5 years of play left

We just need Shumpert and Lin to live up to expectations and we should be a top 4 team in the West.

That's conventional wisdom. However, the average player peaks statistically at ages 24 to 25 and gradually goes downhill after that. Our big 3 definitely can have good seasons ahead but they likely will go slightly downhill each year.
The one source of optimism is that we may have Lin available for far more games next year than this year.

that's also conventional wisdom, or at least not well stated. Physical peak versus effectiveness.

martin wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:

AnubisADL wrote:This team has yet to peak.

Melo has at least 4-5 years of play left
Amare has at least 2 years of play left
Chandler has another 3-5 years of play left

We just need Shumpert and Lin to live up to expectations and we should be a top 4 team in the West.

That's conventional wisdom. However, the average player peaks statistically at ages 24 to 25 and gradually goes downhill after that. Our big 3 definitely can have good seasons ahead but they likely will go slightly downhill each year.
The one source of optimism is that we may have Lin available for far more games next year than this year.

that's also conventional wisdom, or at least not well stated. Physical peak versus effectiveness.

fishmike wrote:Lin just had knee surgery and he went to Harvard. Dude's going to make the money he can make. Thats a full MLE 5 year deal with a play option after 3 that he can exercise and look for a max deal. Thats just reality. ESPECIALLY if he's the PG of a deep playoff team with the #1 selling jersey in the world (he just passed Kobe in sales). Like it or not Lin will be looking for a max deal in 3 years and any security he can get right now.

Here's my prediction (and I would bet anyone here money this will come true)

Lin gets 5 year (full MLE level) contract with opt out after year 3 setting him up for a max payday in 3 years

Fields will get a 3 year $10mm contract. Nice change for a role player. If he turns it down Knicks probably match something close. Hard to see him getting more than 4 years $12mm

JR is playing like its a contract year. Im happy he's doing it for the Knicks. Usually we sign these guys to 5 year deals and they stink. Let me just say this... JR has played great, but hes never played this well and he's auditioning every night. The shooting has always been there. The defense and rebounding have not. If I had our full MLE I would certainly happily use it on JR, but its not in the cards.

Novak... man, who knows with him. He was kind of MDA's guy and Im not sure Woody feels the same, but he's another full MLE type as well. Again, buyer be ware as he's never played this well this long. I could see the Lakers offer him their full MLE. Think of the space he creates for Bynum/Gasol.

None of this is bad.... it will be a bit of a setback, but I expect that to be balanced with considerable improvement from Shump and Lin over the next couple years. These guys are our current and future backcourt and thats a damn good and lucky thing.

The Lakers are the real factor here. This is the only team that has a legitimate shot of luring Lin away. This is the team he grew up watching and wanting to play for.