EwingsGlass wrote:I am still trying to understand at what level people project Lin to perform here in NY. I respect a lot of the opinions on this site, but I really have not seen anyone put predictions down (or I missed that thread) as to where he will stack up.

All I've seen is two opposing sides: 1) one side stating that this makes no economic senses and 2) Lin defies economics and is a gift and should not be wasted.

Without discussing contingencies in our other Point Guards, what do you expect Lin to do?

Is it unequivocal that he wins the starting job in training camp, coming off a knee injury?

Are we banking on China dollars to make his contract palatable? Cause if Lin goes the way of Sun Yue, those dollars are fleeting.

Seriously, how good do you think Lin is? Is he better than Marbury in his prime? Is he a top 5 point guard, right now, 2 years from now?

I'm just saying there is so much more to this than economics and thanking the basketball gods. I'm looking for opinions here...

Better than Marbury in his prime? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

mrKnickShot wrote:

EwingsGlass wrote:I am still trying to understand at what level people project Lin to perform here in NY. I respect a lot of the opinions on this site, but I really have not seen anyone put predictions down (or I missed that thread) as to where he will stack up.

All I've seen is two opposing sides: 1) one side stating that this makes no economic senses and 2) Lin defies economics and is a gift and should not be wasted.

Without discussing contingencies in our other Point Guards, what do you expect Lin to do?

Is it unequivocal that he wins the starting job in training camp, coming off a knee injury?

Are we banking on China dollars to make his contract palatable? Cause if Lin goes the way of Sun Yue, those dollars are fleeting.

Seriously, how good do you think Lin is? Is he better than Marbury in his prime? Is he a top 5 point guard, right now, 2 years from now?

I'm just saying there is so much more to this than economics and thanking the basketball gods. I'm looking for opinions here...

Better than Marbury in his prime? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

Um, just kidding? Rather than getting hung up on Marbs... where do you see Lin?

fishmike wrote:

HARDCOREKNICKSFAN wrote:That is what I meant when I said that this can be a POTENTIALLY bad deal.

Fish, We are all aware of the reported contract terms and duration. That said, the year 3 payout is high as hell, and if Lin's performance doesn't measure up, then yes, he will be difficult to trade.

It's not MSG's fault that Lin went and SIGNED a modified deal AFTER they Knicks had already verbally agreed to match the initial deal. What is there not to understand?

We don't know whether Lin stays or goes yet. The answer will be revealed by midnight. If we match, then fine. If not, then NO, the Knicks world won't end, either.

every deal is potentially bad.

"It's not MSG's fault that Lin went and SIGNED a modified deal AFTER they Knicks had already verbally agreed to match the initial deal. What is there not to understand?"

Ahhh... all of it. There was no official deal for the Knicks to agree to, they were just shooting their mouth off. If they say nothing and wait for the papers to arrive it they wouldnt be paying. Simple as that. Thats the only relevent info

So if every other damn team in the NBA does the same thing with every RFA player they have, why is this occurrence so different? Just to be clear,. I will explain: Becasue Lin signed a DIFFERENT deal OTHER than the one that treh Knicks verbally agred to. Show where something like that has happened anytime in the NBA with RFA offer sheet negotiations.

Other teams nmention verbally that they are matching all the time, but when the Knicks do it, all of this ****ery goes down, and all parties involved EXCEPT the Knicks are absolved from blame? Nah.. lol It deosn't work that way.

Lin (and his agent) had his role in that mess, too. No amount of "wanting him mto be here" from anyone is going to change that fact. Lin signed the deal before the Knicks knew ANYTHING about the reworked deal. That is the relevant information that seperates this RFA deal from all the others.

If you still don't get where I am coming from, then let's just leave it alone until after the Knicks make the announcement. The back and forth circular bickering about it is pointless. Whether Lin stays or goes, my status as a Knicks fan will remain unchanged, and ther will be other topics for other days.

I doubt that Lin will all of a sudden not be able to do what he has shown is his natural ability to penetrate at will, pass and make shots. This is who the kid is and has always been. The only thing is that he finally put it together at the NBA level. I don't think there is a huge chance of Lin suddenly being a bad player. After MDA resigned Lin still played well enough and I think only his nagging knee injury slowed him down. I think the legit question is can he sustain a good level of play for an entire 82 games and playoffs. The one big plus is that we have a deep enough team that Lin wouldn't have to log heavy minutes.

loweyecue wrote:

mrKnickShot wrote:

fishmike wrote:mrKnickShot, also if its a $$$ thing Knicks can just waive him and stretch out that last baloon year over 3. Either way $$$ isnt whats keeping this from happening.

Yeah I'm a bit confused on the stretch provision. And, does it spread over 3 cap years? If yes, why did we not do that with CB so that we could have saved our amnesty for Amare?

FeltonAndAmare told me it is new to this CBA and only applies to contracts signed post CBA. Wouldn't have applied to Billups and won't apply to Amare.

Yup saw that - thanks.

If that was there for Billups they would have found a way to work it out (for only 5 million cap hit) and still sign Tyson.

That woulda been sweet!!

Elite wrote:

ChuckBuck wrote:If Lin falls flat on his face, is it a "Good Move"?

that's the funniest part, no its not even a good move... because it really wouldn't matter much either way in terms of the cap

of course it matters re: the cap. We are already hand-cuffed and it will take some real creativity to make moves going forward. Adding that poisonous 3rd year will just make matters that much harder. Guys keep bringing cap killing Isiah but you want to make and totally Isiah move by overpaying a guy who has some real weaknesses.

I bet anyone whatever than want that Lin's stats next season will not be Allstar numbers. Guys are going to bring their A+ game against him and he better learn to go to his left.

Unless Lin plays like Deron, CP3, Rondo or Nash there is no way he's worth the $$$$ in year 3.

- Larry Brown

Bonn1997 wrote:

misterearl wrote:"I know there was a lot of stuff said about me not liking Jeremy Lin. I love the story and his success. But the way I looked at him, I thought he was a terrific backup. I think Jeremy Lin making $15 million or more ... it's almost a max contract, the third year. (It) wouldn't have been a good business decision."

- Larry Brown

He obviously doesn't understand the stretch provision.

Great investment. Pay a guy $15 million and if it doens't work out simply waive him and pay him $5 a year for 3 years. It's still $15 million but it's ok since the payments are spread out?