JR Smith is likely to opt out of his contract after this season. When he does this he will become an unrestricted free agent and we will hold his Early Bird rights. Having his Early Bird rights mean we can offer him a 2-4 year contract for a little over $5M/year. JR being and unrestricted free agent means other teams can offer whatever contract they want, up to the maximum, and we don't have any right to match that contract.

Last Summer, Jeremy Lin was a restricted free agent and we held his Early Bird rights. His Early Bird rights are under the same rules as JR's this offseason but him being a restricted free agent changes a few things. Being a restricted free agent meant that other teams were limited what they could offer him in the first 2 years of a contract and that we had the right to match any contract offer made to him.

gunsnewing wrote:

knickscity wrote:

NYKMentality wrote:Thanks for this info. I just dream of seeing both Iman Shumpert and J.R Smith develop and grow together. With Melo and Chandler leading the way, this could be special.

Where's Amare?

But on another note, I'm keenly anticipating our 2013 1st round pick.

Maybe we can draft a gem at PG to play with Felton since Kidd and Prig's days are numbered

knickscity wrote:

3G4G wrote:

knickscity wrote:

gunsnewing wrote:JR is getting $2.5mil now. You have to figure he will get at least $5mil from someone else of which we can't offer.

My guess he gets around $7-8mil

EB rights allows us to pay him 5 mil+, same as what happened with Lin....average NBA salary.

Who's paying him 8? No one. Teams are showing now what they pay for....potential and proven talent.

J.R. has essentially gone through 2yrs of NBA discounts(Lockout/China and this year), I doubt he uses another season of his career which about to start winding down as he'll be 28 to play for peanuts again. He's going to want to get locked up. Chris Smith numbers this year told us what's to come.

I agree, but he isn't going into that 4 year deal WITHOUT out for the max.

The 4 year deal is security, but he's opting out inside of it for the bigger one and he knows Dolan will pay that.

JR has proven his loyalty at this point....the time to get paid is looming.

Maybe, although it could be a stretch. I doubt we try and lock up Smith with an extension prior to his opt out year or he opting out receiving a more lucrative pay day than where he's at now. He'll probably look for a continuation on the next deal he'll sign doesn't mean we will or should offer it to him simply because it's to his advantage as he'll be on the other side of 30 then.

3G4G wrote:

VCoug wrote:Just to clear some of the confusion up.

JR Smith is likely to opt out of his contract after this season. When he does this he will become an unrestricted free agent and we will hold his Early Bird rights. Having his Early Bird rights mean we can offer him a 2-4 year contract for a little over $5M/year. JR being and unrestricted free agent means other teams can offer whatever contract they want, up to the maximum, and we don't have any right to match that contract.

Last Summer, Jeremy Lin was a restricted free agent and we held his Early Bird rights. His Early Bird rights are under the same rules as JR's this offseason but him being a restricted free agent changes a few things. Being a restricted free agent meant that other teams were limited what they could offer him in the first 2 years of a contract and that we had the right to match any contract offer made to him.

What's in bold I believe is incorrect as Smith although an unrestricted free agent can't be offered "Max Money" as he would be a Non-Bird for other teams. Had he been playing for a contract this year that was "Max" or "near Max" in figure then yes as it's based on previous season salary.

As far as everything else you're correct, this isn't a matching situation with other teams.

Keep in mind Smith was an unrestricted free agent this past summer no one offered him or even remotely considered offering near Max money for 2 reasons. They didn't want to and if they did they couldn't.

No, he can be offered anything up to a maximum contract by any team with enough cap space. Bird rights and Early Bird rights only come into play with a player's current team or in a sign-and-trade.

http://espn.go.com/new-york/nba/story/_/id/8146452/jr-smith-re-sign-new-york-knicks

Free agent J.R. Smith has agreed to return to the New York Knicks.

The veteran shooting guard will sign a two-year contract worth $2.8 million per season, two league sources told ESPNNewYork.com. The deal is guaranteed for the first season and contains a player option for the second season.

"I have decided to re-sign with the Knicks. I just felt that, despite my other options, New York is the best situation for me," Smith said in a statement released to ESPNNewYork.com. "Coach (Mike) Woodson showed a lot of faith and trust in me last season, as did (Knicks owner) Mr. (James) Dolan and the organization.

"My teammates are great to play with and New York fans are the best. I can't wait to get started."

The 6-foot-6 Smith is expected to start at shooting guard for New York in 2012-2013 after coming off the bench last season. Landry Fields, last season's starter, has reached a verbal agreement with the Toronto Raptors on a three-year offer sheet for approximately $20 million -- a deal the Knicks are not expected to match.

An eight-year veteran, Smith averaged 12.5 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game for the Knicks last season.

The Knicks will have Smith's early Bird rights after next season, meaning they can exceed the salary cap to re-sign the shooting guard if he decides to decline the 2013-14 player option.

The Monday night agreeement capped a busy day for the Knicks.

Earlier Monday, the team came to an agreement with free agent small forward Steve Novak. The Knicks also engineered a sign-and-trade with the Houston Rockets to acquire veteran center Marcus Camby.

The team also is expected to match the Rockets' offer sheet to point guard Jeremy Lin. Lin verbally agreed to an offer sheet worth $28.8 million over four years last week. He can sign the deal Wednesday. The Knicks then have three days to match the offer.

He takes a ton of low percentage 2 point shots, which kills his overall effectiveness. He's in the bottom third of the league in 2 point shooting % but nevertheless has taken more 2 pointers than 90% of players in the league.

gunsnewing wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:Win shares per 48: .093
Wins produced per 48: .067
(league average is .100)

He takes a ton of low percentage 2 point shots, which kills his overall effectiveness. He's in the bottom third of the league in 2 point shooting % but nevertheless has taken more 2 pointers than 90% of players in the league.

He's been great the past 6 games

Bonn1997 wrote:

gunsnewing wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:Win shares per 48: .093
Wins produced per 48: .067
(league average is .100)

He takes a ton of low percentage 2 point shots, which kills his overall effectiveness. He's in the bottom third of the league in 2 point shooting % but nevertheless has taken more 2 pointers than 90% of players in the league.

He's been great the past 6 games

His whole career he's had great and awful 6 game stretches. There is a role for him in this league but I don't think he's worth much more than $3 mil/year.

But u were very happy to have Novak at close to 4 mil per year...

holfresh wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:

gunsnewing wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:Win shares per 48: .093
Wins produced per 48: .067
(league average is .100)

He takes a ton of low percentage 2 point shots, which kills his overall effectiveness. He's in the bottom third of the league in 2 point shooting % but nevertheless has taken more 2 pointers than 90% of players in the league.

He's been great the past 6 games

His whole career he's had great and awful 6 game stretches. There is a role for him in this league but I don't think he's worth much more than $3 mil/year.

But u were very happy to have Novak at close to 4 mil per year...

knickscity wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:

holfresh wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:

gunsnewing wrote:

Bonn1997 wrote:Win shares per 48: .093
Wins produced per 48: .067
(league average is .100)

He takes a ton of low percentage 2 point shots, which kills his overall effectiveness. He's in the bottom third of the league in 2 point shooting % but nevertheless has taken more 2 pointers than 90% of players in the league.

He's been great the past 6 games

His whole career he's had great and awful 6 game stretches. There is a role for him in this league but I don't think he's worth much more than $3 mil/year.

But u were very happy to have Novak at close to 4 mil per year...

Steve Novak:
WS 48: .108
WP 48: .118

Perfect example of why the eye test is better.