Last 18 games:
Lin
15.7pts 42% 7.2ast

I believe the Knicks could sign Felton for 2 years 6 million and avoid being hard capped at 74 million dollars for the year. Because of the starting job and the spot light of New York he would take the chance to rebuild his value before getting to an age where he only has 1 big payday left.

Listening to the salary cap guru Larry Coon, as I understand it the Apron is a hard cap for teams that are non-tax payers and the use of the MLE defines teams as either tax paying or non tax paying. Because Tax paying teams only get a 3 million dollar exception, the second we use 3+ million of the MLE we will be hard capped.

So signing Lin to the full MLE, puts the Knicks in a situation that they will only have 8-6 million dollars to bring in the second pick, vet minimums, Fields, JR Smith, Jorts, Novack or the LLE. We would have to choose between these options.

Where if the knicks where to only spend 3 million of the MLE, the LLE is still in play, Qualified offers/bird rights are still in play, player raises are still available, vet minimums are still available. Only reason the knicks would loose out on a Novack and JR Smith is because the players wanted more money. We could bring everybody back if they wanted to come back, plus whatever Vets we could get and the LLE if the Knicks didn't use it on Novack.

Seeing as minus the absurd 30plus usage rates, Lin finished the season with numbers very comparable to Felton, I would let Lin walk if he gets a crazy deal to sign Felton. Because not only are you getting a comparable player and a better defender, you are also still more money to fill out the rest of roster.

Let's hope with Lin's Harvard education he was able to memorize all of MDA's offense so he can continue to play that way next year (and in 2015 when Melo is gone!).

Lin and Fields. Smartest backcourt in the league.

If Lin can't make magic again next year, I wouldn't mind Shumpert at point guard. (Hold the Shump is not a PG comments)

TymeLessKnicks wrote:The Felton ship sailed in the melo trade. I don't think we bring him back.

Let's hope with Lin's Harvard education he was able to memorize all of MDA's offense so he can continue to play that way next year (and in 2015 when Melo is gone!).

Lin and Fields. Smartest backcourt in the league.

If Lin can't make magic again next year, I wouldn't mind Shumpert at point guard. (Hold the Shump is not a PG comments)

Bonn1997 wrote:We don't know how many of those games Lin's meniscus was torn during.

Unless he hurt his knee right after Linsanity, I think Feltons finish to the season just as good.

Andre Miller would be a nice fit but he said wants to stay in Denver. He says he wants to go to a contender but wouldn't mind being the backup PG in Denver which is weird considering they won't be contending for a few years, if ever. Maybe the Knicks can convince him otherwise.

You don't Lose the LLE, you become hard capped at 74 million.

So Let's assume you sign Lin to 5 million and resign JR to 3 million. The knicks only have about 3 million dollars under the hard cap left. So you can either use the LLE or sign 3 players to Vet mins or QO Fields.

We also have a second round pick and Jorts option to pick up, so that also could add up to 1.5 million.

If they don't spend more than 3 million, the hard cap does not come into play.
You can then use the LLE and sign 3 players to the vet min and QO Fields while resigning JR Smith. The knicks can go beyond that 74million dollar Apron from my understanding.

Which is why the bird rights suit is important, the MLE full is the kiss of death in the new CBA not the 74million dollar mark as I thought before.

franco12 wrote:someone called me crazy for saying Lin might not be back. So clearly you are absurd!

If we don't get bird rights for Lin- I think there is a very plausible scenario where the Knicks don't bring Lin back, and go a different direction.

I didn't watch Felton last year at all- but when he was here, he was more than adequate.

Are those 18 games for Felton from this season?

not gonna happen, or at least there is a 99.9% chance it won't happen. Lin just earns the Knicks too much money. And/or he is a trade asset. He just doesn't walk away.

Felton was playing in a ball movement offense similar to MDA style, Lin was playing under Woody who could care less about ball movement and who's offense consists of dumping the ball to Melo. Great comparison based on 18 games.

martin wrote:

franco12 wrote:someone called me crazy for saying Lin might not be back. So clearly you are absurd!

If we don't get bird rights for Lin- I think there is a very plausible scenario where the Knicks don't bring Lin back, and go a different direction.

I didn't watch Felton last year at all- but when he was here, he was more than adequate.

Are those 18 games for Felton from this season?

not gonna happen, or at least there is a 99.9% chance it won't happen. Lin just earns the Knicks too much money. And/or he is a trade asset. He just doesn't walk away.

And I thought there was a 99.9% chance that the knicks would at least call Phil Jackson to see if his hip was good enough for 2 years of trying to turn Melo into a champion.

The jersey sales and Chinese TV money are compelling, and understand, I want Lin back.

But, I can see a confluence of events where Dolan's win now mantra, the $74M 'cap', Woodson's preference for a different pg and a back loaded cap killing contract offer to Lin could lead us to go a different direction.