Plus, as a financial matter, the Knicks already probably have a verbal agreement with Smith that they would reup him if he agreed to that $2.8 million deal. So they would have to resign him next summer to a $5-$6 million a year deal. Add that to what they are already committed to paying everyone else, and you see that signing Lin would have probably cost the Knicks like $60-$70 million in luxury tax payments, which even the Knicks could not swallow.

While there was an argument that we could have matched and then traded Lin. We could not trade him until January 15, so we would have to spent half the year with him on the team, and if, as the Knicks probably suspected, he and Melo could not play together, it would have been a mutinty when the Knicks shipped him out mid-season. It was probably better to avoid that drama and trade now for a decent more pass-first pg to replace Lin.

I honestly like Felton, and think that if he comes to camp in top shape, he will give us what we need at the pg position.

With that being said, the Knicks made mistakes. They should have made it clear to Lin that while they would match at $9 million figure, they were not matching anything higher. All the buzz led Lin's camp to believe that the Knicks would match anything, so Lin went back to the Rockets and talked them into upping the 3rd year. It was foolish on his part, but the Knicks led him to believe he could get away with it.

- misterearl

This was a fiasco that probably did not need to end this way and in the end, I think everyone lost.

mrKnickShot wrote:Lets face it - we all really wanted Lin to stay and the team will sorely miss him and his creativity, though I won't miss the circus.

This was a fiasco that probably did not need to end this way and in the end, I think everyone lost.

I think that pretty much sums it up. It's sad to see him go but I certainly won't miss the circus. It was a little much. Its easy to read between the lines of what the Knicks have said and Lin's SI interview and as many have stated previously the truth is somewhere in the middle.

It will be interesting to see what happens with him in Houston. I think that market will be easier on him since the stage is not as big as MSG.

Meanwhile life in Knicks world goes on, we have a bunch of new faces (some returning from previous teams) and it should be an interesting year. I think our biggest upgrade was the Camby move and I think the PG spot got a little more consistent barring any more off court issues with Kidd. There is plenty of reason to be excited even though the Lin divorce is bitter.

BasketballJones wrote:Only time will tell if matching Lin's contract was the right move or not. If he goes on to become an all-time great with four or five rings, we're gonna regret this no matter how you slice it. However, it probably is true that Felton is a better fit for this team as constructed. Like nixluva says - for "Old School Knicks Basketball".

i've said it before and i'll say it again:

lin's game is tailor-made for an uptempo system, which is why he played so great for d'antoni. we are not playing anything near that now and it's going to come down to having a floor-general pg, who can run the pnr and set other guys up. felton suits this very nicely.

misterearl wrote:"jeremy Lin is a terrific backup"

- Larry Brown

"Larry Brown is fired."

- James Dolan

Vmart wrote:Larry is going to stick up for his ex player Felton after all Larry is known for his loyalty.

Larry has been saying that the last four months..

Vmart wrote:Larry is going to stick up for his ex player Felton after all Larry is known for his loyalty.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/ian_thomsen/12/22/larry.brown.resigns/index.html

"Another source of contention was the departure of point guard Raymond Felton. Though Brown wasn't a big fan, he didn't want to see Felton leave as a free agent unless he was replaced by a full-time starter. But the Bobcats have been unable to afford replacements at either position. In the meantime Felton has put up All-Star numbers for the surprising Knicks, while Chandler has galvanized the Mavericks' defense to raise their championship hopes."

http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/nba/news/story?id=5374652

"Walsh also revealed that he attempted to trade for Felton last season but was told by Charlotte Bobcats coach Larry Brown, "Donnie, I can't trade his heart."