if ariza keeps this up - 12 ppg 4 rpb 3 ast 2 stls
will a 2 year $3mil deal be enough so we can re-tain his bird's rights or do we lock him up via the MLE? losing the MLE or part of it will hurt our chances of picking up a big man.

if the choices are:

1. pick up ariza's option and hope to re-sign him via the MLE after 05
2. use the LLE this offseason to retain his bird's rights
3. use part or all the MLE to re-sign him for 6 years

what would you choose, based on the #'s above?

well the nice thing is we have options. what you do is talk to Trevor's agent. If your an agent and you have a young player like Ariza my guess would be you would want the Knicks to have your Bird rights. Its pretty much a given if you spend time w/ the Knicks your going to get paid and very well. My guess would be the LLE would make the most sense. Then the Knicks can give him more money sooner, than if they resigned him long term for like 4 years and $9mm. something like that.

If your Trevor the LLE gives you almost $3mm guarenteed, and your set to resign with the franchise that pays players better than any other in the NBA.