Linsanity is apparently worth $29 million, and now the Knicks have to decide whether Jeremy Lin is worth it.
Lin agreed on Thursday to sign a four-year, $28.9 million offer sheet with the Houston Rockets, hours after Jason Kidd, 39, turned down a deal with the Dallas Mavericks and agreed to spend the twilight years of his Hall of Fame career as a Knick.
A Kidd/Lin point-guard tandem would be an upgrade and the Knicks have the power to make it happen. Because Lin is a restricted free agent, the Knicks have the option to match the Rockets’ offer (he can’t sign the offer sheet until Wednesday, and the Knicks will have three days to match). The only holdup is that the deal is backloaded and in year three of the contract the Knicks would have to pay a luxury tax. The offer sheet has Lin making $5 million the first year, followed by $5.2 million, $9.3 million and $9.3 million.
From all indications, the Knicks intend to match the offer. The Rockets don’t believe that the 23-year-old Lin will be joining them in Houston next season.
The biggest decision will be for Mike Woodson to determine whether the kid or the old man is the starter.
Kidd by no means makes the Knicks younger, but his presence on the court and in the locker room will make them smarter and ultimately better.
After watching Steve Nash, their primary free-agent target, join the Lakers, the Knicks convinced Kidd to come to the Garden, where he can also serve as a mentor to Lin.
It was somewhat of a stunning move since Kidd had all but agreed to a contract extension with the Dallas Mavericks. In the span of three days, the Mavs lost out on Deron Williams, Nash and Kidd.
A deal for Kidd won’t be announced until Wednesday and there is a strong possibility that the Knicks will acquire him via a sign-and-trade. Kidd reportedly turned down a three-year, $9 million contract from Dallas.
The Knicks could also use their “mini mid-level exception” to sign Kidd, which would pay him $9.7 million over three years. Kidd will turn 40 in March.
The Knicks had set their sights on their former point guard, Raymond Felton, once Nash agreed to a sign-and-trade with the Lakers on Wednesday, but immediately shifted their focus to Kidd after he rejected the opportunity to return to Dallas, where he won an NBA title two years ago.
Kidd is nowhere near the player he was when he helped the Nets to two straight NBA Finals in 2002 and ’03, but he can be a valuable bench player capable of playing 20-to-25 minutes.
He will also give the Knicks much-needed leadership on the court. The Knicks have a losing record with Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire playing together and the hope is that an experienced point guard like Kidd will find a way for that scoring duo to be successful.
Felton can still be an option, but it is unlikely the Knicks would make a play for him if Lin returns. Felton played well in his first tour with the Knicks before being traded to Denver in the Anthony deal. Felton spent
last season with Portland. Toney Douglas is the only Knicks point guard under contract.
The Knicks are still hoping to re-sign free agent J.R. Smith, who can either start at shooting guard or come off the bench. Incumbent shooting guard Landry Fields signed a three-year, $19 million offer sheet with the Toronto Raptors. The Knicks are not expected to match it.
Iman Shumpert, who can play shooting guard or small forward, is out until at least January following major knee surgery in May. Kidd can also play at two-guard.
The Knicks have expressed interest in free-agent shooting guard O.J. Mayo but can only acquire him via a sign-and-trade with Memphis.
Lin agreed on Thursday to sign a four-year, $28.9 million offer sheet with the Houston Rockets, hours after Jason Kidd, 39, turned down a deal with the Dallas Mavericks and agreed to spend the twilight years of his Hall of Fame career as a Knick.
A Kidd/Lin point-guard tandem would be an upgrade and the Knicks have the power to make it happen. Because Lin is a restricted free agent, the Knicks have the option to match the Rockets’ offer (he can’t sign the offer sheet until Wednesday, and the Knicks will have three days to match). The only holdup is that the deal is backloaded and in year three of the contract the Knicks would have to pay a luxury tax. The offer sheet has Lin making $5 million the first year, followed by $5.2 million, $9.3 million and $9.3 million.
From all indications, the Knicks intend to match the offer. The Rockets don’t believe that the 23-year-old Lin will be joining them in Houston next season.
The biggest decision will be for Mike Woodson to determine whether the kid or the old man is the starter.
Kidd by no means makes the Knicks younger, but his presence on the court and in the locker room will make them smarter and ultimately better.
After watching Steve Nash, their primary free-agent target, join the Lakers, the Knicks convinced Kidd to come to the Garden, where he can also serve as a mentor to Lin.
It was somewhat of a stunning move since Kidd had all but agreed to a contract extension with the Dallas Mavericks. In the span of three days, the Mavs lost out on Deron Williams, Nash and Kidd.
A deal for Kidd won’t be announced until Wednesday and there is a strong possibility that the Knicks will acquire him via a sign-and-trade. Kidd reportedly turned down a three-year, $9 million contract from Dallas.
The Knicks could also use their “mini mid-level exception” to sign Kidd, which would pay him $9.7 million over three years. Kidd will turn 40 in March.
The Knicks had set their sights on their former point guard, Raymond Felton, once Nash agreed to a sign-and-trade with the Lakers on Wednesday, but immediately shifted their focus to Kidd after he rejected the opportunity to return to Dallas, where he won an NBA title two years ago.
Kidd is nowhere near the player he was when he helped the Nets to two straight NBA Finals in 2002 and ’03, but he can be a valuable bench player capable of playing 20-to-25 minutes.
He will also give the Knicks much-needed leadership on the court. The Knicks have a losing record with Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire playing together and the hope is that an experienced point guard like Kidd will find a way for that scoring duo to be successful.
Felton can still be an option, but it is unlikely the Knicks would make a play for him if Lin returns. Felton played well in his first tour with the Knicks before being traded to Denver in the Anthony deal. Felton spent
last season with Portland. Toney Douglas is the only Knicks point guard under contract.
The Knicks are still hoping to re-sign free agent J.R. Smith, who can either start at shooting guard or come off the bench. Incumbent shooting guard Landry Fields signed a three-year, $19 million offer sheet with the Toronto Raptors. The Knicks are not expected to match it.
Iman Shumpert, who can play shooting guard or small forward, is out until at least January following major knee surgery in May. Kidd can also play at two-guard.
The Knicks have expressed interest in free-agent shooting guard O.J. Mayo but can only acquire him via a sign-and-trade with Memphis.
Source:nydailynews.com
Originally Posted By FRANK ISOLA / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
RSS Feed (xml)
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar