While Coach Mike Woodson has said that Jeremy Lin is "absolutely" going to be a Knick next season, Lin has been slightly more cagey about what might come next for him: "Personally, I think it would be great if I come back. But crazy things happen and I don’t really know what’s going to happen.” Now, there are reports that the Nets would love to steal Lin from the Knicks and transplant Linsanity to Brooklyn. At least that means he won't have to break up his new Entourage just yet.
By all accounts, the Knicks have the advantage if they choose to re-sign Lin—and really, what would be the downside? Lin is a young, vivacious point guard just starting his career—considering his explosiveness during Feb/March this season, he's bound to get even better as he develops. Best of all, the Knicks can still get him at a relatively cheap price right now—but it actually might not be as cheap as they hope.
The Knicks can match any offer sheet that Lin receives from other teams—and thanks to the "Gilbert Arenas Provision," Lin’s salary in the first two years of his next contract cannot exceed $5,000,000 and $5,225,000. But as HoopsWorld points out, there is a loophole in it: one of the other teams interested in Lin could increase his salary in years three and four of his contract, and pay him the average salary of the four-year deal. That'll force the Knicks to match those back ends. As they explain:
That means if Brooklyn offers Lin $12,628,613 and $13,146,387 in the final two years of his deal, they’ll have to pay him $9,000,000 per season. However, if New York matches, they’ll owe Lin $5,000,000 next season, $5,225,000 in year two and then $12,628,613 in 2013-14, when they already owe Carmelo Anthony, Amar’e Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler $60,632,000. Matching Lin isn’t the no-brainer decision that some have made it out to be when you consider how much it could cost New York in two years.
The Nets, Toronto Raptors, Dallas Mavericks, Portland Trail Blazers, and Golden State Warriors are all said to be interested in Lin. And the Knicks also have to decide whether or not to try to pursue free agent Steve Nash. As ESPN puts it, "While Lin has potential and would mean increasing international business for the Knicks, Nash's talents and experience would give the team a better boost on the court."
