HOUSTON WE HAVE A PROBLEM. IS LIN WORTH 42 MILLION IN LUXURY TAXES?
While both Lin and the Knicks are hoping for a reunion, sources have told ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard that if any clubs offer Lin a back-loaded contract that pays him an eight-figure salary in the third and fourth years, the Knicks would be hesitant to match the offer. Lin will get $5M in year one, $5.225M in year two and $14.898M in year three. Rockets hope that will discourage NY due to year three will cost the Knicks 42 Million in Luxury taxes. Is LIN WORTH HALF OF THAT??????
WOW! Linsanity has left the building! Smart move basketball wise if Ray will get in Tip Top Shape. WOW! I was wrong as hell....LOL LOL
DM in Houston just F**ked himself and so did LIN
ESPN now reports that Lin has signed contract with Houston:
Houston abandoned both Goren Dragic and Kyle Lowry so they are desperate for a solid poing guard. Being under the salary cap and with no luxury tax to consider, the Rockets evidently consider Lin worth the price. Even if the Rockets pay Lin more than he is worth, he would still be cheaper than the combination of Dragic and Lowry.
Houston must still show Knicks the signed contract and Knicks will have 3 days to match. Prior reports about Lin's deal pegged the 3rd year around $8-9 million, not the near $15 million now being stated. I agree that Lin is not worth that much on the court and the "luxury tax" of $42 million, if true, will even make Jim Dolan stop and pause. Nevertheless, I believe the Knicks will match the deal.
The first two years of the agreement should not be an issue and MSG management could decide to trade or "amnesty" Lin in the 3rd year, paying his salary, but not having it affect the salary cap. I am not sure how that would affect the "luxury tax" matter. Grunwald, paid the amnesty salary of approximately $14 million to Chauncey Billups last year, in order to free cap space to sign Chandler. If that added "luxury tax" to the team total in 2011 - 2012, Dolan apparently paid it without blinking.
For the Knicks, signing Lin will not affect their salary cap, so that he may still be their best option--unless you consider Ray Felton a potential substitute. I don't. Moreover, I do not see how the Knicks can put together a trade for a quality alternative in the next three days. In the end I believe that the Knicks will match Lin's contract and decide how to deal with his 3rd year salary and the "luxury tax" issue as the 3rd year approaches. Lin may well be traded before then. But for 2012 - 2013, Lin is most likely a Knick. LGK
PUP...I'll bet the Ranch Dolan says NO WAY! When you pay Billups off to get Tyson Chandler is far removed from paying 42 Million in Luxury three years from now for a guy in the D-league December 2011. Goodbye Linsanity. Hell, Give Lives or Tman 800,000. to take his spot and they would be just as effective.
@Peaceman Let's get real. Is there a point guard out there as good or better than Lin available? Possibly, but consider the feelings of the Asian community who so much want to attend or watch Knick games with Lin playing. If Knicks walk away from the deal, many Asians in N.Y. will feel insulted, when other non-Asians get big or bigger contracts
. The marketing factor counts here as much as the contract itself. Knicks, of course, could sign Lin now and try to package him in a trade for a better pg (CP3?) at mid-season or down the road. Knicks should remember the game played by Houston in this episode and perhaps that played by Lin and his agent, Yet, I can't blame Lin for trying to get the best deal he could get, and he used Houston, the way other teams used the Knicks, to jack up his offer sheet.
My ranch is still on the table and being waged that the Knicks match Lin's deal.
@Post_up_Prince @Peaceman Prince, you are totally correct. There are a ton of pgs out there with the same talent as Lin. Lin is a OFF-THE-COURT money maker. The New York Knicks are a business. I'd prefer the option where they save spending 42 million in luxury tax and get a pg that can defend better than Lin, compared to paying the 42 million tax, 15 million for year 3, and hoping Linsanity doesn't fade out.
@Peaceman Ray was out of shape all last season, gained weight, and played only limited minutes and poorly at that. I don't think so.
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One word.....................NO! He is not worth that much money on the court. And remember, WIN NOW, PAY LATER. Lin is not a "win now" pg (enter Jason Kidd). Wish there was a way to sign-n-trade him for Courtney Lee and some 1st round picks (4).
