Jeremy Lin: Matching Any Backloaded Free-Agent Deal Would Not Be Wise for Knicks

Jeremy Lin looks like a great player to have on an NBA roster. In 2011-12, he put up solid numbers and contributed to a number of nice wins.

For the season, Lin’s stats are quite impressive—35 GP, 14.6 PPG, 6.2 APG, 3.0 RPG, 1.6 SPG, 44.6% FG, 32.0% 3PT.

However, are those numbers and the phenomenon (which might just be a fad) known as Linsanity worth risking the future of a franchise for?

Absolutely not.

That is why the New York Knicks cannot match any backloaded deals that come Lin’s way in restricted free agency this summer.

Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld is reporting that the Dallas Mavericks, Toronto Raptors, Portland Trail Blazers, Golden State Warriors and Brooklyn Nets are all interested in acquiring the 23-year-old point guard’s services.

According to Kennedy, they may pay quite a premium after the first two years of the contract and make it tough for the Knickerbockers to match.

Due to a loophole in the CBA’s “Gilbert Arenas Provision,” Lin’s initial two-year deal cannot exceed more than $5.225 million per season.

After that it gets tricky:

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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

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With Amar’e Stoudemire, Tyson Chandler and Carmelo Anthony under contract for over $60 million combined that year, Lin would be a luxury they cannot afford.

New York has already expressed interest in bringing in Steve Nash and other point guards, meaning the Taiwanese-American superstar might not even see much floor time if he is outplayed.

There is too much uncertainty surrounding Lin and his 35-game resume for the Knicks to risk their future with another potentially awful contract. They spent years cleaning up the books and getting useless players like Eddy Curry and Jerome James off the cap.

There is no point in them going down that road again so soon—not when they are actual contenders with superstar players already on the roster.