Footnote Turned Asset, But Will He Ever Make it to NY?

Source: The Knicks Blog by Tommy Dee

Via NY Post

In a footnote to December’s Tyson Chandler sign-and-trade, the Mavericks included the draft rights to Georgios Printezis, an Athens-born forward who won the Greek Slam-Dunk contest in 2007. Now 27, he was selected in the second round by the Raptors in 2007.

“They have a nice little asset now,’’ one NBA executive said of Printezis. “People now know who he is now.’’

However, getting him in a Knicks uniform is a problem. Printezis is a free agent and likely has earned a significant contract from Olympiakos, one of Europe’s deepest-pocketed teams.

The Knicks believe he could make a good NBA reserve, but would only have the rookie minimum to offer Printezis — because they do not want to use risk a portion of their $5M mid-level exception.

I know nothing about him, but there is plenty to read about here, even if it’s a bit dated. The Knicks also acquired Ahmad Nivins in the Chandler deal.

New York Knicks: 10 Changes the Knicks Need to Make to Contend in 2013

Source: Bleacher Report

The 2011-12 season for the New York Knicks will be a memorable one for a long time to come due to the emergence of Jeremy Lin.

"Linsanity" arrived in the Big Apple near the time the Giants won the Super Bowl and took fans worldwide on a ride they will not soon forget. They would go 9-3 with Lin playing heavy minutes and take on another six-game win streak before his season would end late in March.

New York would lose to Miami in five games in the first round of the playoffs, but the talent of their young point guard has fans with a lot of hope for the future.

Here are 10 changes the Knicks need to make to contend in 2013.

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New York Knicks: 10 Changes the Knicks Need to Make to Contend in 2013

Source: Bleacher Report

The 2011-12 season for the New York Knicks will be a memorable one for a long time to come due to the emergence of Jeremy Lin.

"Linsanity" arrived in the Big Apple near the time the Giants won the Super Bowl and took fans worldwide on a ride they will not soon forget. They would go 9-3 with Lin playing heavy minutes and take on another six-game win streak before his season would end late in March.

New York would lose to Miami in five games in the first round of the playoffs, but the talent of their young point guard has fans with a lot of hope for the future.

Here are 10 changes the Knicks need to make to contend in 2013.

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Knicks Morning News (Thursday, May 17 2012)

Source: KnickerBlogger.Net by Mike Kurylo

[New York Post] Knicks prospect stars overseas, but may never make it to NY (Thu, 17 May 2012 02:52:18 -0500) Georgios Printezis, a 6-foot-9 forward for Olympiacos, is the toast of Europe this week. He hit the game-winning floater over Andrei Kirilenko with 0.7 seconds left to give Olympiacos its first Euroleague championship since 1997 [...]

Miami Heat Prepare for Crucial Game 3 Against Pacers: Fan Preview (Yahoo! Contributor Network)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

Things didn't go as planned in the Miami Heat's last outing, and they'll try to get back on track when they visit the Indiana Pacers on May 17.

NBA Free Agency 2012: 8 Reasons NY Knicks Need Steve Nash

Source: Bleacher Report

As much as some New York Knicks fans may be looking forward to Jeremy Lin's potential return, there's one name on the free-agent market that GM Glen Grunwald should be watching like a hawk. 

I'm talking about veteran point guard and two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash, who's set to hit the open market after spending the past eight years with the Phoenix Suns.

Sure, I got caught up in the Linsanity like most Knicks supporters, but I'm not blind to the fact that Nash would be great for the team. His overall skill set and intangibles are to the point where were he to bring his talents to New York, the Knicks would instantly become contenders.

Here are eight reasons as to why the Knicks need to pursue the 15-year veteran.

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Knicks prospect stars overseas, but may never make it to NY

Source: New York Post by By MARC BERMAN

Georgios Printezis, a 6-foot-9 forward for Olympiacos, is the toast of Europe this week. He hit the game-winning floater over Andrei Kirilenko with 0.7 seconds left to give Olympiacos its first Euroleague championship since 1997 with a 62-61 victory over CSKA Moscow. European reports have lionized Printezis’ floater as...

The New York Knicks Could Beat the Miami Heat Now: Fan’s Take (Yahoo! Contributor Network)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

The New York Knicks are home watching the rest of the 2012 NBA Playoffs. But I can't help but wonder how the Knicks would do against the Heat right now. Without Chris Bosh, the Heat lost Game 2 of their playoff series with the Indiana Pacers. The Heat looked vulnerable for the first time in the postseason. The Knicks could beat the Heat if they played today. And there are three key areas that would give the Knicks the edge.

Jeremy Lin: Knicks' Promise to Re-Sign Point Guard Creates Another Cap Crunch

Source: Bleacher Report

Jeremy Lin is not under contract for 2012-13, but New York Knicks interim head coach Mike Woodson told ESPNNewYork.com that Lin will "absolutely" be back next season.

With the current roster the way it is, the Knicks would be forced to sign Lin with their mid-level exception. Under the so-called Gilbert Arenas rule, no other team can offer Lin more than the average league salary, which will be roughly $5 million, and the Knicks have the right to match any offer.

But that is the same exception they had hoped to lure Steve Nash with, or any number of other talented players for that matter. If the Knicks decide to re-sign Lin at that price (though he certainly deserves it), it means he must be their starting point guard next year.

It also leaves them in dire salary cap straits yet again.

The Knicks struggled with salary cap issues for the better part of a decade under the presidency of Isiah Thomas. They essentially cleared cap space and signed Amar'e Stoudemire in order to lure LeBron James to New York. When he took his talents to South Beach, they put together a hefty trade package to acquire Carmelo Anthony.

Now, the Knicks have a "Big Three" of their own in Amar'e, Carmelo and this season's Defensive Player of the Year, Tyson Chandler. But the Knicks are committed to paying those three players over $53 million next season.

There are questions about the health of Stoudemire's back and knees. He's also owed $65 million over the next three years, which means no other team would assume his contract. Plus the Knicks already exercised the "amnesty clause" in the CBA on Chauncey Billups, so they will have to live with Amar'e and hope for the best.

But they will need to add role players to the team if they want to advance past the first round of the playoffs, and they have precious little money to work with. Aside from their Big Three, the Knicks have sensational rookie Iman Shumpert under contract for $1.6 million.

They also locked themselves in with the little-used point guard Toney Douglas for next season. Prior to the start of Linsanity, the Knicks exercised the team option for $2.1 million on Douglas back on January 25th.

The team is now left hoping that J.R. Smith declines his player option to take the mini mid-level exception next season, which is $2.5 million. He is likely to look for more in the free-agent market, and the Knicks would be more than happy to have a little extra money to spend on role players.

Smith was more than serviceable for the Knicks down the stretch, but he also earned the derogatory nickname "J.R. Starks" for his streaky play under the mentality that you miss 100 percent of the shots you don't take; which is to say, you should always be shooting.

Presuming Smith looks for more money elsewhere, the Knicks will have $63 million promised to six players, and just over $10 million to field the remainder of their roster. Oh, and they still have $1.6 million promised to Renaldo Balkman, who is no longer with the team.

The salary crunch is so bad that even if the Knicks let Landry Fields walk (which they will almost certainly have to if they sign his buddy Lin), they will have to persuade fan-favorite Steve Novak and defensive-specialist Jared Jeffries to accept the lower end of their market value in order to retain them both.

GM Glen Grunwald will have to go dumpster diving in the 2012 free-agent market to complete the roster. Along with Stoudemire, Anthony, Chandler, Shumpert and Douglas, the Knicks also have Jerome Jordan and Josh Harrellson returning.

Assuming they re-sign Lin, Novak and Jeffries, they still need to acquire five more players and will probably only have the mini mid-level exception and some chump change to do it. That means getting one halfway decent player and a bunch of scrubs.

And if you're planning on finding someone in the draft, remember that the Rockets hold the Knicks' first-round choice as a result of the Tracy McGrady trade (he's now on the Hawks, by the way), and the Suns hold the Knicks' second-round pick after the Amar'e sign-and-trade.

While the Knicks did acquire another second-round pick from the Warriors after they traded away David Lee, they gave that pick to the Nuggets when they signed 'Melo.

So it's starting to feel like the same old Knicks. They're stuck with big contracts and some undesirable players clogging up the roster.

But it's still important to bring back Lin who was an international phenomenon for three weeks this past season. They just have to hope that the players they have can stay healthy and live up to their potential, because they can't hope for much in the offseason.

Read more New York Knicks news on BleacherReport.com

Open Playoff Thread: 5/16/12

Source: Posting and Toasting by Seth

Evening, internet friends! It's almost seven of the clock, which means it's almost time for another evening of Knicks-free playoff basketball. Seeing the Sixers and Pacers make legitimate series out of their match-ups with the Celtics and the suddenly depleted Heat sure has been fun, hasn't it? I want very badly for Miami and Boston to lose, but watching them fold in their respective Games Two made me feel more than a little bitter. I spat on the floor once or twice. Anyway, part of that experience continues tonight. Here are the games and SB Nation

Debate: Predict the Knicks' Starting 5 in 2012-13

Source: Bleacher Report

Leave your response below! Agree with someone's comment? Vote for it to make the Debate Highlights section. Disagree with a comment? Reply and voice your opinion.

Read more New York Knicks news on BleacherReport.com

Knicks May Have Squandered Only Opportunity: A Fan’s View (Yahoo! Contributor Network)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

With the dispiriting finale to a chaotic season in the rear view mirror, there is all manner of discussion relating to the New York Knicks and plans moving forward.

Pacers' Larry Bird is NBA Executive of the Year (The Associated Press)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

NEW YORK (AP) Indiana Pacers president Larry Bird was voted the NBA's Executive of the Year on Wednesday, becoming the first person to win that award, plus the MVP and Coach of the Year honors.

What was the Knicks' best win of the year?

Source: Posting and Toasting by Seth

It's a quiet day, so I figure now's a good time to have this talk. Oh, no! Not like a "talk". Just a fun little discussion. Relax. The Knicks won 36 games this season. I spent the last little while combing through the recaps and threads and determined that quite a few of those wins were easy/uninteresting or embarrassingly close ones over bad teams. A handful of them, though, were real keepers. Of those, which was the greatest?

Will Leitch made his Top Ten list a couple weeks ago. As I told him initially, I liked his choices, but disagreed with his

Catch and Makes Telling Key Stories in Round 2

Source: The Knicks Blog by Tommy Dee

You’ve heard me talk about back court play and how certain skills are simply essential for success and winning basketball games moving forward in the playoffs. Round one is generally about match ups, staying healthy and executing. It is also about home court advantage early in the series.

To me, round 2 is far more about adjustments and that’s where it’s essential that role players make shots. I call it “catch and make” opportunities and these become far more critical moving forward towards the Finals. Catch and makes are defined as shots made off of passes that require no dribble and are often just ahead of defensive rotation. Think about Derek Fisher’s career role and the shots John Paxon and Steve Kerr made for the Bulls at any point in the game, not just game-winners.

Stats are great during the regular season and I look towards total offense and total defense as a great barometers, but come playoff time I think stats reset, particularly from deep range. Derek Fisher is a career 37% three point shooter in the regular season, and 40% in the playoffs.

When I look at the Spurs/Clippers series the biggest difference in the two teams is the Spurs ability to make shots. Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green and the great Manu Ginobili combined for 9 three pointers many on catch/make opportunity. I think this is going to be a longer series because the Clippers do have their own catch and makers in Mo Williams, Randy Foye and Nick Young so buckle up.

The Sixers, who do a great job of playing complete basketball on defense and in transition , struggle offensively. But Jrue Holiday has been outstanding, particularly from behind the arc, some in catch and make situations. His 4 three pointers in Game 2 is why the Sixers have taken home court advantage away. That said, the Celtics have one of the all-time great catch and makers in Ray Allen, a player the Knicks are still looking for although he is battling through injuries.

Obviously, the heat are struggling without Chris Bosh. Bosh brings them a balance up front that they are clearly missing. He’s also a catch/make forward who does it down the stretch or to kill opposing teams’ runs. The heat were just 1-16 from deep including the Chalmers miss at the end. Obviously, Lebron’s free throws were huge as was the overall play from Wade, but when the heat lost to the Knicks their catch and makers, namely Chalmers, Battier and Mike Miller, were dreadful.

Which finally brings us to the Lakers and the Thunder. Fisher is now in OKC and the Lakers haven’t replaced his catch and make ability from the perimeter. Ramon Sessions is a very good point guard who has shot better, but isn’t proven in the half court of big games. Steve Blake can, but it’s a lot to ask. I like Goudelock, but he’s a rookie and Matt Barnes and World Peace are forwards, which is fine, but you need it from the 1 and 2 positions for balance. Kobe can’t do everything and catch and make situations result from him being doubled.

As far as the Thunder, Westbrook and Harden are above average, but not great, and Fisher certainly helps, but I love what Daequan Cook gives them. Dude has the green light to come in the game and knock them down, but you can expect D-Fish to make one or more big ones…

If the Lakers are to make it a series, heck if all these series are going to be competitive, keep an eye on the team that has knock down catch and make opportunities and who takes advantage. They are usually the players who benefit from slight openings when the stars are double teamed or draw attention with teams hoping that the shots don’t fall from the perimeter.

It’s a huge need for the Knicks moving forward.

New York Knicks: How Jeremy Lin’s Bird Rights will effect the Future of the Franchise

Source: Buckets Over Broadway by Matt Shetler

If the New York Knicks plan on being competitive next season, all eyes should be on the Players’ Association’s arbitration hearing that is seeking restoration of the Bird rights to … [visit site to read more]

New York Knicks: How Jeremy Lin’s Bird Rights will effect the Future of the Franchise - Buckets Over Broadway - Buckets Over Broadway - A New York Knicks Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and More

How Jeremy Lin's Bird Rights Impact NY Knicks Free Agent Plans

Source: Bleacher Report

If the New York Knicks plan on being competitive next season, all eyes should be on the Players’ Association’s arbitration hearing that is seeking restoration of the Bird rights to free agents Jeremy Lin and Steve Novak.

If the ruling from the arbitrator comes favors the Knicks, it could be a very productive offseason in the Big Apple, especially as it relates to point guard Jeremy Lin. However, if it doesn't, the Knicks will be in big trouble.

For the time being, the Knicks must put all of their trust in the Player's Union Executive Director Billy Hunter.

Hunter issued a statement Tuesday night (via the New York Post):

“Bird and Early Bird rights are among the most valuable rights that players have under the [collective bargaining agreement]. These rights simply cannot be extinguished in the absence of an affirmative decision by a player to select a team through free agency. We will ask the arbitrator to resolve this dispute on an expedited basis.’’

The union is trying to make a case that Novak and Lin should be treated the same as players who are traded. Traded players keep their Bird rights.

If Lin and Novak have their Bird rights restored, Knicks general manager Glen Grunwald will have won the lottery. It would allow him to re-sign both players without using their $5 million mid-level exception. 

If that's the case, Grunwald could use that MLE to try and sign a veteran point guard, possibly even Steve Nash.

However if their Bird rights aren't restored, here's the dilemma the Knicks will face.

With the new CBA, there is now a non-taxpayer MLE of $3 million or less or the taxpayer MLE of $5 million.

The trick is that if the Knicks spend more than $3 million of its mid-level exception, they will be faced with a hard cap for the remainder of the season. It becomes very hard to put a winner on the floor when dealing with a hard cap.

Since the Knicks are over the cap, they can't spend more than what is now called the apron ($70-74 million). If they get into the taxpayer's MLE and are forced to become hard-capped, the Knicks won't be able to make any moves (trades, signings, etc.) that put them a penny over the hard-cap, which is something Grunwald must stay away from.

So it would be ideal for Lin to sign for $3 million or less, but that’s doubtful, especially since other teams will offer more simply based on what he can do for attendance.

Lin is unlike a guy such as Landry Fields, who the Knicks have his Early Bird rights. Without Lin's Bird rights, New York will be forced to use the MLE to sign him, which presents an issue given what it could do to the team financially down the road.

That makes this arbritrator's decision, likely in June, the single most important decision for the future of the franchise.

A favorable ruling allows the Knicks to not only re-sign Lin and Novak, but also allows them to use the MLE and bi-annual exception ($1.98 million) to add key pieces to the team.

If it's a non-favorable ruling for the Knicks and they are forced to spend more than $3 million to retain Lin, not only will they be hard-capped for the season, but they won't be able to re-sign Novak, won't have either exception to use and will be forced to sign as many as four players using the veteran minimum.

That doesn't bode well for the future of Knicks basketball.

Read more New York Knicks news on BleacherReport.com

Jeremy Lin: New York Knicks PG Must Prove Himself Again in Eventual Return

Source: Bleacher Report

Jeremy Lin took the NBA and the New York Knicks by storm this season, becoming an unlikely star in the league.

In a season that Lin was averaging 14.6 points and four assists a game, Lin would succumb to season-ending knee surgery from a meniscus tear in his knee. This would end "Linsanity" for the moment in New York.

Although Lin proved himself to be a legitimate starting point guard in the NBA, he is going to need to prove himself again in his return from injury next season. Lin will be starting fresh and will need to show he is still worthy of being a star with the Knicks.

Coming off any type of surgery is a test to any athlete's career, but coming off knee surgery, no matter how serious, is the biggest test.

Lin uses a lot of dribble drives through the lane, which takes a lot of lateral movement and quickness. Doing this with knees that aren't in full health is more difficult, due to the constraints a bum knee poses.

Lin will need to show that he can still drive the lane to finish or dish out assists in his eventual return. It will be interesting to see how well he is moving in terms of side-to-side movement, as knee surgeries will make that tougher on the young Harvard graduate.

Also, in the offseason, Lin is going to have to learn to take care of the ball better. As the season progresses and we got to see more of Lin, he was very prone to turnovers. In fact, he had almost four turnovers per game. The numbers were higher in games where he was pressured more.

Also, as a guard, he is not the most accurate outside shooter. From the three-point line, Lin shoots .313 percent, which shows that long-range shooting is not his strong point.

All in all, next season is really the beginning of Lin's career. Sure, he had Linsanity this year, but next year is going to be the year where he will need to reprove himself in order to establish his stardom in the NBA.  

Read more New York Knicks news on BleacherReport.com

Obama weighs in on Knicks on 'The View'

Source: New York Post by By MARC BERMAN

It’s not a good sign when even ever-diplomatic President Obama is joking on the Knicks. Obama, who appeared on “The View’’ yesterday morning, gave a wise-cracking evaluation of the Knicks’ future. A Bulls fan, Obama admitted he is a bit grumpy nowadays because of Derrick Rose’s knee injury...

NBA union chief says Knicks Lin, Novak deserve Bird rights

Source: New York Post by By MARC BERMAN

In Billy Hunter the Knicks trust. The Knicks’ chances of having a July’s free-agent bonanza — perhaps signing Steve Nash — hinge greatly on the Players’ Association’s arbitration hearing in which it is seeking restoration of the Bird rights to free agents Jeremy Lin and Steve Novak because they were...

Obama weighs in on Knicks

Source: New York Post by By MARC BERMAN

It’s not a good sign when even ever-diplomatic President Obama is joking on the Knicks. Obama, who appeared on “The View’’ yesterday morning, gave a wise-cracking evaluation of the Knicks’ future. A Bulls fan, Obama admitted he is a bit grumpy nowadays because of Derrick Rose’s knee injury...

NBA Free Agency 2012: Why Jeremy Lin Is a Lock To Return to NY Knicks

Source: Bleacher Report

Jeremy Lin will remain a member of the New York Knicks for the foreseeable future.

Though the overnight phenomenon is a restricted free agent this summer, don't expect to see him donning any colors other than orange and blue next season. And the Knicks have Gilbert Arenas to thank for that.

The "Gilbert Arenas" rule—introduced in 2005—dictates that teams cannot offer contracts over the NBA's average salary to restricted free agents with two or less years of experience. Lin falls under this stipulation.

While New York is over the salary cap for next season, no other team can offer Lin more than $5 million—the league's average salary—for the first year of his contract. The Knicks have full use of the mid-level exception this summer—also $5 million—meaning they can match any offer sheet that comes Lin's way.

For those worried about the multi-year deals that will be thrown at Lin, though, there is truly no cause for concern.

The most a competing team could offer the point guard in the second year of any deal is a 4.5 percent increase from the first. It wouldn't be until the third year of any contract that a max salary could come into play.

Under the current league salary rules, the Knicks also have the ability to match any ensuing years that will be tossed Lin's direction.

So, essentially, with the aforementioned rules in place, the only way Lin doesn't return to New York is if the team isn't interested in bringing him back.

Lin has publicly acknowledged that he doesn't believe his future with the Knicks is cut and dry, sentiments undoubtedly fueled by Amar'e Stoudemire's endorsement of former teammate and free-agent-to-be Steve Nash.

From the New York Daily News:

“Nothing is set in stone. That’s what I’ve learned,” Lin said Thursday. “We talked about (my free agency). I love the Knicks and the organization. But at the same time, it’s a business. Me, 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.”

However, whether Lin admits it or not and whether the Knicks pursue Nash or not, the point guard is a lock to sign a long-term deal with New York.

Mike Woodson has made it perfectly clear that Lin is a part of the Knicks' future, a notion echoed in the financial boom that comes with signing Lin's paychecks.

Linsanity brought a sleeping Madison Square Garden back to life, broke cultural barriers many refused to admit existed and took the entire world by storm.

There is plenty of money to be made off a player like that and the Knicks know this, they've already made some of it. And if anyone believes the organization is willing to walk away from an investment that will pay immeasurable dividends regardless of well Lin plays on the court, they're severely misguided.

The Toronto Raptors can show all the interest they want, but neither they, nor any other team, will be able to pry Lin away from the Knicks. That notion becomes even more of a formality should NBA Players Association (NBAPA) prevail in its quest to challenge the league's interpretation of certain free-agent rights.

But even an unfavorable ruling in that scenario means next to nothing. Lin is too important to the Knicks' future, their persona and the franchise's wallet to just let him walk, especially when they have the means to keep him.

New York was the origin of Linsanity, and fittingly enough, it will remain Lin's home for years to come.

 

Follow @danfavale 

Read more New York Knicks news on BleacherReport.com

Knicks Morning News (Wednesday, May 16 2012)

Source: KnickerBlogger.Net by Mike Kurylo

[New York Post] NBA union chief: Knicks Lin, Novak deserve Bird rights (Wed, 16 May 2012 01:57:06 -0500) In Billy Hunter the Knicks trust. The Knicks’ chances of having a July’s free-agent bonanza â?? perhaps signing Steve Nash â?? hinge greatly on the Players’ Association’s arbitration hearing in which it is seeking restoration of the [...]

Indiana Pacers Even Out Series Against Miami Heat: Fan Reaction (Yahoo! Contributor Network)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

The Indiana Pacers shocked the Miami Heat on May 15, walking away with 78-75 win at the American Airlines Arena. With the win, the Pacers now have home court advantage for the remainder of the series, a position the Heat certainly didn't want to find themselves in.

NBA union chief: Knicks Lin, Novak deserve Bird rights

Source: New York Post by By MARC BERMAN

In Billy Hunter the Knicks trust. The Knicks’ chances of having a July’s free-agent bonanza — perhaps signing Steve Nash — hinge greatly on the Players’ Association’s arbitration hearing in which it is seeking restoration of the Bird rights to free agents Jeremy Lin and Steve Novak because they were...

How Obama ‘Views’ Knicks

Source: New York Post by By MARC BERMAN

It’s not a good sign when even ever-diplomatic President Obama is joking on the Knicks. Obama, who appeared on “The View’’ yesterday morning, gave a wise-cracking evaluation of the Knicks’ future. A Bulls fan, Obama admitted he is a bit grumpy nowadays because of Derrick Rose’s knee injury...

Hunter: Lin, Novak deserve Bird rights

Source: New York Post by By MARC BERMAN

In Billy Hunter the Knicks trust. The Knicks’ chances of having a July’s free-agent bonanza — perhaps signing Steve Nash — hinge greatly on the Players’ Association’s arbitration hearing in which it is seeking restoration of the Bird rights to free agents Jeremy Lin and Steve Novak because they were...

What the NBAPA's Bird Rights Dispute Means for Jeremy Lin and the Knicks

Source: Bleacher Report

In fantastic bit of reporting, Howard Beck of the New York Times broke the news regarding the NBA Players Association's recent attempt at better defining the terms surrounding Bird Rights and NBA Players.

His analysis was quick to note that it matters a great deal for the Knicks and their developing negotiations with Jeremy Lin.

Let's take a brief tangent and use the information available on Wikipedia to break down what exactly the Bird Rights entail: named after Larry Legend, the Bird Rights were created to allow teams to re-sign their star veterans with maximum contracts (the "maximum" is a predetermined figure based on a player's number of years in the league) even if doing so puts them over the salary cap.

It was developed to help teams retain their stars, and therefore remain marketable franchises.

The Bird Rights only apply for players who have been playing for either the same team, or the same contract for three years. This means that in order for them to apply, a player must not have ever signed a new contract with a new team for three consecutive years.

The loophole is this: when a player is traded, his Bird Rights remain attached to his contract. Therefore, if a player has a three-year deal in place, and is traded after the first year, so long as he plays out the rest of his contract for the new team, he and his new team retain the privileges that accompany the Bird Rights. This also applies if he chooses to sign three separate one-year contract, all with the same team—as long as none of those deals involve him changing teams, the three years still hold.

What the NBAPA is arguing is that when a team places a player on waivers, and another team picks that player up, there is never a new contract negotiated, and therefore the Bird Rights remain in tact.

Let's evaluate Lin's case.

The Rockets placed Lin on waivers before the season began. Soon afterward, the Knicks claimed his rights off of waivers. Never did this involve Lin signing a new contract with the Knicks. He was merely playing under the same contract agreed to with the Rockets, and having its liability transferred to the Knicks.

The NBAPA is trying to claim that is akin to the Rockets trading Lin to the Knicks for nothing in return.

Now that the case is undergoing independent arbitration, if the NBAPA wins the case, the Knicks will have full Bird Rights to Lin, meaning they can sign him to the maximum contract allowable for a player who has been in the league for as long as he has, without it affecting their salary cap. The same goes for Novak, who was also claimed off waivers.

As Beck mentions in his piece, the million-dollar question is why this has never been considered before.

The answer is simple: no player picked up off waivers has ever enjoyed the amount of success both Lin and Novak have this year. Their value far exceeded what generally comes with a player sent to waivers.

If this does go through, the Knicks will have considerably more flexibility with regards to re-signing free agents. They are bound quite tight financially for the upcoming season, already over the cap. Instead of having to use up their mid-level exception (worth up to $5 million) or the bi-annual exception (worth up to $1.9 million) on these players, they can simply re-sign both Lin and Novak for as much as they need to, and then use both of those exceptions elsewhere (perhaps on J.R. Smith or even to pursue someone like Steve Nash).

This could be a tremendous blessing for the Knicks, who would benefit greatly from a Nash-Lin duo. Once the decision is decided (and remember, free agency begins on July 1, so it must be finalized before then), we'll have a much better picture regarding the Knicks and their options this offseason.

Until then, all we can do is wait and hope.

Read more New York Knicks news on BleacherReport.com

Indiana Pacers Beat Bosh-less Miami Heat in Game 2: Fan Reaction (Yahoo! Contributor Network)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

On Tuesday May 15, 2012, the Indiana Pacers defeated the Miami Heat 78-75 in Game 2 of the NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals. The series is now tied 1-1. It was a close game, but I saw three things that should concern Heat fans.

NBA union seeks arbitration over Bird rights issue (The Associated Press)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

NEW YORK (AP) The NBA players' association says it is seeking an arbitrator's ruling in hopes that Jeremy Lin and three other players maintain valuable rights in free agency.

NBA 2012: How the Collective Bargaining Agreement Binds the New York Knicks

Source: Bleacher Report

This offseason, the Knicks will have some tough decisions to make. The team, as currently constructed, does not appear to have the firepower to get past the elite teams in the East. Jeremy Lin has become a solid player and an amazing marketing tool for the Knicks, but re-signing him could be a challenge.

When the Knicks claimed Lin off waivers, they lost the ability to hold his bird rights. Bird rights are the ability to go over the salary cap to sign a player. This means that the Knicks will have to use their mid-level exception to sign Lin, which they are likely to do.

The problem that this creates is that the Knicks currently have over $59 million in committed salaries for next season with only seven players under contract. J.R. Smith is likely to decline his player option and either test free agency or restructure his deal.

The Knicks own the early bird rights to Landry Fields which means that they can pay him roughly $5 million (the average player salary) or 175 percent of his previous salary. His market value is higher than the 175 percent, so it is likely that he’ll get a deal closer to the $5 million figure.

Steve Novak will likely want more than the $990,000 he earned this season. A good barometer on his value would be that sharpshooting big man Matt Bonner makes over $3 million a year in San Antonio.

With an estimated salary cap around $58 million, the Knicks' hands are tied with the money that they can spend. Giving the mid-level exception to Lin would bring them to nearly $65 million in salaries, and bringing back J.R. Smith and Novak would likely bring the team into the luxury tax threshold (set at approximately $70 million).

Where this gets even trickier is that the mid-level exception is a contract that increases each year, approaching $8 million down the road. The Knicks already have $61.5 million in committed salaries for the 2014-2015 season with only four players under contract (Carmelo, Amare, Chandler, Shumpert). At that point, Chandler and Amare will both be into their early 30s. Is it worth committing nearly $70 million in salaries to Lin, Carmelo, Amare, Chandler and Shumpert?

While it is a solid lineup and the team will remain a contender in the East, New York would lack any cap flexibility. If the Knicks retain these players and start to pay the luxury tax, any player they add from there on out will have to be looked at with a salary multiplier because they’ll have to pay salary plus luxury tax on that player.

The Knicks chose to amnesty Chauncey Billups last season, but one has to wonder if it wouldn’t have been a better idea to amnesty Amare, let Billups’ contract expire and build around Carmelo and Chandler during the 2012 offseason.

The current team does not appear to have the firepower to compete with the powers in the East, so it will be interesting to see what GM Glen Grunwald decides to do with the direction of this team.

Read more New York Knicks news on BleacherReport.com

Jeremy Lin: Upstart Must Take Less Money to Help New York Knicks

Source: Bleacher Report

Jeremy Lin holds the fate of the New York Knicks in his hands.

No, I'm not talking about on the court. I'm talking about off it.

You see, Lin is a restricted free agent this offseason, as every Knicks fan knows and dreads. That means that if another team gives Lin a lucrative offer, the Knicks have to match it or risk losing their up-and-coming point guard.

No big deal, right? You give Lin what he wants because he averaged 18.2 points, 7.7 assists and two steals in 25 starts this season. You don't squabble over a couple million dollars.

Unfortunately for the Knicks, it's much more complicated than that.

The problem is, given the current cap structure, the Knicks need to sign Lin for $3 million or less if they want to make other moves this offseason, as New York Magazine points out. If Lin demands more than that (say, $5 million), the Knicks will be stuck with a hard cap, meaning they will only have $3 million more to spend on other players. That could potentially see Steve Novak, J.R. Smith and even Landry Fields gone by next season.

Of course, you can't exactly say Lin is being selfish if he asks for a bigger deal. He's been toiling in and out of the league for years, and this is his opportunity to make more than the league minimum. He honestly deserves more than $3 million, even if you just base it on those 25 starts where he single-handedly lifted the Knicks back into playoff contention.

It sets up a very unsettling situation for the Knicks this offseason. After Amar'e Stoudemire's blow-up in the playoffs and the Knicks' indecorous exit, this is the last thing they needed.

The Knicks are in search of stability. The ironic thing is, the man who provided stability during the regular season may be a factor in the Knicks crumbling even more this summer.

 

Follow me on Twitter. We can talk about the NBA together.

Read more New York Knicks news on BleacherReport.com

Kyrie Irving Wins NBA’s Top Rookie Honor, Praises Cleveland Cavaliers: Fan Take (Yahoo! Contributor Network)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

It is hard to deny that rookie point guard Kyrie Irving made a huge difference for the Cleveland Cavaliers this past season. Ever since LeBron James left town for a warmer climate and what he deemed to be a better chance at an NBA Championship, Cavaliers' fans had been looking for a reason to stay positive. When Cleveland won the 2011 NBA Draft Lottery and the rights to draft Irving, the future looked bright again for a once strong franchise that had the rug pulled out from under them.

Former Knick Ramsey honored by CCNY

Source: NY Daily News

The day after President Kennedy was assassinated, Cal Ramsey was running a fastbreak in the old Eastern League when he was accidentally tripped by the former CCNY star, Ed Warner. On the play, Ramsey blew out his right knee and had to say goodbye to his career as a basketball player.

Cavs hoping to host future NBA All-Star game (The Associated Press)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

CLEVELAND (AP) With his downtown casino open, Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert wants to get the NBA's high rollers into town.

Coach Rick Carlisle agrees to new deal with Mavs (The Associated Press)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

DALLAS (AP) The coach who led the Dallas Mavericks to their only NBA championship is staying put.

Open Playoff Thread: 5/15/12

Source: Posting and Toasting by Seth

Happy Quince de Mayo, children! Welcome to another night of non-Knicks playoff basketball here at Posting and Toasting, a members-only web forum for Knicks fans and reptiles. There are two lovely games for us to watch tonight. Here they are, along with the blogs at which you'll find the most writing about them:

7:00: TNT: Indiana Pacers (Indy Cornrows) vs. Miami Heat (Peninsula Is Mightier)-- Game Two (Heat lead

The last "Knicks Power Rankings" of the year.

Source: Posting and Toasting by Seth

The last "Knicks Power Rankings" of the year.

"The Yearbook".

Lakers Lay Egg, Nest on Fire: A Fan Perspective (Yahoo! Contributor Network)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

You never really know what magic Kobe Bryant is preparing on any given day during the playoffs. Clearly, none of it was on display last night in their first second-round playoff game against the Oklahoma City Thunder (May 14). As you're reading, the Thunder just scored again.

CBA Information Seminar

Source: The Knicks Blog by Tommy Dee

Thankfully, there are a lot of great minds on the internet that deal with basketball who have distinct legal backgrounds besides TKBtv’s own Andrew Smith and Moke Hamilton. There have been a lot of back and forth in the Knicks internet world since the story came out yesterday from the NY Times. 

Jon from Knicksfanblog, who, along with Dan, provide critical Knicks information and option often seen here, broke things down incredibly even so much as including players’ that could be available if the mediator rules in favor of the Knicks, I mean the union.

Our friend Mike at Knicks Bricks has his legal interpretation on what it all means and what to expect. It makes a ton of sense from me, who got his legal training from Night Court, Matlock and, of course, Law and Order.  I’m no expert as I chose to journalism and new media as my area of post graduate studies.

Law school was way too expensive and already had one in the family.

Thanks for your expertise and for the knowledge fellas.

New York Knicks: Why J.R. Smith Will Not Be with the Knicks Next Season

Source: Bleacher Report

The New York Knicks might find their bench a little shorter next season if J.R. Smith doesn't return to the team for the 2012-13 season. That is certainly a real possibility.

According to Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com, Smith is being pulled in two different directions for next season with one having a major edge over the other.

A source told ESPN New York that Smith's father, Earl, is going to make a strong case for his son to stay in New York, but "it's very clear that the money is the biggest factor with him."

In fact, when Smith chose the Knicks over the Clippers in mid-February after coming back from China, a source said the Knicks' higher offer ($2.443 million to the Clippers' $1.4 million veteran's minimum) was the deciding factor because he was financially broke. Therefore, Smith will likely opt out and ask for the 20 percent raise. At that point, the ball will be in the Knicks' court to re-sign Smith, who's already said publicly that he wants to return next season.

So who else is shocked that Smith didn't choose the Knicks because he loved the team or New York?

He stood to make more with the Knicks and promptly took it. If he is truly broke, I don't think there's going to be any hometown discounts.

Smith was a solid scoring option off the bench, but he proved to be streaky. To say the least, it was frustrating to watch him as a Knicks fan when he couldn't buy a bucket during some games.

That's not to mention the amount of turnovers Smith had with his poor dribbling and even worse passing.

Despite all that, he would be a player the Knicks have to replace because he did contribute a good amount off the bench with 12.5 points per game in 35 games.

Would a potential 20 percent pay-raise be enough to satisfy Smith?

Not if he could make double the money, say $5 million for next season from a team with money to spend. And there are teams that will have money to spend with few big names on the market.

Be surprised if you see Smith in a Knicks uniform next year.

Read more New York Knicks news on BleacherReport.com

Mavericks, Carlisle agree on new contract (The Associated Press)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

DALLAS (AP) The coach who led the Dallas Mavericks to their only NBA championship is staying put.

NBA Flopping Issue: Imaginary Solutions to a Very Real Problem

Source: Bleacher Report

LeBron James had just been shot. Recoiling in agony, his arms flying into the stadium-lit night air, he was assassinated in front of a crowd of 20,000 people. I immediately began looking for a grassy knoll, eyes bulgingly scanning the crowd for the shooter, and somewhere members of LeBron's crew probably leapt off their gold-plated chairs screaming into their Bluetooth headsets, "We've got a shooter!!!!"

He fell to the ground, tattooed arms instinctively reaching for his undoubtedly gaping exit wound.  Madison Square Garden had just become a gigantic crime scene; a nightmarish scene with thousands of eye witnesses to a brutal, brutal murder. Nicolas Cage himself may have been the only one who could solve a diabolical murder plot at such a gigantic sporting event.

Then, a miracle! LeBron was alive. The Chosen One (Author's note: which he has tattooed across his bulging back, in case anyone was going to forget) decided, in that moment, to show us just how chosen he really was. Like a majestic, 27 points per game-averaging Phoenix, he rose from the ashes of certain doom.

He was going to try to walk it off.

Grimacing so mightily he chewed through his mouthguard like it was a soggy slice of a peach, he stood. The crowd held their breath wondering silently, "Was LeBron about to go all Teddy Roosevelt in this piece?"

He took a few steps, wincing visibly. I was certain that his spinal cord had exploded into runny pudding, you know, like the kind that's been sitting on a buffet line for four hours. I feel certain that I can speak for the entire nation when I say that tears welled up in our eyes as we watched this leviathan courageously attempt to fight through his traumatic injury.

He took a few steps then grabbed wildly at his neck. I felt certain that he was simply holding his now-decapitated head on with his bare hands and, at any moment, it would come tumbling off like he'd just been guillotined in the French Revolution.

Or at least this is what LeBron James wanted us to believe.

It's this moving depiction of an injured player trying to fight through the pain—a shtick that's so laughably overdone that it's burned to a crisp—as presented by one of the NBA's great new talents in the acting department that has fired up and pissed off so many NBA fans. 

An operatically dramatic one-man show, LeBron's antics against the New York Knicks, while they happened a while ago, have stuck with me since. Not merely because it was LeBron James, the guy who, fairly or unfairly, often times finds the entirety of his 6'8" frame crammed under a microscope for scientifically thorough examinations but because flopping has become an increasingly problematic part of today's game.

Moments after the aforementioned charade was done playing out, and it's air-time was roughly the length of Titanic, LeBron was completely fine. He stepped to the line and calmly nailed two free throws.

Occasionally, he'd remember to grimace on a trip down the court, but for the most part he was back to doing what he does best, filleting defenses with his insane strength and world-class athleticism.

Here's a video of a few of his transgressions from the same game that had me more wound up than usual. In real-time? It looks like a fairly hard hit.

It was definitely a foul. But watch when it slows down and we get a frame-by-frame analysis.

LeBron weighs as much as a defensive end in the NFL, so he should be able to absorb a hard-pick without crumpling to the floor like a too-drunk bachelorette at her own party. Also, he weighs more than Tyson Chandler.

That the NBA has a problem with flopping isn't exactly big news.

People know about it. Players have reputations that can become inexorably linked to their on-court softness. It isn't just the European players, with their alleged soccer-influenced ideas on contact, and it isn't just futbol that needs to be ridiculed for its Lifetime Movie Network acting jobs.

Blake Griffin does it. LeBron does it, too. Two of the biggest stars in today's game are drawing heat from around the league

Frank Vogel, the head coach of the Indiana Pacers, got fined $15,000 for criticizing the refs for the bad job in fairly calling fouls on James. Not even Phil Jackson, with the legendary penchant for racking up five-digit fines, got fined for looking into a crystal ball and bombing on the refs before the game.

That's how concerned Vogel was about the calls.

So then what? Do we just grit our teeth, LBJ-in-faux-agony style and hope that the refs figure it out?  David Stern has gone on record about his disdain for the flopping but has claimed to have his hands tied.

After mulling the problem, and potential solutions, here are a few ideas that I was able to come up with.

1.  A Committee of 5 Flopping Judges Must Be Formed

The committee's five-member panel should have: 

• Two ex-players, guys that know just how detrimental and inexcusable a bad flop is from first-hand experience.
• A former coach from the league or the collegiate ranks,
• A fan who is appointed by the owners from a selection pool chosen by online voting (campaigning is encouraged, i.e. "I'm the candidate that's tough on flops!")
• A hyper-judgmental tweenage girl, brainwashed from a young age to hate flopping, who will heap an inordinate amount of scorn and eye-rolling at any player she believes she is tougher than.
• An old man who firmly believes that basketball should be more like it was when they played the games in cages and somehow, through a geographical oddity, did in fact have to walk uphill both ways to school.

These judges would have gametape sent to them to analyze and decide which infractions violated the newly constructed flopping legislation. They will decide what types of punishment to dole out.

Here are a few ideas.

2.  Punishment, First-Time Offenders

• Written warning
• Verbal abuse
• A literal slap on the wrist

3.  Punishment, Second-Time Offenders

• Flopper must publish and leave up for no less than three days a grouping of 60 straight tweets stating, "I will not flop."  The 2012 version of writing on the chalkboard after class.
• Flopper must pay for a two-minute Public Service Announcement that airs during the NBA Finals that features slow-motion, high-def replay of their flop and Charles Barkley ridiculing them the entire time.
• Flopper draws a random season ticket holder's seat number from a hat and then must carry that person on their back for a TNT-televised suicide windsprint.

4.  Punishment, Third-Time Offenders

• Flopper must do a live, pregame rendition of a James Blunt song to show the crowd how in-touch with his sensitive side he is.
• Suspension (I seriously think they should do this.)
• Fines
• Flopper will be walked out, hand held, during 10 pregame introductions by his Mommy and will then be introduced as such: "And now, starting as Joakim Noah's Hairdresser, he is a worse actor than the cast of the remake of Beverly Hills 90210 and the only one who "fakes it" worse than he does on the court is his wife in the bedroom. . ."

Read more New York Knicks news on BleacherReport.com

2012 Olympics: Looking at New York Knicks who will Represent Team USA

Source: Buckets Over Broadway by Greg Kaplan

Chandler and Carmelo are likely pieces to the 2012 Olympic puzzle. Anybody else joining them?

visit site to read more]

2012 Olympics: Looking at New York Knicks who will Represent Team USA - Buckets Over Broadway - Buckets Over Broadway - A New York Knicks Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and More

Phil Jackson: Should New York Knicks Call if Legendary Coach Wants to Return?

Source: Buckets Over Broadway by Matt Shetler

CBS Sports’ Ken Berger wrote an interesting column about legendary coach Phil Jackson on Monday.

To sum up Berger’s column, … [visit site to read more]

Phil Jackson: Should New York Knicks Call if Legendary Coach Wants to Return? - Buckets Over Broadway - Buckets Over Broadway - A New York Knicks Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and More

Quiet Spurs Too Challenging for Clippers: A Fan’s Perspective (Yahoo! Contributor Network)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

For most of the year, the San Antonio Spurs have flown gloriously under the radar, despite a phenomenal record and a first place finish in the difficult Western Conference.

Cavs guard Irving earns rookie honor (AFP)

Source: Yahoo! Sports

Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving, the top overall selection in last year's NBA draft, was named the league's Rookie of the Year on Tuesday.