Andrew Theodorakis/New York Daily News
The Knicks will have three days to match Jeremy Lin's new deal from the time they receive the contract from the Rockets.
Jeremy Lin managed to turn 25 career starts into a $25 million contract and now it's up to James Dolan to decide if the undrafted Harvard point guard is worth it.
Lin officially signed his offer sheet with the Houston Rockets on Friday and the deal is more lucrative than originally believed. Lin will earn $25.1 million over three years including $14.9 million in the final year.
Houston backloaded the deal to make it harder for the Knicks to match, which the club is expected to do. Assuming Lin returns, the Knicks will have $75 million invested in four players - Carmelo Anthony, Amar'e Stoudemire, Tyson Chandler and Lin -- in 2014-15.
The Knicks will have three days to match the deal from the time they receive the contract from the Rockets, which could happen as early as Saturday.
The first offer Lin received from Houston last week was $28.8 million over four years. However, the fourth year of the original offer was a team option at $9.3 million.
The Knicks have made it clear that they intend to keep Lin but it is unclear if Friday's stunning development will alter their thinking. The Knicks signed 39 year old Jason Kidd and would need to add a point guard if they take a pass on Lin.
Ultimately, that decision will be made by Dolan, the Chairman of Madison Square Garden, who has never been intimidated from having to pay luxury tax.
Lin's world wide popularity is worth its weight in gold and the Knicks have already capitalized in terms of marketing and sponsorships. As far as basketball, Lin hasn't played since having knee surgery in the first week of April.
Also, Lin flourished in Mike D'Antoni's point guard friendly offense and became less of a factor once new coach Mike Woodson began running the offense through Anthony. Woodson has already said Lin will start ahead of Kidd but Kidd could be the point guard who finishes games.
If the Knicks don't match Lin they won't have much money to offer other free agent point guards.
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