Jeremy Lin, Landry Fields set to be restricted free agents
Jeremy Lin of the Knicks in action against the Los Angeles Lakers. (Feb. 10, 2012) Credit: Jim McIsaac
The Knicks extended qualifying offers to Jeremy Lin and Landry Fields yesterday, which will make them restricted free agents Sunday.
The Knicks are expected to match all offers for Lin.
On the open market, Lin can’t earn more than the average salary, which is roughly $5.2 million. The Knicks can pay him up to about $5.5 million if the union wins the NBA’s appeal of the “early-Bird” rights case that arbitrator Kenneth Dam ruled in favor of the players last week.
If Dam’s ruling is overturned, the Knicks may have to use their $5 million midlevel exception to retain Lin.
Knicks coach Mike Woodson said “absolutely” when asked on Monday if he’s confident Lin would be on the team next season. Woodson had just returned from a California trip where he met and spent time with Lin, Carmelo Anthony, Tyson Chandler and Fields.
Woodson has said he wants to keep Fields also. But he will come at a far lower price than what Lin is expected to get.
