First candidate to escape? Restricted free agent Landry Fields, a second-round steal in the 2010 draft. The 23-year-old guard is still considered a big part of the team's plans despite his decline this season. But after speaking with interested parties and CBA expert Larry Coon, it seems clear that Fields could be a goner.
If the Knicks use the non-taxpayer mid-level exception on Lin, they wouldn't be allowed to go over what's called the "apron," or $4 million above the luxury-tax threshold, which is an estimated $74 million in payroll. A mid-level deal for Lin would bring New York's 2012-13 payroll to more than $64 million for only seven players (one of whom, forward Renaldo Balkman, is no longer with the team but is owed $1.675 million next season). Even if an eighth player, shooting guard J.R. Smith, opts out of his $2.5 million contract for next season, as has been widely expected, the Knicks would still be left with little money to spend on Fields and the rest of the team before hitting $74 million.
So even though the Arenas rule and matching rights come into play with Fields like they do with Lin, Fields would be exposed in this scenario because the Knicks couldn't exceed $74 million under any circumstances. And if another team targets Fields in free agency (perhaps with a deal of his own for around $5 million annually), the Knicks would have a tough decision to make about whether to match.
Another challenge will be re-signing unrestricted free agent Steve Novak, the 28-year-old forward who averaged a career-high 8.8 points and led the NBA in three-point shooting at 47.2 percent. Novak will be looking for a raise from his veteran's minimum of $854,389 this season.
