Knicks await arbitration decision determining Jeremy Lin’s Early Bird rights

Point guard Jeremy Lin is expected to be re-signed by the New York Knicks this summer since he is a restricted free agent and the Knicks have the right to match any offer but Lin’s agent isn’t so sure his client will be wearing a Knicks’ uniform next season.

A clause in the 2005 Collective Bargaining Agreement called the Gilbert Arenas provision limits what teams can offer a restricted free agent who has only been in the league one or two years.

Amnesty Clause May Fuel Huge NBA Free Agency

There may be a lot of players to be had on the cheap during the NBA free agency period as some teams are expected to clear cap room by invoking the new CBA’s amnesty clause. This would allow each team to remove one burdensome contract from their salary cap and allows teams with cap room to bid on that player.