In Billy Hunter the Knicks trust.
The Knicks’ chances of having a July 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 claimed on waivers.
Late Tuesday night, Hunter, the union’s executive director, tossed his grenade, saying in a statement:
“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. According to sources, the union will hone in on the spirit of the word “trade.’’ The union will argue that in Lin’s and Novak’s cases, they had no say in their destination, that by being waived and claimed, they essentially had their contracts “traded.’’
If Lin and Novak have their Bird rights restored, Knicks general manager Glen Grunwald will be happier than a clam. It would enable the Knicks to re-sign both players without using their $5 million mid-level exception. If that exception is preserved, the Knicks can then sign another quality point guard, maybe even Nash.
Other solid point guards on the market — Jason Kidd, Andre Miller, Jameer Nelson, Ramon Sessions, Louis Williams, Raymond Felton and Leandro Barbosa — would suddenly be in play.
The union said last night it asked for arbitration to “affirm the well-established proposition that whenever a player and his contract move from one team to another as a rule of an agreement between two teams, or through a waiver claim, the Bird rights of those players are preserved.’’
The NBA, however, has a very narrow view on players keeping their Bird rights. One conspiracy theory is the NBA doesn’t argue this tooth and nail because a union victory will mean a giant victory for the Knicks.
NBA spokesman Mike Bass said Tuesday, “We’re confident that our interpretation in the CBA is correct.’The case will be heard likely in mid June.“By letter of law, it’s a very difficult case,’’ one NBA GM said.
Even if J.R. Smith opts out of the final year of his contract by the June 26 deadline, it is hardly a fait accompli he leaves the Knicks. In fact, the Knicks appear in OK position to retain their top reserve because of a wrinkle in the CBA.
Because he signed for the new mini-mid-level exception, the Knicks can re-sign him for a 20 percent raise of this season’s $2.4 million salary. Unlike Novak/Lin currently, the Knicks never would have to use part of their $5 million mid-level exception.
With the middle-class salaries suppressed in the new CBA, it would be surprising for another team to blow out of the water the Knicks’ offer for a backup shooting guard with a checkered past. If Smith can get assurance the Knicks will give him the 20 percent bump, Smith, a Freehold, N.J., native, would have nothing to lose by opting out. Smith has stated his desire to stay home and tweeted yesterday he wants to build his dream home in Jersey.
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Amar’e Stoudemire apparently is not looking to go to firemen’s school this offseason. Instead, he tweeted he has enrolled at the University of Miami to take a couple of courses.