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Ananth Pandian of CBS Sports has compiled a list of the biggest bargains in this summer's free agency and at the top of the list are the Nets and Jeremy Lin. At three years and $36 million, the contract is steal, writes Pandian. Lin, he believes, is underpaid.
1. Jeremy Lin, Brooklyn Nets: Seeking a starting role and wanting to reunite with coach Kenny Atkinson, Jeremy Lin chose to sign with the Nets, despite being recruited by a number of other teams. Lin also likely could've gotten more money yet he agreed to a three-year, $36 million contract with the Nets. This is less than what the Bucks paid Matthew Dellavedova, who will continue to be a backup in Milwaukee.
Brooklyn also gets tremendous value from Lin, both from a basketball standpoint and a marketing one. Lin's popularity internationally and in the U.S. allows the Nets to instantly make him the public face of the franchise and guarantees them a huge windfall with merchandizing.
Lin's deal does contain a player option in year three. He will make $11.5 million this season, $12.0 in the second year and if doesn't opt out, $12.5 million in the third year. Considering that the other top point guards got -- Mike Conley, $153 million over five (the largest NBA contract ever) and Rajon Rondo, $28 million over two -- the Nets did well ... and did it early, on the first day of free agency.
Others on Pandian's list include Festus Ezeli of the Warriors; Mirza Teletovic of the Bucks, Brandon Jennings of the Knicks and Jared Sullinger of the Raptors.