http://espn.go.com/new-york/nba/story/_/id/8121358/backloaded-offer-jeremy-lin-give-new-york-knicks-pause-re-sign-sources-say

While both Lin and the Knicks are hoping for a reunion, sources say that if any clubs offer Lin, a restricted free agent, a backloaded contract that pays him an eight-figure salary in the third and fourth years, the Knicks could be given pause about matching the offer.

Toronto is perhaps the only team that might consider offering Lin a backloaded contract, known as a "poison pill" deal.

The Knicks can offer Lin a four-year deal worth $24.5 million. But an opposing team can offer Lin a poison pill that could go as high as $40 million over four years. Such a contract would pay Lin $5 million in each of the first two years and then go as high as $15 million in each of the last two years.

All speculative of course, but if Toronto doesn't sign Nash it just makes sense that they would get Lin, not just for his potential but for marketing purposes too. I believe Toronto has a sizeable asian population.

And they would be vindictive enough to stick it to the Knicks if they lose out Nash to them.

Giving Lin that much money seems crazy but with guys like Hibbert and Asik getting huge deals it wouldn't be that surprising. Free agency always seems to throw out reason and common sense and players always seem to have the advantage.

Also correct me if I'm wrong but isn't this all made possible by Jeremy being granted his Bird rights? So if this ruling hadn't come all teams would be restricted to offering Lin the midlevel exception at most?

So if that's true then it turns out that Bird ruling was a curse in disguise.