 During the 2012 offseason , the Knicks encouraged Lin to seek other offers , but he and the press expected that the team would re @-@ sign him given its need for a young guard , his good play , and worldwide popularity ; ESPN reported that the Knicks would match any other offer " up to $ 1 billion " . The Rockets offered a $ 28 @.@ 8 million contract over four years with the fourth year of that deal being at the team 's option , which put the true commitment at $ 19 @.@ 5 million . Woodson said the Knicks would match Houston 's offer and that Lin would be his starting point guard . The Rockets then offered a revised three @-@ year , $ 25 million deal , which Anthony called " ridiculous " . The Knicks did not match the deal , and Lin deduced the team 's decision when they signed Raymond Felton instead . The first two years of Houston 's offer paid $ 5 million and $ 5 @.@ 225 million , respectively , followed by $ 14 @.@ 8 million in the third year . The higher salary in the final year , known as a " poison pill " , was intended to discourage New York from matching the offer . Including luxury tax , the Knicks ' cost for Lin in 2014 – 15 was estimated at $ 43 million . Their failure to match the offer surprised observers , given the team 's history of high payrolls ; Lin would only have been the fourth @-@ highest @-@ paid <unk> . 
