Yes, surprisingly they own the pick.
Let's say the Knicks call and make an offer for Rondo...If we asked for their 2015 pick (the next draft) that appears that it will be a top 5-6 pick, would they pull the trigger for his bird rights?
Or if Rondo decided he wanted to go to NYC, but only for a max deal- would the Knicks be desperate enough to give that lottery pick up to us?
I mean they need someone now, and the free agent market for big name, melo - compatible guards will be thin this offseason.
I'm in favor of keeping Rondo but if he walks to NYC would Phil and Dolan pull the trigger?
If the Knicks are willing to offer more than us, ie they'll give him a max deal, and Ainge won't give him a max deal (which I'm not completely convinced he will), then the Knicks need his Bird rights to give him that money.
The asset they have is their own pick this year, Larkin and Giannis' younger brother.
The triangle is a query, but this question assumes that;
-the Knicks and Melo want him.
-Rondo wants max money and the Knicks want to give him max money.
-Danny won't give him max money (he's not worth max as a player to me, but they may give it to him because of his marketing/star power.) Ie Danny offers 15 million x 5 years and the Knicks will offer the max of...
2015-16: $18.68 million
2016-17: $20.081 million
2017-18: $21.48 million
2018-19: $22.88 million
2019-20: $24.28 million
Thoughts?