The trade chatter on Jeremy Lin hasn't stopped heading into the third week of free-agency. Surprisingly, Lin is still with the Houston Rockets despite all the trade rumors surfacing almost every minute. But where will J-Lin eventually end up now that the Philadelphia 76ers are distancing from the trade talk.
Lin's next destination continues to intrigue basketball fans and pundits, as the Rockets wait for the right time to pull off the deal that would get the player's $15 million paycheck ($8 million against the cap room) off the books.
After failing to make an impression on Carmelo Anthony, the Rockets shifted their focus on signing free-agent power forward Chris Bosh.
The Miami Heat big man is reportedly demanding a contract worth $88 million over four years. The Rockets and Bosh have principally agreed to finalize the pact, only if LeBron James decides to leave the Heat and play elsewhere.
With Chandler Parsons signing a three-year $45 million offer sheet with the Mavs, the Rockets suddenly found themselves in much deeper hole. The Rockets have the bird rights to match any offer for Parsons (restricted free-agent), but keeping the young small forward would cost them the chance to sign Bosh.
Meanwhile, the Sixers might have re-evaluated their stance on the proposed trade for Lin. Sam Hinkie, who is notoriously known for hoarding draft picks, is now demanding the Rockets to include a first-rounder in the deal placed for Lin.
Via Dei Lynam at CSN Philly:
"However, an NBA source said the Sixers "remain an option [for Houston], but their cap space may prove too expensive." The source also said they believe the Rockets have other options when it comes to moving Lin..."
"We are active in conversations with a lot of teams and a lot of agents," (Sixers GM Sam) Hinkie said. "Sometimes that leads to transactions and sometimes it doesn't. It will be interesting to see how the next few days play out."
Lin To The Heat
Though the Bucks remain another viable destination for Lin, the Rockets could still absorb Bosh's huge contract via sign-and-trade deal. There's no questioning the Heat is trying to put up a decent team incase James and Bosh decide to join another team, and Lin might be a perfect starting piece for a rebuilding Heat.
The Rockets can send Lin, third-year power forward Terrence Jones and some draft picks to the Heat in exchange for Bosh, who could win more championships alongside Dwight Howard and James Harden.
As for Lin, playing for the Heat might be a bad idea at all because he's sure going to have significant playing time under head coach Erik Spoelstra.
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