The Houston Rockets decided to trade Jeremy Lin to the Los Angeles Lakers in a salary-dump move last summer. Still, it doesn't mean they already closed their door on reuniting with once Asian-American phenom in the future.
In his column on Wednesday, Howard Beck of Bleacher Reports stressed the Rockets shouldn't be counted out as potential suitors for Lin when he becomes an unrestricted free-agent this July.
Lin, who is earning the highest paycheck of his career at $15MM (the final year of the three-year, $25M contract he signed with the Rockets in 2012, is in the midst of his worst statistical season since his first one-and-half year in the league.
Averaging 10.2 points and 4.6 assists in 25 minutes per game, Lin hasn't played significant playing minutes since he lost his starting job to backup Ronnie Price 20 games into his Lakers career.
Lakers head coach Byron Scott's Princeton-based offense hasn't been a great fit for Lin, who thrived in a free-flowing run-and-gun system he used to run with the Rockets the last two seasons.
According to Beck, the Rockets valued Lin highly but had to dump his salary in order for them to make a serious run for the free-agent forward Chris Bosh. Nevertheless, Houston remains one of the teams to watch out as potential free-agency destination for the former Harvard hot shot.
Howard Beck of Bleacher Report:
"Though he eventually lost his starting job to defensive ace Patrick Beverley, Lin remained a major part of the rotation, a valued player on a rising power.
But the Rockets needed salary-cap room last July to make a frenzied, all-out bid for Chris Bosh. So they offloaded Lin's hefty contract, along with a first-round pick, to the Lakers. It was purely a bookkeeping move. The Rockets remain high on Lin and are expected to be among his chief suitors this summer."
The 26-year old Lin is averaging 11.5 points and 4.8 assists in his career. Aside from the Rockets, the Golden State Warriors and the Denver Nuggets - which is rumored as possible destination for his former New York Knicks head coach Mike D'Antoni - are other suitors for Lin next summer.
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