Disappointed by the way his Lakers' tenure has turned out, the 26-year old Jeremy Lin is expected to bolt from Los Angeles in the offseason and signing with a team that would give him a shot at reviving his floundering career.
Former New York Times NBA writer Howard Beck recently published a feature article on Bleacher Report, detailing Lin's up-and-down year with the purple-and-gold and his future in the league.
According to the analyst, the drastic decline of Lin's production season (averaging 10.4 points on 43 percent shooting) will surely have an adverse effect on his free-agency stock this summer. However, Beck believes the former Harvard standout will eventually land a new contract elsewhere, although he would prefer playing for a team running a system that maximizes his strength.
"In July, Lin will have choices to make and an opportunity to start the debate all over again. He would surely benefit from a more supportive coach and perhaps a system more attuned to his skills. He has always been best as a primary ball-handler in an uptempo, pick-and-roll attack, the kind that Mike D'Antoni popularized."
The Golden State Warriors and the Philadelphia 76ers, teams that run free-flowing run-and-gun offense, are mentioned as potential suitors for the Asian-American star, but Beck also likes the Rockets' chance to reunite with Lin a year after trading him to the Lakers in a salary-dump move last offseason.
"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."
Lin averaged at least 13 points and 5 assists in two seasons with the Rockets, and had a bunch of 20-point performances (24 games to be exact) despite losing his starting job to Patrick Beverley. Lin himself acknowledged that he fits well with the Rockets' offensive scheme because it's predicated more on fast-break and pick-and-roll plays.
Still, whether their intention to bring back Lin is true, the Rockets might come as a second option for Lin, especially if Mike D'Antoni lands a coaching job in the offseason.
D'Antoni, who coached the Lakers in tumultuous two seasons, is rumored as a top candidate for the Denver Nuggets' post if they decide to fire the underperforming Brian Shaw at the end of the season (via NBC Sports). Lin always has high respect for his former Knickerbockers head coach, whom he called an offensive genius.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
