Jeremy Lin (Photo : NBAE via Getty Images)
Any NBA team who could sign the likes of Jeremy Lin and Jordan Clarkson this summer would get to have decent talents on cheap prices.
Basketball Insiders reporter Eric Saar has listed point guards Lin and Clarkson as among the underrated players heading into the market this summer. Both players displayed immense potential and established a role in their respective teams, but with free agency set to hit in July, NBA rivals are expected to pursue Lin and Clarkson.
Lin has a player option in his two-year $4.3 million contract signed last year to stay with the Charlotte Hornets next season. But with several teams having the money to spend big in the offseason, Lin is expected to opt out of his contract for more lucrative deals.
However, there is a chance Lin could stay in Charlotte, where he seems to have found a home after bouncing from one team to another in the past six years. Lin admitted his stint with the Hornets was the most fun he has had in his entire NBA career, helping the team to reach the playoffs.
"I would love to," Lin said, reports the Charlotte Observer. "I don't like moving every year, I don't like packing and unpacking boxes. So we'll see. But I'm definitely interested in coming back."
Lin remains unlikely for a starting gig, but his average of 11.7 points per game on 41.2 percent shooting this season, suggests the 27-year-old point guard is ready for a bigger role. With Courtney Lee and Nicolas Batum also hitting free agency, there is a chance Lin could earn a starting role with the Hornets if he stays with the team.
Meanwhile, Clarkson could also be a steal in this year's free agency after another remarkable season in terms of individual success. The Lakers' dismal campaign may have helped a bit in Clarkson's emergence as one of the most underrated free agents to hit the market, averaging 15.5 points per game on 43.3 shooting from the field.
The 23-year-old Clarkson still has plenty of room for improvement as he only has two-year of NBA experience in his belt. But there is no denying his talents and ability to flourish on a starting job with due to his skillset and athleticism on both ends of the floor.
Unlike Lin, Clarkson heads into free agency as a restricted free agent, and with the Lakers having plenty of salary cap space for this summer, it is likely the team retains the incoming third year point guard for next season.
"I feel confident I'll be back here. I want to be here," Clarkson said, reports the Los Angeles Daily News. "I want to be one of those guys that is not bouncing around from team to team. I want to be somewhere where I can come home and leave my mark or legacy or somewhere I can call home. I feel like this is the place I can do that."
