Jeremy Lin #7 of the Charlotte Hornets drives on Goran Dragic #7 of the Miami Heat (Photo : Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Jeremy Lin will become an free agent in July, which means he can sign with any team interested in his service. While the NBA free agency period is still more than two weeks away, the former Harvard University star talked about the factors he will consider when he makes his decision this summer.
Lin was supposed to earn $2.24 million next season but he opted out of his contract with the Charlotte Hornets. The 27-year-old is being linked to several teams, including the Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks and the Houston Rockets. Previous NBA free agency rumors also indicated Lin could still reach a new deal with Charlotte.
When asked about his impending free agency, Taipei Times revealed Lin told reporters in Taiwan he will sign with a team, where he will continue to enjoy playing basketball. The California native said last season was the happiest year of his six-year career in the NBA.
"To me, the most important thing as a free agent is that I am happy when I play basketball or show up for work," Lin said. "I was happy last year, but I was not particularly happy for the first five years."
Lin sounded like he is bent on negotiating a new contract with the Hornets. He told Charlotte Observer in May that he enjoyed playing with his Hornets teammates and developed a strong relationship with Charlotte coach Steve Clifford. The veteran playmaker said that Clifford was very honest to him since his first day with the team.
While it appears the Hornets have the inside track in the race to sign Lin, a split between the two parties is not out of the picture. The sixth-year point guard said that he prefers to start next season and play heavy minutes for a team that has a strong chance to win a title.
"I am going to consider who is coaching the team, the team's style, the players on the team and their chance of winning, as well as the on-court time I have and if I have a chance to start," Lin continued.
Lin averaged 26.3 minutes per game last season but found himself backing up starting point guard Kemba Walker. He only started in 13 of his 78 regular-season games this year, which could hurt Charlotte's chances of keeping Lin in North Carolina if they will not promise a starting role to Linsanity.
Get a quick look at one of Lin's best games in a Hornets uniform in the video below.
