Jeremy Lin (Photo : Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
Jeremy Lin opted out of his contract with the Charlotte Hornets for next season, making him an unrestricted free agent effective July 1.
The move of Jeremy Lin was something many had expected, a similar road that other players with options will be taking. With team salary caps rising for next season, the obvious intent on the part of the 28-year-old guard is to test the waters for higher pay.
The player option was part of the original $4.3 million pact that Jeremy Lin had signed last year. Lin was able to recover his bearings following forgettable years with the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers, taking on a bench role that turned out to be beneficial.
Lin became a key contributor to the case of coach Steve Clifford, coming off the bench while making key contributions. Through the 2015-16 NBA season, the former Harvard University standout was bumped up to the starting roster due to injuries to key players.
Either way, Lin showed what he could do under Clifford’s system and flourished. Fact of the matter is that Lin was one of the main reasons for the Hornets success which saw the squad go as far as the NBA playoffs.
After proving that he still had the jets to play in the NBA, Jeremy Lin got linked to several teams. Among the teams mentioned included the Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets and the Chicago Bulls though most of that stayed in the rumor mill.
By opting out, Lin is once again placing a big gamble on his career though the obvious reason here is higher pay. Lin however clarifies that even as a free agent, he will place a lot of things into consideration. That includes the coach, team style, potential teammates and their chances of winning, the Taipei Times reported.
Lin has learned his lesson after his rise in New York, stumbling with the Rockets and then the Lakers. One thing that Jeremy Lin has repeatedly said is that he was happy in Charlotte. Though he did opt out, it is not an indication that he doesn’t want to return as a Hornet.
As early as May, Lin already made it clear that he would love to play again for Charlotte, the Charlotte Observer reports, even if it meant getting lesser pay.
Based on his decision to opt out, it seems to indicate otherwise. But then again, Lin may be just looking for a slight pay raise, not necessarily max contract numbers. Jeremy Lin addressed NBA free agency and what factors he would be considering in the video below.
