Jeremy Lin to Houston Rockets is an offseason move that would "make sense" for both parties.
Lin, who opted out of his two-year $4.3 million contract with the Charlotte Hornets, is expected to draw interests from many teams following a remarkable season in Buzz City. While the 27-year-old point guard established himself as an effective backup point guard with the Hornets, Lin may also look for opportunities to start for a team.
According to ESPN's Calvin Watkins, one of the possible destination that would "make sense" for Lin this summer is a reunion with the Houston Rockets and head coach Mike D'Antoni, who now holds the coaching job in Clutch City.
"He's [Lin] played for coach Mike D'Antoni before in New York and understands this up-tempo offense well. He can vibe with James Harden as a starter or come off the bench. Lin is a much more mature player than he was when he was in Houston, and that could be the difference," Watkins wrote.
Lin played for the Rockets for two season following his breakthrough performance in New York that sparked "Linsanity." During his stint with the Rockets, Lin averaged a combine total of 12.9 points and 5.1 assists per game. He started all 82 games in his first year in Houston, but was relegated as to the bench most of the times in Lin's second year with the Rockets.
Lin knows D'Antoni well and vice versa as the two worked together at in New York during the heat of Linsanity. D'antoni trusted Lin to be the Knicks' starting point guard, paving way to arguably the best season of his career. With a developed game, there is no reason D'Antoni would not trust Lin the starting job in Houston.
With the Rockets having a projected max cap space of $41.2 million, they could offer Lin a more lucrative deal and an opportunity to start, something Lin admitted he would consider when choosing a team to join.
"To me, the most important thing as a free agent is that I am happy when I play basketball or show up for work. I was happy last year, but I was not particularly happy for the first five years," Lin told the Taipei Times.
"To be happy, I need to consider a few things. Of course 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."
The Brooklyn Nets also have a chance to offer Lin a starting role and more money, with the team lacking a reliable starting point guard heading into the offseason. New coach Kenny Atkinson has also worked together with Lin with the Knicks and their close ties could certainly be a factor come free agency.
But if Lin wants to win, play as a starting PG and earn a significant amount of money, the Rockets truly make sense for Lin.