The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly leaning towards exercising the team option on the second year of Jordan Hill's two-year, $18 million deal, making him perhaps the latest contract-eligible player who will likely be part of the Lakers' roster next season. As for Jeremy Lin, it appears he doesn't control his future with the purple-and-gold.
With less than two weeks left in the regular-season, the Lakers are starting to make moves that will have significant impact on their future. Jabari Brown, who played tremendously well in the two 10-day contracts he signed to, landed a multiple-year contract this week, while point guard Jordan Clarkson is a shoo-in to return next season after putting up a big rookie year.
On Thursday, Sean Deveney of Sporting News reported that another Lakers mainstay will be featured in next season's roster. Hill, who is averaging career-high 12.3 points and 8.2 rebounds per game this season, is expected to resume his career with the purple-and-gold, as league insider indicated that the Lakers will exercise the team option on the second year of his contract worth $9 million.
Although general manager Mitch Kupchack stressed their intention of making a big splash in this summer's free-agency, the Lakers pegged a high value for 27-year old Hill whom they could use a potential trade bait.
On the other hand, the Lakers remains silent on their next plan for the 26-year old Lin, who will become an unrestricted free-agent this offseason. After a disappointing the start, Lin has suddenly turned things around since coming off the All-Star break, averaging nearly 15 points and 5 dimes per game. There are already teams tabbed as potential suitors for the Asian-American standout, with the Houston Rockets, the very same team that traded him to the Lakers last summer, topping the list.
As to his future with the Lakers, Scott thinks Lin's chance of staying with the Lakers will entirely depend on the team's decision in the draft and during the free-agency period, when elite point guard such as Rajon Rondo and Garon Dragic are expected to hit the market.
"He's had his ups and downs this year, but he's definitely an NBA player, we all know that. It's just a matter of what happens in the draft and everything else that kind of determines what we're going to do in the free agent market," Scott said of Lin's contract situation via Lakers Nation.