Jeremy Lin's decision to break up his contract talks with the Dallas Mavericks and accept a backup job with the Charlotte Hornets instead had some of his fans raising their brows given the fact that he was thought to be in prime position to contend for a starting spot with the Mavs this coming season.
Apparently, Lin just put his Harvard education to proper use by outsmarting the entire Mavericks front-office. And while the botched DeAndre Jordan deal was discouraging news, it's not the sole reason why Lin had to take a U-turn in his negotiation with the Mavericks.
As reports of Deron Williams' impending buyout with the Nets and eventual homecoming to Dallas leaking its way out before it actually broke out to national audiences, Lin did his best to save himself from yet another dreadful situation in Dallas by signing with the Hornets. The rest is history.
Lin did not only avoid sharing minutes with point guards in the twilight years of their careers (Williams & JJ Barea). He also averted a team projected to be lottery-bound after losing several key pieces from last year's roster (Rajon Rondo & Tyson Chandler) and missing out on big free-agents this offseason.
Coming off a nightmarish season with the Los Angeles Lakers, Lin picked a team that gives him a chance to take that next step in his career and compete in the playoffs once again. The Hornets, considering the moves they made this offseason (acquiring more floor-spacer and playmakers through trades, draft and free-agency), can provide all of that.
With shooters around him, Lin will have the right personnel to create shots for himself and his teammates. Charlotte, on the other hand, is expected to be competing in one of the top-4 spots in the Eastern Conference next season following their acquisition of Lin, Nicolas Batum, Jeremy Lamb, Spencer Hawes and Frank Kaminsky.
Was it a smart decision for Lin to snub Dallas in favor of Hornets? The answer to this question will all depend on his performance next season, ultimately. But there's no doubt Lin made the right choice by averting the Deron Williams' backup experience. Just as Jarrett Jack.