Jeremy Lin (Photo : Getty Images)
The NBA free agency landscape has cleared up-at least in the point guard position, after two major trades.
Former NBA Most Valuable Player Derrick Rose has left his hometown and original team, Chicago Bulls after being traded to the New York Knicks. This development also takes them out of the point guard hunt.
Prior to that, the Indiana Pacers also ended their quest for a point guard after trading for Jeff Teague of the Atlanta Hawks. They sent George Hill to the Utah Jazz and the Jazz sent the 12th overall pick to Atlanta.
With two teams out of the way, the path clears for the other teams to lock on the free agent point guards. One of the hottest names is Jeremy Lin, who officially declined his player option with the Charlotte Hornets as reported by Marc Stein of ESPN.
"Facing a Wednesday deadline, Charlotte Hornets guard Jeremy Lin declined to opt in on a $2.2 million player option for next season, making him an unrestricted free agent as of July 1, league sources say," Stein reported.
While this move was expected, Lin still reiterated that it does not necessarily mean he wants out of the Hornet's nest. His player option is way underpriced and with the rise of the salary cap, he could get north of $10 million at least.
"If you asked me would I be interested in coming back, there's no question in my mind -- it's a resounding yes," Lin told reporters. "I would be very interested in coming back."
The challenge now falls on the Hornets. They have too many free agents to address, foremost of which is Nic Batum. Starters Al Jefferson and Marvin Williams as well as Courtney Lee are all free agents as well. Just how much of a priority is Jeremy Lin to the Hornets ?
There are other teams who would pursue Lin and the Brooklyn Nets would be one of them. With their in-city rivals getting Derrick Rose-a player that was rumored to be their target last season in trade, the urgency to make their own point guard splash increased.
What better way to spite the Knicks than taking Jeremy Lin, who ignited the Big Apple with "Linsanity" a few years back?
As noted by Mitch Lawrence of Sporting News, Lin has a great rapport with new Nets' coach Kenny Atkinson.
Atkinson was brought in by GM Sean Marks partly to recruit his former point guard wards. Jeff Teague was one of them but he is now with the Indiana Pacers. That left Jeremy Lin, who was all praises for Atkinson when he was an assistant with the Knicks.
"Atkinson also had great success developing Jeremy Lin when the two were with the Knicks," Lawrence said. "With the Hornets not expected to try to retain Lin, he could make his way back to New York, this time to resume his career with Atkinson in Brooklyn."
Lin also has ties with Mike D'Antoni, incoming head coach of the Houston Rockets. But Lin has played there before and may not be excited to reunite with James Harden who is known to be too ball-dominant.
