Last off-season, the Los Angeles Lakers were unable to attract a big-name free agent, but the team was able to make a very good trade to bring in point guard Jeremy Lin. Once Steve Nash went down for the season, the stage seemed set for Lin to shine. However, Lin has struggled with his consistency and has since been replaced in the starting lineup.
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Now that the trade deadline is approaching, Lin’s name has been mentioned as a possible target for teams in search of point guard help. According to Sean Deveney of The Sporting News, the Lakers could move Lin for an asset, but the market has been weak:
He still would make a good backup point guard, and the Lakers would move him if they could get an asset in return, but the market for Lin has been weak.
While Lin may not be viewed as a starter in the NBA, he is a more than adequate backup point guard who can take over the game for stretches at a time. With the Lakers taking a long look at what Jordan Clarkson can give, however, Lin’s minutes could continue to be marginalized.
Teams like the Charlotte Hornets and Detroit Pistons have recently lost their starting point guards because of injury and someone like Lin could surely help them as they fight to make a playoff run. However, whether they are interested in Lin is unknown.
Lin’s contract, worth over $8 million, runs out after this season making him a pretty large expiring contract that would come off a team’s salary cap. It will be interesting to see what moves the Lakers pursue as the trade deadline continues to get closer.
[divide]Jeremy Lin Talks Time With NY Knicks