While rumors over the last few weeks made a trade seem imminent, it looks like Jeremy Lin will stay put ahead of February’s deadline.
Back and knee injuries sidelined the Houston Rockets point guard for most of last month, but the 25-year-old has bounced back and is now posting the best shooting numbers of his career.
Averaging 14.1 points and 4.3 assists, Lin is knocking down 47.6 percent of his attempts from the floor, and 34 percent beyond the arc, and with Patrick Beverley still out for the next few weeks, the likelihood of Houston moving Lin has decreased.
However it is important to note teams will be much more active when the Feb. 20 deadline nears, and currently fifth-place Houston could find itself chasing another piece for a deep playoff run.
Lin had been linked to trades involving the Brooklyn Nets, Chicago Bulls, and Los Angeles Lakers, but thus far nothing has materialized.
Before Beverley broke his right hand, he had supplanted Lin in the starting lineup, but the former Harvard star flourished in his new role off the bench.
Lin and center Omer Asik have been inexplicably tied to several of the same rumors, since they both signed nearly identical contracts back in 2012 that pay each $15 million next season, according to Sporting News.
A package that would have sent Lin and Asik to Brooklyn for point guard Deron Williams was reportedly discussed, but never got serious according to recent reports. The Nets needed a replacement for injured center Brook Lopez, and could have one-upped the rival Knicks by bringing Lin back to the Big Apple.
The Lakers and Bulls appear to be out as landing spots for Lin or Asik. Chicago was more active in the trade market before shipping Luol Deng to Cleveland, and is now aligning contracts and carving up payroll for plays in free agency over the next few years.
L.A. should be involved in some deal, maybe for forward Pau Gasol and his $19 million expiring contract, as the deadline nears. The Lakers have 12 very attractive expiring contracts, but are likely looking for draft picks and won’t take back any salary.
Asik has been on the trading block for much of the season as he’s been unhappy with his role in Kevin McHale’s lineup since Dwight Howard was signed over the summer. A deal was nearly consummated with the Boston Celtics that would have netted Houston guard Courtney Lee and forward Brandon Bass, but the two sides couldn’t agree on the draft pick kicker.
The chance of re-kindling a deal with Boston is likely out of the question, with the Celtics completing a three-team swap with Miami and Golden State on Wednesday.
Jeremy Lin Trade Rumors: Rockets Point Guard Sticking Around Houston As Deadline Looms?
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