More than three years after Linsanity, Jeremy Lin might be looking to forge a new partnership with former head coach Mike D'Antoni and save a career hurt by disappointing seasons in Houston and Los Angeles.
Playing in the final year of his current contract, the 26-year old Lin will hit the free-agency market again next summer. While he was successful in turning his exploit in New York into a lucrative deal ($25M over three years) with the Houston Rockets in 2012, Lin's future in the upcoming free-agency is a bit murky because of his subpar performance the past three years.
Since leaving the Big Apple, Lin never reached the level of play he once showed during his brief but electrifying stint with the Knickerbockers. Instead Lin's stats keep on declining gradually by each season, losing starting jobs twice because of consistency and defensive issues.
Despite his anemic season, ESPN Los Angeles writer Arash Markazi believes Lin will exhaust all options for him to become a starter again. And although Lin's numbers (averaging at least 10 points and 4 assists per game) aren't encouraging, several analysts think his coaches - Byron Scott and Kevin McHale - never used him the right way as both forced the guard to embrace a system that negates his strengths.
"I think there's room for a backup point guard such as Lin on this team, but I'm sure he wants to try his hand at being a starter again and going to a team that will give him that opportunity. If he can't find that elsewhere or a better deal, I don't see why the Lakers wouldn't want him back as a reserve," Markazi stressed.
The Lakers could certainly keep him beyond this season, but clearly the best option available is for both parties to part ways. At this point of his career, Lin needs someone who could turn things around for him, someone who knows how to utilize his strength very well.
After a tumultuous two-year stint with the Lakers, Mike D'Antoni could be back on the sideline as soon as next season with the Denver Nuggets reportedly targeting the former Phoenix Suns and NY Knicks bench tactician as potential replacement for Brian Shaw.
D'Antoni has been known for implementing a free-flowing, fast-pace offense, which is exactly the kind of offensive system Lin prefers to play. Although starting for Nuggets is going to be a lot harder because of Ty Lawson's presence, there's no doubt Lin will strongly consider picking the Nuggets next summer, if they eventually hire D'Antoni as its next head coach.
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