Los Angeles Lakers point guard Jeremy Lin said he has prepared himself for any scenario ahead of February 19 trade deadline, promising to give his full commitment to whatever team he’ll end up with for the remainder of the season.
Not new to trade rumors, the 26-year old Lin seems very much open to any possibility with roughly 24 hours left before the midseason trade deadline. In an interview with Mike Medina of Los Angeles Daily News, the former Harvard hot shot talked about his mindset in the midst of his tumultuous tenure with the Lakers and the eventuality of being shipped to another team.
“I’ve been in cut rumors and trade rumors for a long time. So I’m not worried about it.” Lin told the Los Angeles Newspaper Group via LA Daily News. “It’s just my [Christian] faith. God uses everything for good. That gives me the comfort I need.”
“I want to be able to have fun and play wherever I am,” Lin said. “I can’t control what they do. If I’m here, I’ll definitely give it my all. If they trade me, I’ll definitely give it my all wherever I am.”
Averaging 10.4 points and 4.7 assists in 25 minutes per game, Lin is having the worst statistical year since breaking out of nowhere in New York three years ago. According to sources, the Lakers have made several attempts to trade Lin and his $8M expiring contract, but the market is weak for the Asian-American star.
Howard Beck of Bleacher Report mentioned the Houston Rockets, the team that traded Lin along with a first round pick to Los Angeles in a salary-dump move last offseason, as potential suitor for Lin, although they plan to pursue him this summer.
Right now, the Lakers are in serious talk with the Phoenix Suns for the service of Goran Dragic, who has already expressed his desire for a trade. Ramona Shelburne of ESPN indicated the Suns asked the Lakers to remove the protection on the pick they owe them (top-5 protected) for a shot at Dragic or Isaiah Thomas.
Should the Lakers agree to remove the protection for Dragic, Lin could be used as a piece to make the trade work financially because of his $8M expiring contract. Moreover, Lin is known to be effective in playing in an uptempo offense – which the Suns are running under head coach Jeff Hornacek.
