The Los Angeles Lakers are not expected to offer a new deal to Jeremy Lin this summer, creating speculation the popular point guard will likely return to the New York Knicks or sign with the Dallas Mavericks.
Lin, who will become an unrestricted free agent starting Wednesday, appeared in 74 regular season games with the Lakers last season, including 30 starts. He averaged 11.2 points on top of 4.6 assists and 2.6 rebounds per game, but was inconsistent all-season long.
The former Harvard University standout began the 2014-15 NBA season as the starting point guard before he was replaced by Ronnie Price, who also lost the spot to Jordan Clarkson later in the season.
But despite his inconsistent performance last season, the Knicks are reportedly interested in reuniting with Lin, who has a decent fan base in New York mainly because of his historic "Linsanity" moment in the Big Apple.
"There have been rumblings from league sources that the Knicks may pursue free agent Jeremy Lin this summer," Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders posted on Twitter. "No word what they would offer."
Lin is not known for being a pass-first point guard as he is more of a scorer, which makes most analysts believe he is a logical choice for the Knicks, who are running the triangle offense.
Lin played 35 games with the Knicks during the 2011-12 NBA season and had a series of impressive performances, which made him an instant star in New York. His performances during that year did not go unnoticed as he earned a lucrative three-year, $25 million deal from the Houston Rockets during that year.
The five-year veteran averaged 13.4 points and 6.1 assists during the 2012-13 season and posted 12.5 points to go along with 4.1 assists the following season. The Rockets then traded him to the Lakers before the 2014-15 NBA season started.
Aside from the Knicks, Lin was recently linked to the Dallas Mavericks, who are also looking for backcourt help after high-scoring guard Monta Ellis decided to opt out of his deal. Ellis is not expected to get a new deal from the Mavericks as he is reportedly eyeing to sign with an Eastern Conference team.
With Ellis out, ESPN reported that the Mavericks will take a look at Lin if they fail to sign top free-agent guards this summer like Wesley Matthews and Danny Green. However, aside from Lin, the Mavericks are also interested in signing veteran point guard Mo Williams, who is also known for his scoring aside from his playmaking skills.
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