The Charlotte Hornets are sitting at the bottom portion of the Eastern Conference this NBA season, but the basketball squad appears to be unperturbed by the situation. Given their desire to rebuild their roster, the Michael Jordan team had been signing promising players in the offseason. One of the most notable acquisitions of the Charlotte Hornets is Jeremy Lin.
While Linsanity has yet to appear in the hardwood court this season, the performance of the Christian basketball star managed to attract attention. Moreover, the two-year contract of Lin with the Charlotte Hornets offers minimal cost for potential NBA trade talk partners. According to the rumor mill, the Chicago Bulls are eager to sign the Harvard alum into their roster.
The Jimmy Butler squad is reportedly looking for players who can stand as a substitute for the injury-prone Derrick Rose, according to Youth Health Magazine. According to the report, the Chicago Bulls can offer Lin a higher salary compared to the one offered by his current basketball squad. The wage aspect is further locked in by the Pau Gasol team in light of the hefty investment made by the Charlotte Hornets to keep Kemba Walker.
However, the Joakim Noah might face resistance from Lin himself. In earlier interviews, the Christian star praised the laidback and relaxed atmosphere in the Charlotte Hornets. Hence, a move to the highly competitive Chicago Bulls might not appeal to Lin. Moreover, his experiences with popular NBA teams appeared to have left a bad taste in his mouth.
Before his entry to the Charlotte Hornets, Lin had played with the likes of James Harden, Kobe Bryant and Carmelo Anthony. However, the Asian point guard is known to be at his best when he makes the plays and holds the ball. Also, Lin's decision to stay away from the spotlight provided him the opportunity to grow in a team without the need to work for the benefit of bigger stars.
"In New York, [Mike] Woodson undervalued him," revealed Doc Scheppler of Lin's experience under the former New York Knicks coach, according to Hoops Habit. Lin's shooting coach added, "He [Woodson] basically just wanted the ball thrown into Carmelo. And Carmelo didn't want Lin in New York because it would take away from his thunder."
Scheppler also dished on Lin's experience with the Houston Rockets as well as the effects of unfair reporting to the Christian basketball player. He said, "When he [Lin] was in Houston, writers around the country were saying Patrick Beverleybeat him out for the starting job. That's not true. Beverley was just a better fit with (James) Harden, who doesn't even try to play defense or get in position to."
The shooting coach added, "What writers don't know was that Jeremy was told by the coaches that they wanted him to be their (Manu) Ginobili coming off the bench. As for the home announcers (Matt Bullard, Clyde Drexler, Bill Worrell), he'd make a great pass and they wouldn't even point it out. They were so negative. They'd rip him to shreds. He's such a great passer, and they never talked about it."
In the same interview, Scheppler further revealed that Lin aims to shoot and play like Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors or Cleveland Cavaliers' Kyrie Irving. He said the Charlotte Hornets star witnessed the strength and efficiency of the athletes mentioned above when they watched the NBA finals last season.
