The Los Angeles Lakers, based on their 9-22 record, seem to be stuck in second gear this season. Now some within the team think another trade may be necessary to get back on track and rebuild.
Point guard Jeremy Lin, who has appeared to be at odds with Kobe Bryant at times this season due to their different approaches to playing basketball, seems to be the player the Lakers want to trade. According to Damon Salvadore of Latin Post, he is in the final year of his contract, and compared to Bryant, the Lakers have yet to benefit from his talents.
"Despite playing only the fourth most minutes on the team, Lin still leads the Lakers in total assists with 138," Salvadore wrote. "Obviously, Bryant is an all-time great player, but he's having the worst shooting season of his career."
Salvadore added that Bryant has shot a career-low 37 percent overall, with 27 percent from the perimeter.
"That's not to say Bryant is solely to blame for the Lakers' struggles, but Lin and other point guards just don't have a lot of weapons to pass to," Salvadore wrote.
However, Vincent Paul Hidalgo of International Business Times claimed that the rumors surrounding the potential trade of Jeremy Lin by the Lakers have no standing. Even if the Miami Heat wanted to recruit Lin on their roster, other reasons would prevent them from going forward with a deal.
"The said stipulations appear to be untrue given the huge $8.3 million salary of the Harvard standout," Hidalgo wrote. "Even if Lin is basically an expiring contract, the Heat who is already at the tax threshold would have to send out equal salary just to match the Lakers offer."
Hidalgo argued that even if the Heat did get Lin on their roster, it would be problematic for them to select one or even a few players to complete that deal.
"To say that the team would fully hand the ball handling reigns to Lin would be absurd, given that a certain Dwayne Wade is still on the team," Hidalgo wrote.
However, Salvadore argued that a Lin trade would greatly benefit the Heat.
"Adding Lin to the Heat would provide a more balanced attack to a Heat offense that presently ranks 25th in scoring," Salvadore wrote. "Trading for Lin would also help the Heat with bench minutes and resting time for older veteran players."
Hidalgo admitted that anything could happen in regards to Lin's basketball career.
"While the man who started 'Linsanity' in New York has not tempered expectations with his 10 points and 4 assists per game statistical line, his contract is certainly not immovable," Hidalgo wrote.
Regardless of what the future holds for him, Lin elaborated on Facebook that he is still excited about his NBA journey.
"Also, 3 years ago on this exact day, I was waived," Lin wrote on Christmas Day. "Since then, I've been extremely grateful that God has taken me on an incredible journey and I am excited for the future! Thank you all so much for your support."
