Lakers Rumors: Former Lakers that should rejoin the team this season
By Jason Reed
Jeremy Lin
Yes, you read that right, LINSANITY IS BACK. Well, at least it should be. Jeremy Lin is one of the most interesting characters in the entire NBA. Dating back to his monster break out with the New York Knicks, Lin has been able to turn heads with his awe-inspiring performances, and even more often, his insane haircuts.
Haircuts aside, while Lin may not be the superstar that enjoyed a two-week spotlight in 2012, he certainly is a solid point guard in the NBA. Lin was a member of the Los Angeles Lakers for just the 2014-2015 season before leaving to the Charlotte Hornets. All in all, Lin has played for six different teams in seven seasons and should return back to Los Angeles in season eight.
Lin is proving that he can help a team win with his contributions, so long as it is not the Brooklyn Nets. Last year, Lin averaged 14.5 points, 5.1 assists and 3.8 rebounds per game. While those numbers certainly won’t blow your socks off, they are solid numbers that, in the right system, could turn into some serious results.
On the surface, it does not make sense to bring Lin back. Los Angeles has their point guard of the future in Lonzo Ball and Lin would only take away his minutes. However, the Lakers are pretty thin behind Ball, lacking a true backup point guard beside Tyler Ennis.
Plus, Lin has a player option after this season and if his past indicates anything it is that he will likely find a new home. This makes a straight swap between Jordan Clarkson and Jeremy Lin a good move. The Nets get a familiar backcourt in Clarkson and D’Angelo Russell, moving Russell back to point guard, and the Lakers get a veteran that Lonzo can learn from.
Los Angeles needs a true backup point guard and they can have that with Lin. With Josh Hart now filling in behind Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, this move would make the team better this year and in the future.