The Houston Rockets have some work to do before they can sign Chris Bosh. Daryl Morey and company don’t have the requisite cap space to sign Bosh outright unless they move the salaries of Jeremy Lin and other players. Though it was previously reported that Lin would be headed to the Philadelphia 76ers to make room for Bosh, ESPN’s Marc Stein says that Houston has engaged the Los Angeles Lakers in trade discussions for the Asian-American star.
UPDATE: A deal between the Rockets and Lakers for Lin seems imminent.
The Rockets finalizing Jeremy Lin, a future first-round pick and other draft considerations to the Lakers, league source tells Yahoo.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 11, 2014
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PREVIOUSLY:
Sources say Houston Rockets trying to trade Jeremy Lin to the Los Angeles Lakers. Report now on @SportsCenter
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) July 11, 2014
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Lakers would make sense as destination with cap space to take on Jeremy Lin's expiring contract & without cutting into any of 2015 cap space
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) July 11, 2014
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This development doesn’t mean the deal between the Rockets and Sixers is off the table, but certainly casts doubt on the assumption that it’s imminent. As Stein notes, though, Lin makes more sense as a basketball piece for the Lakers. Philly has no incentive to win right now, and Los Angeles wants to remain competitive in Kobe Bryant’s twilight while not sacrificing flexibility on the free agent market next summer.
Perhaps this is an instance of Morey trying to put a player he signed in the best situation possible, or maybe the Lakers aren’t demanding a first-round pick from Houston like the Sixers supposedly are. It could be both plus a combination of other factors – there’s no telling at this point. Either way, that LA has emerged as a potential landing spot for Lin is intriguing from multiple perspectives.
Would Lin look good in a Lakers uniform?
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