Report: Sixers Engaged in Trade Talks for Jeremy Lin
Apr 30, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard Jeremy Lin (7) celebrates after making a three-pointer during the fourth quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers in game five of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Photo | Andrew Richardson-USA TODAY Sports
The Sixers are attempting to pry Jeremy Lin away from the Houston Rockets, according to a report from Liberty Ballers Jake L. Fischer. Lin will be in the last year of his contract next season; he makes $8.4 million.
It would be pretty cool to have a player on the Sixers who casual sports fans have heard of for the first time since, um, Allen Iverson. But the deal is another of general manager Sam Hinkie’s “acquire as many assets as possible” strategy. The Rockets are attempting to sign star free agent Carmelo Anthony, and would have to trade Lin in order to get the salary cap space for Anthony. The team even put up posters with Carmelo wearing Lin’s No. 7 Rockets jersey in an attempt to recruit him.
Lin, as one might expect, was not happy. He was so angry he tweeted a Bible verse.
Luke 6:29 – If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them
— Jeremy Lin (@JLin7) July 2, 2014
He felt “disrespected,” he later tweeted. Anyway, if Anthony heads to Houston, the Sixers could get Lin and, say, more draft picks for essentially nothing. The Rockets are in win-now mode, and the Sixers would be glad to take that salary on in order to pick up extra assets.
Lin’s a point guard, and the Sixers already have Michael Carter-Williams as their point guard of the future. But it’d be fun to see him back up MCW. Hey, Lin’s a Harvard grad — he’d be a good mentor for Carter-Williams. Anthony hasn’t made his decision yet. But if he does decide to head to Houston, Jeremy Lin could join Nerlens Noel as the Sixers’ new attractions for 2014-15.
