Jeremy

Lin

Lin lit it up in the G League this past season, posting averages of 19.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, 6.4 dimes, 2.2 triples, 0.9 steals, 0.4 blocks and 3.7 turnovers per game on 50.5% shooting, but he never received a call up from the NBA. It doesn’t seem like the 32-year-old guard is going to get another opportunity in the league, but he could still make a pretty penny playing overseas, so we suspect that’s where he’ll be going next year.

“I didn’t get it all done, but I have no regrets,” Lin began. “I gave my ALL and hold my head high. As for what’s next, I trust what God has in store for me... Thanks to everyone whose rolled with me on this journey. I love you all,” He added. Lin began this season playing for the Beijing Ducks in the Chinese Basketball Association, before leaving to play nine games in the G League bubble with the Santa Cruz Warriors in an attempt to earn an NBA contract. That contract never came as the May 16th deadline came and went. Could this mark the end of the road for Linsanity? Only time will tell.

Saturday night was the deadline for waiver moves and the Warriors have now done a sign-and-waive with Elijah Pemberton of Hofstra, who will play for their G-League team in Santa Cruz. Len’s return to the NBA is currently on hold.

Lin wants (and deserves) a spot on an NBA roster, so it’s possible what’s holding up this deal is that it’s essentially with Golden State’s G League affiliate in Santa Cruz, rather than an actual minimum-level deal that would guarantee him a roster spot. Shams is rarely wrong, so this thing could still work out, but nothing is final at the moment.

Pending a letter of clearance from the CBA, “Linsanity” will officially be back. Lin has made it no secret that he wanted another chance in the NBA after some tough injury luck so this is great to see. The Warriors have been happy with Brad Wanamaker as their backup PG, so Lin isn’t guaranteed a rotation spot just yet. In fact, he’ll begin his return by playing in the G League initially.

Lin spent this past season with the Beijing Ducks where he put in averages of 22.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.3 triples and 1.8 steals per game on 49.1% shooting from the field and 82.4% from the stripe. Most importantly, though, he stayed healthy, so it’ll be interesting to see if he’s able to land a contract for the 2020-21 season. He’ll be 32 years old, so he’s probably past his days of relevancy in fantasy hoops, but maybe he’ll be able to find a backup role with an NBA club.

Lin, who finished last season in Toronto, was arguably the best free agent still available on the open market but was unable to find an NBA home, or at least a contract to his liking. It will be interesting to see if he is willing to test the NBA waters again after the 2019-20 CBA season ends.

Lin’s NBA market has apparently been non-existent this summer, which has led him to consider opportunities abroad. Recently, he said that he was considering a move to China for the year, and it appears that may be coming to fruition. Lin is currently in Beijing at a basketball camp.

Lin is one of the more accomplished free agents still available on the open market but has yet to find an NBA home next season. As a result, he is considering moving abroad. “Of course I am thinking about the CBA,” Lin said in Guangzhou on Friday. “I don’t know where I will be next year, so I don’t have expectations. I know what level I can play at, so if I don’t get that I won’t settle.”

Lin largely had a forgettable season in 2018-19, though he was a part of the Toronto’s championship squad. He played a minimal role in the postseason and averaged fewer than 10 points over 74 games in the regular season. Lin battled injuries the prior two years in Brooklyn, but he still has a lot to offer to the reigning EuroLeague champions. Lin stated in a recent public appearance that he feels like the NBA has given up on him, so it’s possible he’ll entertain the offer.