Jeremy Lin was back in the starting lineup of the Los Angeles Lakers last week but it may not be for long as speculations are rife that the Harvard graduate is still very much in the trading block.
He could only be good as a starter until he is traded or until the return of point guard Ronnie Price, who was sidelined last week due to a broken nose and flu-like symptoms, reports the Inquisitr.
Unfortunately, Lin’s return to the Lakers’ starting five came during their team’s game with crosstown rival and powerhouse Los Angeles Clippers. And as expected, the Lakers were literally blown off the court by the Clippers via a 114-89 beating. Lin did not do bad in the game actually shooting 5 of 9, including 2 of 4 from the three-point line.
On the next Lakers game against the Orlando Magic, despite the return of Ronnie Price to the starting lineup, Byron Scott kept Lin in the first five unit as Kobe Bryant decided to take the game off and rest.
Lin took the opportunity to wax hot en route to a Lakers victory, leading his team with 18 points, six assists and four steals.
Lacking in consistency
Sports analysts believe that the problem with Jeremy Lin is consistency. He can be very good at one game then be a dismal performer the next. Or he can be very bad on one game, and then be very excellent on the next. What the Lakers need, given their forgettable season is consistency from support players like him.
Kobe Bryant will be Kobe Bryant and he will score if he wants to. He will shoot if he wants to. Regardless of Bryant’s production however, there has to be somebody else on the Lakers’ roster who can be the equalizer by being the most consistent all-around player in both ends of the floor.
The Lakers was pinning their hopes on Jeremy Lin when they acquired him during the off-season on the last year of his three-year $25 million contract with the Houston Rockets but what the team got eventually was less than what they are paying for.
It’s no wonder that the team has already put Lin on the trading block and is now waiting for takers.
More moves
In addition to possible trade moves, one of which includes Kobe Bryant according to earlier reports, the Lakers is eyeing to make big off-season moves as well on Rajon Rondo of the Dallas Mavericks, Kevin Love of the Cleveland Cavaliers, and Brandon Jennings of the Detroit Pistons.
Sources close to the Lakers management said that the team is willing to trade the Black Mamba to a playoff-bound team sometime after the midseason for the right price.
The Lakers have yet to make an official announcement to either confirm or deny these trade speculations about Bryant, Lin, as well as other members of its roster.