Last month, the Charlotte Hornets went as far as sixth in the Eastern Conference because of sustained excellent play. However, the team is now on a season-high seven-game losing streak which has dropped its record to 17-20 as of January 12, good for 12th spot in the Eastern Conference and out of the playoff picture.
Apparently, it has something to do with the team losing some of its key players like Nicolas Batum and big man Al Jefferson to injuries. Prior to the start of the season, the Hornets already lost prolific forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist to injury and would not be back until perhaps the penultimate leg of the regular season.
But there is a bright spot in the Hornets, other than its industrious starting point guard Kemba Walker, and it’s no other than Jeremy Lin.
He has been giving his team a big lift coming off the bench and his energy appears to be infecting his teammates too whenever he is on the court.
In their last game against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Staples Center, Jeremy Lin was also a one-man fastbreak for the Hornets as he sent Clippers guard Cole Aldrich to the floor with a killer crossover that reminded everyone of the Allen Iverson move of yore, details Hoops Hype.
The 27-year-old Harvard graduate is averaging 17 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists in the Hornets last 10 games, eight of which are losses. But it still does not take away the strong season and good play of Jeremy Lin, who is making a little over $2.1 million this season.
Making heads turn
In fact, because of Jeremy Lin’s excellent play, he is now getting the attention and interests of many NBA teams who are intent on shoring up their lineup for the second half of the season or perhaps for the next NBA regular season.
Apparently, Jeremy Lin’s $4.2 million two-year contract which he signed with the Hornets last summer has an opt-out clause which means that he can be a free agent next summer if he wishes to be.
It was a good strategy for Lin since his $2.1 million per year contract is really a bargain considering the contribution he is doing for the Hornets. Reports now have it that he could actually be one of the top point guards that could join the free agency this coming summer.
Considering his global following, Lin is certainly worth more than $2.1 million so team owner Michael Jordan was right when he said that their biggest acquisition last summer was not Nicolas Batum but Jeremy Lin.
Obviously, the other teams are now recognizing it too, which was not there when Jeremy Lin played for the Houston Rockets for two years and then with the Los Angeles Lakers last year.
Not letting him walk
It is unlikely for the Charlotte Hornets to let Jeremy Lin walk but the team is facing a lot of other free agents to take care of including Nicolas Batum, whom they would give a maximum contract to most likely. There is also the possibility that Al Jefferson may opt out so the team would need to shell out money to address their frontline, reports Youth Health Mag.
As a free agent last summer, Jeremy Lin was entertaining options of joining any one of six teams who were interested in acquiring his services. But he opted to sign up with the Hornets because he actually wants to have more playing time for him to be able to showcase his wares on the court.
Latest reports are also saying that the Chicago Bulls is interested in getting the services of Jeremy Lin and reports have it that the Windy City franchise wants to do it via a possible trade.