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Jeremy Lin: 5 Best Potential Free Agency Destinations

By Gerald Bourguet

Apr 23, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Jeremy Lin (7) reacts after scoring during the second half in game three of the first round of the NBA Playoffs against the Miami Heat at Time Warner Cable Arena. Hornets win 96-80. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 23, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Jeremy Lin (7) reacts after scoring during the second half in game three of the first round of the NBA Playoffs against the Miami Heat at Time Warner Cable Arena. Hornets win 96-80. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jeremy Lin
Mar 25, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Kemba Walker (15) and guard Jeremy Lin (7) walk to the bench with their heads down during the third quarter against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Pistons win 112-105. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Charlotte Hornets

Lin’s desire to start makes this a bit of a long shot, but a return to the Charlotte Hornets would make sense for both parties.

Last season, Linsanity was back in full force for the first time since he first exploded onto the scene in New York back in 2011-12. As Charlotte’s backup point guard playing behind Kemba Walker, Lin’s Per 36 Minutes numbers were as high as they’d been since his peak with the Knicks:

  • Knicks Per 36 Minutes:  19.6 points, 8.3 assists, 4.1 rebounds, 2.1 steals
  • Hornets Per 36 Minutes:  16.1 points, 4.1 assists, 4.4 rebounds, 1.0 steals

Considering that he also thrived playing alongside Walker in the backcourt and averaged 17.5 points and 4.8 assists in 17 starts last season, it’s safe to say that in Charlotte, Lin found a true niche in the league for the first time since the beginning days of Linsanity.

However, Charlotte is understandably concerned about losing Lin to other suitors after his resurgent season as the sixth man on a playoff team.

Re-signing Nicolas Batum and Marvin Williams remains the Charlotte’s top free agency priority when July 1 strikes, and that’s before even mentioning fellow unrestricted free agents Courtney Lee and Al Jefferson.

Even worse, since the Hornets don’t own Lin’s Bird Rights, they can’t go over the cap to re-sign him.

Will Charlotte have enough remaining cap space to re-sign Lin to the kind of $10-15 million deal he might command on the open market?

It seems unlikely, so even though Lin has said he’s tired of moving and wants to find a permanent home, it doesn’t seem like the Hornets have the resources to make that happen for him.

Next: No. 4