Jeremy Lin: 5 Best Potential Free Agency Destinations

4. Chicago Bulls

Thanks to the shocking-but-not-surprising Derrick Rose trade, the Chicago Bulls are officially looking at a glaring hole at the 1-spot on their depth chart. Sure, they acquired Jerian Grant and Jose Calderon in the deal, but Lin would represent a solid upgrade over both of them.

With backup guards E’Twaun Moore and Aaron Brooks hitting unrestricted free agency, not to mention Pau Gasol and Joakim Noah likely on the way out as well, the Bulls will have a solid chunk of cap space available and a distinct need for a quality backcourt partner for Jimmy Butler.

With a global phenomenon like J-Lin joining a bonafide superstar like Butler (while playing for one of the NBA’s most historically renowned organizations, no less), the spotlight would be on Chicago in a new and more heightened way.

Given the way Rose and Butler failed to mesh, there’d certainly be concerns about how Lin and Butler would get along.

However, even though Lin wants to start in this league, he also learned how to co-exist in the backcourt with another ball-dominant player in Kemba Walker, so it certainly wouldn’t be impossible for him to develop some chemistry with Butler.

Even better, if the Bulls are heading down the rebuild path, Lin is good enough to make the backcourt more entertaining, but not an elite player who’d elevate Chicago into another tier. If the front office is looking for one of the better point guards in a free agency class with limited options at that position, they’d be hard-pressed to find someone more capable than Lin (Mike Conley).

However, if the Bulls are going for a full-scale rebuild, they probably want to avoid offering long-term money for a good but not great point guard. That would be a problem for Lin, who’s looking for a more permanent home.

Between that and concerns about his potential fit with Butler, the Bulls might prefer waiting for a more talented free agency class next season to fully address the 1-spot.

Next: No. 3