Where now for Lin 2016/17

[TinmanZBoy]

where did Hornets stand on 3 points shooting and offensive efficiency before Lin joined them? Steve Clifford is not even known as a PG coach, offense coach.... things can turn around...

The difference being that we had assets that BRK does not. We improved by putting multiple top 10 picks and various spare part assets to work to undergo a pretty significant roster transformation and then courting Lin. BRK does not have the assets to work with to flip their roster this summer like we did last summer.

Boggy, Kilpatrick, Kipatrick, Young, Brook Lopez are all good shooters, they don't even need a big transformation like what the hornets did... it really depends on how they play...

[bondom34]

where did Hornets stand on 3 points shooting and offensive efficiency before Lin joined them? Steve Clifford is not even known as a PG coach, offense coach.... things can turn around...

The difference being that we had assets that BRK does not. We improved by putting multiple top 10 picks and various spare part assets to work to undergo a pretty significant roster transformation and then courting Lin. BRK does not have the assets to work with to flip their roster this summer like we did last summer.

Boggy, Kilpatrick, Kipatrick, Young, Brook Lopez are all good shooters, they don't even need a big transformation like what the hornets did... it really depends on how they play...

They literally had that this year and finished with the 3rd worst record. No matter how much you like Lin, he's not adding 25 wins to a team.

[spaceballer]

Maybe he'll get paid enough on his next contract so that he can actually afford a vase and not have to use a blender

[tweet]https://twitter.com/linfinity88/status/731998037556355074[/tweet]
https://twitter.com/linfinity88/status/731998037556355074

[spaceballer]

J.Lin and Marvin Williams are the only two Hornets in both lineups.

[lin is ok]

J.Lin and Marvin Williams are the only two Hornets in both lineups

[TinmanZBoy]

J.Lin and Marvin Williams are the only two Hornets in both lineups.

basically you can replace J. Lin with Cameron Payne, those two lineups will move up a couple of positions...

[bondom34]

J.Lin and Marvin Williams are the only two Hornets in both lineups.

I get the awful attempt at baiting, but I'm not sure you realize the total ignorance of this post. I assume you don't

[Roy Tarpley]

Below, I tried to list out the PG availabilities based on three baskets: (1) likely open spot; (2) potential opening based on retirement or injury concern; and (3) unlikely. Then I list potential FA PGs who can be considered starters or potential starters.

I still think Brooklyn, Philly, and Charlotte would be the best options for Lin based on the criteria he has revealed intermittently over the years (i.e., most minutes playing his style of ball, opportunity to start, coaching philosophy -- and then to a lesser extent: money, proximity to family and friends). The next question is whether these three teams would want Lin compared to the rest of the PG field. Based on the Nets press conference comments yesterday, it seems like Marks and Atkinson really value high character players, and Atkinson places importance on the PG position. It also seems clear that the Nets aren't going to go "big" on FAs, recognizing that their rebuild needs to be a long-term effort that doesn't reproduce the short-sighted Billy King years. All of this on top of Atkinson's relationship working with Lin during the Linsanity period seems to point to Lin ending up in Brooklyn as pretty decent odds.

Philly has a lot of pluses as well: Lots of minutes playing a fast-paced style, opportunity to start, D'Antoni's offensive philosophy and previous relationship, the Colangelo's interest in transitioning from rebuild to competing (probably to recreate the success of the mid-2000s Suns), Brett Brown's emphasis on defense, and all the promising young talent.

Charlotte still has potential to retain Lin. He knows that he'd get 24-26 minutes there as the top backup, he loves his teammates, and he trusts Clifford. He won't get as much money but a decent offer like $6-8 would probably be enough. If the Hornets bring Batum and Williams back (Lin said that Marvin was the best teammate he's ever had next to Jared Jeffries -- high praise since he's ranking him over his Rockets bro Parsons), and the offer is decent, Charlotte is right there.

My gut instinct is that Lin senses -- whether based on his faith or his salience as the lone Asian American in the NBA (Jordan Clarkson is half, so not salient) or the desire of all NBA players to self-actualize or his recognition that he's turning 28, an age that signals that it's now or never for his career -- that he should be on a path to greater achievement and that this will push him toward starting opportunities. I think Atkinson's love of Brooklyn, PGs, basketball, and character, plus an emotional pitch will be the deciding factor.

------------------------------------------------------

Free Agent PGs

Lawson
Clarkson
Ish Smith
Conley
Rondo
Jennings
Lin
Williams
Dellavedova

Brooklyn - Needs PG
Dallas - Williams (Player option, will likely opt out)
Indiana - Hill (Bird said team needs true PG)
Memphis - Conley (FA)
New York - Calderon (Knicks looking for PG)
Philadelphia - Smith (FA)
Sacramento - Rondo (FA)

Houston - Beverley (Houston realizing Harden needs help)
Milwaukee - Carter-Williams (Antetokounmpo is point forward)
Utah - Burke (not fully ready)
New Orleans - Holiday
San Antonio - Parker
Chicago - Rose

Phoenix - Knight
Minnesota -Rubio
Denver - Mudiay
Cleveland - Irving
Charlotte - Walker
Atlanta - Teague
Boston - Thomas
Detroit - Jackson
Golden State - Curry
L.A. Clippers - Paul
L.A. Lakers - Russell
Oklahoma City - Westbrook
Miami - Dragic
Portland - Lillard
Orlando - Payton
Toronto - Lowry
Washington - Wall

[Roy Tarpley]

"Since 2001, there have been 95 coaches to coach an NBA team for at least one full season. McMillan ranks 92nd in terms of pace. The only teams that have played slower have been Kevin O’Neill’s Raptors, Michael Curry’s Pistons, and Mike Fratello’s Grizzlies."

We can cross Indiana off the list. But I could see Conley pairing up with PG.

[fatlever]

Bad teams typically prioritize playing young players over vets. I sometimes think that gets lost on some people. Lin should be careful signing with a bad team that might, in the very near future, have a young PG they prefer to groom at the expense of some added wins that Lin might bring.

Lin to the Sixers or Nets seems like a - be careful what you wish for - situation. The Nets had no motivation to lose last year because they didnt own their pick and they had very few young players to groom. I imagine that will change starting as early as next year. They aren't going anywhere with that roster and need to collect assets and build thru the draft. Where does Lin fit in scenario? They can talk all they want in the offseason about trying to win now, but I suspect that's mostly just talk. Same with the Sixers. They may be done with the over-the-top Hinkie tanking, but they are still going to build thru the draft and groom their young players. Very possible they will draft a young PG in the next draft or two who will need minutes. At what point does having Lin get in the way of development? Sure, it would be nice to have Lin mentor a rookie for a year or so, but after that?

And that is what Bondom was referring to when he said OKC would play Payne over Lin in the event that Westbrook left. If Westbrook left, Durant is probably also gone, in that case OKC is probably rebuilding. At that point, developing Payne, who they drafted in the lottery, becomes a bigger priority than playing Lin. This has nothing to do with Payne being better than Lin currently.

I'm not saying that Lin should accept his fate as a backup on a good team, I just think he should be careful about signing with a bad team just because of the lure of starting and a coach/asst that will play to his strengths.

I still think is 50/50 that the Hornets will even try to bring Lin back, even though its clear they love him. It all depends on how hard they chase a starting level center or how much they value bringing Lee back. As I said in the Hornets offseason thread, the Hornets can most likely do 1 of 3 - Lee, Lin or starting center. It gets very hard to do 2 of those 3 due to not having Lin's bird rights.

[KM6]

J.Lin and Marvin Williams are the only two Hornets in both lineups.

basically you can replace J. Lin with Cameron Payne, those two lineups will move up a couple of positions...

Too bad Cameron Payne didn't play for the Hornets last season...Maybe Hornets could have been playing right now instead of the Raptors if he did.

[fatlever]

Too bad Cameron Payne didn't play for the Hornets last season...Maybe Hornets could have been playing right now instead of the Raptors if he did.

Why continue with the baiting?

[Texas Chuck]

Let me make this clear for everyone since there seems to be an issue: Stop the baiting in regards to Cam Payne.


You are of course welcome to debate the merits of Lin vs Payne, but please stick to actual analysis of the players in question and not the sarcastic baiting posts. This is a final warning to all. And I will shut this thread down.

[Roy Tarpley]

Bad teams typically prioritize playing young players over vets. I sometimes think that gets lost on some people. Lin should be careful signing with a bad team that might, in the very near future, have a young PG they prefer to groom at the expense of some added wins that Lin might bring.

Lin to the Sixers or Nets seems like a - be careful what you wish for - situation. The Nets had no motivation to lose last year because they didnt own their pick and they had very few young players to groom. I imagine that will change starting as early as next year. They aren't going anywhere with that roster and need to collect assets and build thru the draft. Where does Lin fit in scenario? They can talk all they want in the offseason about trying to win now, but I suspect that's mostly just talk. Same with the Sixers. They may be done with the over-the-top Hinkie tanking, but they are still going to build thru the draft and groom their young players. Very possible they will draft a young PG in the next draft or two who will need minutes. At what point does having Lin get in the way of development? Sure, it would be nice to have Lin mentor a rookie for a year or so, but after that?

And that is what Bondom was referring to when he said OKC would play Payne over Lin in the event that Westbrook left. If Westbrook left, Durant is probably also gone, in that case OKC is probably rebuilding. At that point, developing Payne, who they drafted in the lottery, becomes a bigger priority than playing Lin. This has nothing to do with Payne being better than Lin currently.

I'm not saying that Lin should accept his fate as a backup on a good team, I just think he should be careful about signing with a bad team just because of the lure of starting and a coach/asst that will play to his strengths.

I still think is 50/50 that the Hornets will even try to bring Lin back, even though its clear they love him. It all depends on how hard they chase a starting level center or how much they value bringing Lee back. As I said in the Hornets offseason thread, the Hornets can most likely do 1 of 3 - Lee, Lin or starting center. It gets very hard to do 2 of those 3 due to not having Lin's bird rights.

All good points. Personally, I don't see how Lee coming back to the Hornets is even an option. Lee has started on the Grizzlies and Hornets but if Batum and MKG are there, Lee would become a bench player, and I'm not sure Lee has accepted that yet.

I agree with you that a team's direction can change quickly despite the best laid plans of the GM and coach. That's the risk and decision that Lin will have to make. He could return to the Hornets, and who knows, be their Ginobili for multiple playoff runs or he could take a chance and greater achievement with a starting spot.

[PG13]

Philly drafting Ben Simmons will change the landscape some.

[jayjaysee]

No one mentioned Payne, was about Wayne Selden from Kansas. Not sure how Bondom got confused, guy clearly said Wayne has no resume beyond being a draft pick.

I like Brooklyn fit the best. They have the cap space to add Lin and a Bazemore/Evan type.. Clearly, not a dream team but puts a good product on the floor. Better than this thread is suggesting they would be, imo.. Add a few bench pieces with the leftover cap space..

I give staying in Char or Brooklyn bout 70% of the Lin sweepstakes.

[Biased_Fan6425]

Go to China.

[Texas Chuck]

Go to China.

This kind of "humor" has no place here. If you want to make veiled racist posts find another place for it.


And with that this thread is officially over.