The Los Angeles Lakers had one of their best summers in recent years after successfully acquiring a game changer along with some veteran role players. LeBron James will be donning the purple and gold in the upcoming season, and the Lakers are still expected to make some moves to become a serious title contender.
James was the biggest fish in free agency this offseason, but the Lakers also managed to add key pieces like Rajon Rondo and Lance Stephenson. Los Angeles still has a trade piece in Luol Deng, who is not expected to play for the Lakers anytime soon.
Los Angeles Lakers should consider trading for Jeremy Lin
According to Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report, the Los Angeles Lakers should keep an eye on Jeremy Lin. The former Harvard University standout found a new home this season after the Brooklyn Nets dealt him to the Atlanta Hawks. It remains to be seen, though, whether or not Lin will finish the upcoming season in a Hawks uniform.
Hughes believes that acquiring Lin for Deng makes a lot of sense for the Lakers. Lin will make $13.8 million next season, while Deng will earn $18 million. However, the financial side of the trade will not matter because the Hawks can take more money because they are under the cap.
While a straight swap will work, the Lakers might need to add another asset, probably a first-round pick.
It would be a big gamble for the Lakers, but the deal would give them another potential scorer in Lin, while also getting more cap room for next summer, where they are expected to pursue Kawhi Leonard.
Jeremy Lin to serve as mentor to Trae Young
However, the Hawks might eventually decide to keep Jeremy Lin for the rest of the 2018-19 NBA season.
Atlanta has another point guard in rookie Trae Young, but Lin could play a vital role for them after they parted ways with Dennis Schroder in the trade involving Carmelo Anthony.
Lin is not expected to carry the scoring cudgels for the Hawks next season, as he is tipped to guide Young in his rookie season. Young, one of the most promising rookies for the upcoming season, appears ready to learn from Linsanity, expressing belief that he can work really well with the 29-year-old veteran.
"From what I’ve heard, he’s going to be a great mentor for me," Young told Michael Scotto of The Athletic. "We’ve been talking. He’s a good dude. He’s been through the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. He’s seen it all, so I’m looking forward to picking his brain."
Lin, who will be playing in his ninth season in the league, will look to bounce back after a disappointing year. The Palo Alto, California native missed all but one game last season after sustaining a ruptured patella tendon during their opener against the Indiana Pacers.
