The Houston Rockets have a lot of questions to answer heading into next season and one of those burning questions is Jeremy Lin's status. Rumors have been floating around that the Rockets have interest in trading Lin. The 25-year-old point guard has shown flashes of greatness on two different teams, but some people don't believe he fits Kevin McHale's system of rotating point guards.
When a team signs Lin, they get an explosive player who is capable of hitting mid-range shots and distributing the ball at a high rate. They also get a great young teammate that has a long future ahead of him. However, some teams may be hesitant because of his contract. Lin's contract is back-loaded and he has just one year remaining on it. In the next and final year of his contract, Lin is set to make about $15 million; almost $10 million more than the previous two seasons.
Despite Lin's contract being back-loaded, it leaves endless possibilities for a re-signing. If a team without a point guard were to not sign Lin and let him become a free agent, they are taking a big risk because then he may go on to sign with another team.
So let's take a look at four teams where Jeremy Lin would be a great fit next season.
Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies are a fantastic defensive team, one of the best. This team plays with a lot heart with veteran front court big guys like Zach Zandolph and Marc Gasol. Randolph and Gasol are fantastic defensive players, but let's be realistic -- they're not Shaquille O'Neal and Charles Barkley. Lin would thrive in Memphis with must see alley-oop passes and would bring some high speed play to a slow Grizzlies squad. Memphis isn't exactly New York City or Houston, but a dose of Linsanity just might be what the doctor ordered for the Grizzlies.
Indiana Pacers
This would probably be the best fit of any team. The only problem is there may be a few salary cap issues the first season. The Pacers are the most inconsistent team in the NBA. Some nights the team is unbeatable and other nights they look as if a JV team could defeat them. Center Roy Hibbert hasn't been playing well, but the offense has been the larger issue. Without a doubt, Lin would immediately ensure the Pacers make the Eastern Conference Finals. Starting point guard George Hill has been with the Pacers for three years now and he has failed to live up to expectations. The Pacers offense needs more ball movement and more motivation and with Lin, they would get both.
Chicago Bulls
The Bulls have a great system and great management. They also have a great coach in Tom Thibodeau, who has never had a losing record as a head coach. Their biggest problems are on offense scoring the basketball and dealing with Derrick Rose's constant injury status. It's sad that Rose is young and frequently experiences injuries as much as he does, but the Bulls need to look in a new direction. Lin would ignite that Chicago crowd into a frenzy of excitement. The Bulls already have a great defense led by the Defensive Player of the Year, Joakim Noah. Adding Lin would only make the Bulls better as a basketball team.
Golden State Warriors
This may sound odd and surprise many, but this would be a terrific fit. Obviously, Stephen Curry is an elite shooter and a great player, but sometimes he is his own worst enemy. Curry is the Warriors' starting point guard, however, he is also their leading scorer and main perimeter shooter. Adding Lin would free up Curry from passing too much and allow him to shoot more. It would give the Warriors a more balanced offensive attack instead of relying on Curry as much.