Jeremy Lin has officially declined to opt in on the second year of the $4.3 million deal he inked with the Charlotte Hornets last summer.

The move leaves the 28-year-old Lin a free agent as of July 1, a time when he is coming off one of his most solid overall seasons. The veteran guard averaged 11.7 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3 assists for Michael Jordan's Hornets, who posted a franchise best 48 regular-season victories.

Lin a hot Commodity

Lin is expected to be one of the league's most sought after free agents this summer, with the Hornets, New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs, Brooklyn Nets, Chicago Bulls and Houston Rockets all expressing varying levels of interest.

After the Hornets were ousted in the first round of the playoffs by the Miami Heat, Lin told reporters he was enthused about the prospect of returning to Charlotte.

"If you asked me would I be interested in coming back, there's no question in my mind -- it's a resounding yes," Lin told reporters. "I would be very interested in coming back."

Rockets one of Lin's Biggest Suitors

To make that happen, Charlotte will almost certainly have to outmaneuver the Rockets and the lure of Lin having the chance to suit up once more for the man under whom the Linsanity craze was born.

Houston recently hired Mike D'Antoni as coach and he has consistently sung Lin's praises.

"To me, the most important thing as a free agent is that I am happy when I play basketball or show up for work," Lin recently shared. "I was happy last year, but I was not particularly happy for the first five years [as an NBA player]."

During a 25-game stretch under D'Antoni with the Knicks in 2012, In Houston, Lin averaged 18 points, eight assists and two rebounds.

Lin added that he and his agent plans to huddle up after the June 23, NBA draft and determine what teams may be in the market for a player who provides what he does and what his best options might be.

Related