NBA Los Angeles Lakers

Gauging Jeremy Lin’s Value A Tough Task For Los Angeles Lakers

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By @AnthonyIrwinNBA

Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports

Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports

I made the mistake Monday night of wondering whether Jeremy Lin might still be in the NBA next season. Wow, big mistake.

First, since there are people out there who think I might be racist, the China reference is because that’s where NBA players have been going recently to extend their playing careers. Michael Beasley, Metta World Peace and Stephon Marbury are all recent examples. Now, if we want to talk about if Lin might be treated differently in China because of his cultural background, fine, but please, refer to my mother’s maiden name (Martinez) before you head down that path.

Look, I like Lin. He seems like a nice guy. His story to where he is now is worthy of a Disney movie. None of that equates to deserving a spot on an NBA roster. Put another way: If your friend is trying to convince you to go on a blind date and the first thing they describe is “they’re a great person,” chances are you’re passing on that date.

Lin is on a Los Angeles Lakers team featuring Ronnie Price and Jordan Clarkson as his fellow point guards. That he hasn’t been able to separate himself for a larger role from an NBA journeyman who nearly didn’t make the roster and the No. 46 overall pick in last year’s draft is pretty worrisome. Yes, part of that falls on Byron Scott’s questionable-at-best, downright terrible-at-worst coaching strategies, but it’s hard to argue that he’s far and away the best point guard on this team.

The Lakers are actively trying to find someone willing to take his contract for the remainder of the season. The issue is few are willing to pay someone averaging single digits across the board nearly $10 million. Daryl Morey, GM of the Houston Rockets, had to send a first-round pick with Lin to convince the Lakers to take him. Based on that, it’s hard to imagine anyone would be willing to part with an asset to bring him in.

My prediction is Lin gets moved for a future second-round pick that likely yields nothing and a contract to make it work. Doing so frees up more playing time for Clarkson, and Lin could produce for a playoff team like the Milwaukee Bucks, whose backup point guard, Kendall Marshall, recently tore his ACL and is out for the season.

Unrestricted free agency is another matter altogether. This will be the closest thing to a completely fresh start since “Linsanity” he’s ever had. The question begs asking, though: Where might he get the best value and might it not be in the NBA? Lin seems destined to come off the bench for the rest of his career and contracts for that type of player tend to fall in the $3 million range. That could increase, given the incoming TV money, but that’s where they fall now.

His production is pretty average, though. He ranks 32nd among point guards in ESPN’s Player Efficiency Rating, meaning he doesn’t produce well enough to start. He’s also pretty limited defensively. Given how deep his  position is today (widely considered the best it’s ever been), his numbers are extremely replaceable. We’re also far enough removed from Linsanity that teams won’t take fanfare into consideration either.

Lin’s agent will likely do research to see what kind of contract Lin could garner elsewhere, meaning Europe or China. Could he find a more lucrative deal and more minutes overseas? Maybe. And that’s something Lin will have to seriously consider.

Measuring Lin’s value is made complicated because his career has been defined by such radical peaks and valleys. The height of his career was incredible, but the depths to which he’s fallen might be tough to overcome.

Anthony F. Irwin is an NBA, NFL, MLB and NCAA Football contributor for www.Rantsports.com. Follow him on Twitter, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google. Send him an email at .

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