Los Angeles Lakers guard Jeremy Lin may remain with the team beyond this season. Lakers coach Byron Scott didn't rule out re-signing Lin in free agency, even as the team reportedly eyes Dallas Mavericks guard Rajon Rondo and Miami Heat guard Goran Dragic.
Lin's first season in Los Angeles has been largely a bust. He's been inconsistent (11.1 PPG, 4.7 APG) and has spent much of the season coming off the bench. That doesn't mean Lin, however, won't be back next season. Scott promoted him back to the starting line up for Tuesday's game against Oklahoma City and didn't rule out the possibility of re-signing him in the offseason.
"He's had his ups and downs this year," Scott told the Orange County Register, "but he's definitely an NBA player. We all know that. It's just a matter of what happens in the draft and everything else that determines what we're going to do with the free agent market."
While Scott left open to the possibility of bringing Lin back, it's unlikely to happen - even for depth off the bench. Los Angeles' real targets this offseason are Rondo and Dragic, both of who are eligible to become unrestricted free agents in July.
Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant hasn't been shy about wanting to bring Rondo to Los Angeles, and the aging veteran indicated he wouldn't stop recruiting Rondo to the purple-and-gold until Rondo had signed a new contract somewhere. Although the Lakers don't have a playoff-caliber roster, they do have the allure of a big market, the likelihood of Bryant handing the keys to the storied franchise over and the salary cap space to offer a big payday to lure Rondo in free agency.
Dragic is also expected to be pursued, but the Heat guard seems most likely - at this point, at least - to re-sign with Miami in the offseason.
