Jeremy Lin trade news 2015: Point guard could end up in Utah to help backcourt

Jeremy LinWikimedia Commons

The Los Angeles Lakers are focusing on their options this upcoming draft trying to build a contending team for next season but one of the players who might be looking for better options this offseason is point guard Jeremy Lin.

Lin has not played the way he used to when he was with the New York Knicks but he proved last season despite a bad year with the Lakers that he is still capable of contributing.

The 26-year-old averaged 11.2 points, 2.6 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.1 steals in 74 games played in the 2014-15 season which included 30 starts.

In a report by Yibada.com, the Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets and the Philadelphia 76ers are among the teams that are trying to lure Lin.

But according to the report, NBA writer Matt Pecenza's recent entry in his blog explains why Lin could be a perfect fit for the young Utah Jazz.

Pecenza, a Utah native, said the Jazz can benefit from Lin's presence in the backcourt with Australian prodigy Dante Exum and 2014 NBA Skills Challenge champion Trey Burke.

The report said Exum is still a raw point guard and that showed in his performance last season as he averaged 4.8 points, 1.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 82 games played in his rookie season.

Exum was a top prospect entering last year's draft and was selected fifth overall although he failed to meet the hype.

According to Yibada.com, Pacenza said signing Lin to a short-term deal is sensible for Utah as he can provide stability with Exum still improving.

Pacenza also said Lin will be efficient as a backup for Exum rather than Burke since the former Michigan standout is providing more than the young Aussie.

Lin will be one of the greatest backups if that happened since he already has the experience and Pacenza said he can also close games for the Jazz.