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NBA Free Agency: Jeremy Lin, Brooklyn Nets Agree To Three-Year Deal

By Mark Suleymanov
Published on: 03:30 PST, Jul 1, 2016

Linsanity is coming to Brooklyn as the Nets have agreed to a three-year, $36 million deal with point guard Jeremy Lin. Marc Stein of ESPN confirmed the terms of Lin’s new deal, with Adrian Wojnarowski of the Vertical first reporting that a deal was close.

Wojnarowski also noted that Lin’s deal includes a player option on the third year, a trade kicker, and additional bonuses. Lin confirmed the deal on Twitter.

Lin, 27, is returning to New York, the birthplace of “Linsanity,” after playing for three different teams in the past four seasons. Last season, Lin played with the Charlotte Hornets, helping lead the team to the NBA Playoffs as a focal point on the team’s bench. Through 78 games (13 starts), Lin averaged 11.7 points, 3.0 assists, and 3.2 rebounds in 26.3 minutes per game.

This signing represents the Nets’ first major move of the 2016 offseason. The team waived point guard Jarrett Jack yesterday after not finding a suitable trade partner for the 32-year-old veteran. In 32 games for Brooklyn last season, Jack averaged 12.8 points and 7.4 assists. However, the Nets elected to cut ties with Jack before his entire $6.3 million salary for the 2016-17 became guaranteed. Instead, the Nets will pay Jack his $500,000 guarantee and stretch it out over three years, which gives the team extra financial flexibility (via Hoops Rumors).

Speaking of Jack, he seemed to mock the Nets’ signing of Lin on Twitter. However, he shortly thereafter downplayed what the below tweet meant.

The Palo Alto, California, native burst onto basketball glory when he was acquired by the New York Knicks during the 2011-12 season, going on an unprecedented run of excellence. In 35 games (25 starts) for the Knicks, Lin averaged 14.6 points and 6.2 assists, helping lead New York to the postseason. However, a knee injury cut Lin’s season — and time in New York — short.

In the offseason, Lin signed a multi-year deal with the Rockets but was not able to replicate his success in New York with other teams. Lin has remained a solid role player in the four seasons after leaving the Knicks. However, in an interview with the World Economic Forum over the weekend, Lin expressed his desire to settle down with a team.

“I’ve played six years in the NBA; I’ve played on five different teams. I’ve played for two D-League teams — so seven cities in six years. I’m tired of boxes, I’m tired of moving companies, and I want to find a home,” Lin said.

Also, in signing with Brooklyn, he will be reunited with coach Kenny Atkinson.

Atkinson left his post with the Atlanta Hawks to become the Nets’ head coach in mid-April this year. During Lin’s lone season with the Knicks, Atkinson served as an assistant coach, and the hope is he can recapture some of that glory in his New York return.

Following the trade that brought Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Jason Terry to Brooklyn a few years ago, the Nets compromised their future by giving up a litany of future draft picks. The team has been treading water since then, most recently trading their best player, Thaddeus Young, on NBA Draft night for the 20th overall pick (Caris LeVert from Michigan State University). Also on draft night, the team acquired Brooklyn native and 42nd overall pick Isiah Whitehead in a trade with the Utah Jazz.

With Lin on board, the Nets still have cap space to add one more max free agent as they look to compete next season.

[Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images]

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