Rumor: Jeremy Lin headed to Phoenix?

Few players have captured the imaginations of basketball
fans quite like Jeremy Lin did during the 2011-12 season.

The Knicks guard became the very definition of making the
most of an opportunity when he broke into the New York
starting lineup in February. In 25 starts, the Harvard
grad averaged 18.2 points and 7.7 assists as the Knicks
went 15-10.

Lin’s startling season was cut short by a knee injury, and
now his future in the Big Apple is in doubt.

The 23-year-old is a free agent, and could draw
considerable interest from several NBA teams. One of
those teams, at least according to an ESPN
Insider report
from David Thorpe, is the Phoenix Suns. Thorpe thinks
the
Lin-Phoenix marriage makes sense for a number of reasons.

This is my favorite landing spot for Lin if
not New York. He would certainly be a starter if Steve
Nash leaves, in an offense that is very similar to what he
successfully ran as a Knick. Center Marcin Gortat becomes
an excellent ball screen partner, and they play at a speed
with which Lin is very comfortable.

Even if Nash returns, the Suns would possibly have not
only his long-term replacement but someone who can provide
a scoring punch off the bench as well as an energy guy
with the second unit. It’s not hard to remember the impact
Leandro Barbosa had as Nash’s backup. If they offered
enough money, Lin will have to give that opportunity
serious consideration regardless of what Nash does.

And Thorpe is right. With or without Nash in the fold
moving forward, the Suns need to find their point guard of
the future.

Lin is also one of the only free agents in this year’s
crop that could excite the Suns fan base and put extra
fannies in the seats at US Airways Center.

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