The Golden State Warriors have a few holes to fill this off-season, but they have not done much since their season came to an end. With free agency looming, the Warriors will look into bringing some guards who could come off the bench and be productive. Head coach Steve Kerr knows he can potentially have one of the most potent offenses in the league, but will need an offensive spark coming off the bench.
After Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, the Warriors’ guard situation is looking bleak. According to Marcus Thompson of the Bay Area News Group, the Warriors might be interested in trading for Jeremy Lin this offseason:
The Warriors, per a league source, have informed the Houston they would consider acquiring Lin from the Rockets via trade. Houston is reportedly shopping Lin in case they need to create cap space for Carmelo Anthony or LeBron James.
The Warriors have a $9.8 million trade exception leftover from the trade that sent Andris Biedrins and Richard Jefferson’s expiring contract to Utah. Though Lin is scheduled to make $14.9 million, only $8.37 will count against the salary cap. That means the Warriors can absorb Lin’s contract without giving up any players.
Lin could come in right away and improve the supporting cast’s offensive output. Lin could also fill in quite nicely at the backup point guard position behind Curry. The Warriors have a trade exception they could use to acquire Lin and they would not have to give anybody up in the process. Bringing back the hometown kid to Golden State could be a real possibility this off-season, but the Warriors are surely exploring a multitude of options.
Lin’s first stop in Golden State was well before he blew up with the New York Knicks in 2012. Now, he has established himself as a solid NBA player and there is no question he can put the ball in the hole. Lin would instantly become a fan favorite, but this time he doesn’t have to worry about being a promotional stunt and solely focus on helping the Warriors win.