The trading season continues within the NBA, and the Los Angeles Lakers have looked at sending Jeremy Lin and Nick Young to separate teams as part of any potential trade deal.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports, the Dallas Mavericks are exploring sign-and-trade possibilities with the Lakers in order to acquire Lin. Citing league sources, Wojnarowski reported that Lin saw the Mavericks as a place where he could reignite his NBA career and fight for the chance to become the starting point guard.
"Lin could join a free agent class that already includes center DeAndre Jordan and guard Wes Matthews," Wojnarowski wrote. "The Mavericks have exhausted most of their salary-cap space to sign those players and have only an exception of $2.8 million available if the team doesn't use that to sign free agent J.J. Barea."
Wojnarowski added that the Mavericks could use the sign-and-trade to secure Lin to a deal. That's because Dallas is "low on the necessary salary-cap space and expectations to sign Lin to a market-level contract."
"The Mavericks let two guards - Monta Ellis and Rajon Rondo - leave in free agency and only declining journeyman Raymond Felton remains on the roster," Wojnarowski wrote. "The Mavericks are bringing back veteran backup J.J. Barea, too."
According to Yahoo Sports, Lin averaged 11 points and 4.6 assists in 74 games for the Lakers.
"Lin's proficiency in the pick-and-roll is especially attractive with the commitment of Jordan to play center," Wojnarowski wrote.
Matt Moore of CBS Sports pointed out that the Mavericks needed a point guard on their roster, which explains why the team wants to recruit Lin.
"Lin is burdened by the idea of him more than his actual game," Moore wrote. "He's a competent borderline starter who works hard, but isn't good defensively and isn't explosive enough offensively to really be a key component. But those magical two weeks of 'Linsanity' in New York several years ago hang around as the idea of what he's capable of."
Lin is not the only player on the Lakers roster placed on the trading block. According to Mark Spears and Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports, Nick Young could also go up on the trading block, especially since the Lakers have expressed interest for Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert.
"As the Lakers work to clear cap space to sign free agents and absorb Hibbert's contract, Nick Young is a strong candidate to be unloaded," Spears and Wojnarowski wrote, citing sources. "The Lakers are finalizing details to acquire Hibbert, and there remains a possibility Los Angeles could send a player to the Pacers in the agreement. The Lakers and Pacers had agreed on a future second-round pick as compensation for Hibbert and his $15.5 million 2015-16 salary getting absorbed into Los Angeles' salary-cap space."
According to Yahoo Sports, other Lakers players that could go on the trading block include Ryan Kelly and Robert Sacre.
