SportsCenter tweeted out the details of the deal:
Right now, the addition of Lin seems anticlimactic for the storied franchise. After all, there has been speculation for the last year that the allure of playing in Hollywood could bring James or Anthony this offseason. Lin is far from either of those franchise-changing superstars.
But for a team that now finds itself in the midst of a full-fledged rebuild, this is a move that is bound to pay dividends.
Most importantly, there's the fact that, in the short term, Lin is a big upgrade at the point guard position. As ESPN Stats and Info points out, he was much more productive last season than his new teammates at the same position:
From a sheer basketball perspective, Lin offers someone who can not only set up teammates, but create offense for himself. Only James shot better from the floor on drives, per ESPN Stats and Info:
Of course, the reason the Lakers were able to snag Lin for nothing was because he's on the books for $14.9 million this season, according to Spotrac. However, unlike most salary dumps, where the player in question is meant to sit on the roster for one season, Lin could be a meaningful asset going forward for the right price.
While Lin has always been a polarizing player because of his popularity, his numbers have been consistent over the last three seasons. As a part-time starter last season, he averaged 12.5 points and 4.1 assists on 44.6 percent shooting.
In his 2012 season as a full-time starter, he averaged 13.4 points per game and 6.1 assists on 44.1 percent shoot...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
