Mitch Kupchak on Jeremy Lin: He ‘will make us a better team’
The Los Angeles Lakers and the Houston Rockets completed their trade for the rights of point guard Jeremy Lin. The trade was a cap-clearing move for the Rockets in hopes to land free agent big man Chris Bosh. Unfortunately for the Rockets, Bosh decided to return to the Miami Heat with a $118 million deal.
Here is the official statement from the NBA and the Lakers:
"The Los Angeles Lakers have made a trade with the Houston Rockets, acquiring guard Jeremy Lin as well as a future first round draft pick and a second round draft pick in 2015 (acquired by Houston in an earlier deal with the L.A. Clippers) in exchange for the rights to Sergei Lishchuk, it was announced today by General Manager Mitch Kupchak."
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As for the Lakers, they could not be happier with the trade and acquiring Jeremy Lin. According to General Manager Mitch Kupchak, the Lakers are a better team with Lin:
"This trade allows us to acquire a solid player who will make us a better team, as well as draft picks to improve our team in the future, while at the same time allowing us to maintain financial flexibility. In addition to what he’ll bring us on the court, we think Jeremy will be warmly embraced by our fans and our community."
Lin will likely be the starter for the Lakers at the point guard position next year and his attacking brand of basketball could open up avenues for other scorers on the team to get touches. Overall, this has to be looked at as a solid move for the Lakers moving forward.