Report: Jeremy Lin trade too expensive for 76ers

Apparently there are takebacks in the NBA. The trade was said to be a done deal in principle. Jeremy Lin was going to be traded from the Houston Rockets to the Philadelphia 76ers. This offseason has proved that assumptions mean nothing and “in principal” carries little weight. And somehow, LeBron James or Camelo Anthony probably have something to do with it.

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A source told Del Lynam of CSN Houston that the Sixers cap space “may prove too expensive.” The deal previously agreed upon likely did not slough as much cap space as the Rockets had anticipated and thus they changed they mind. They have other options in moving Lin and may look to pursue those in greater depth in light of this sudden trepidation.

“We are active in conversations with a lot of teams and a lot of agents,”  general manager Sam Hinkie said at summer league, via CSN Houston. “Sometimes that leads to transactions and sometimes it doesn’t. It will be interesting to see how the next few days play out.

“The best players in the NBA, just like the best people in any market, want to work with great people. They want to be around greatness wherever they can find it. It won’t surprise me if that becomes a big part of what we hear about in the next few days.”

Que the waterfall of rumors as to where Lin could end up next. The most likely, perhaps, is Houston. If Anthony and James go elsewhere, the Rockets may want to retain their assets. Having a deal ready to go in the event of Anthony, James’ or Chris Bosh’s interest is great, but they may not exercise the trade until they’ve guaranteed a deal from one of those stars. Otherwise, they have no need to clear cap space.