Los Angeles Lakers Rumors: Jeremy Lin Will Likely Be Opening Night Starter

The Los Angeles Lakers rumors point to a big role for Jeremy Lin, the guard who was unceremoniously shipped out from Houston this summer.

The Lakers acquired Lin and a future first-round pick back in June in exchange for cash considerations. As ESPN noted, the deal allowed the cash-strapped Houston Rockets to make room for the acquisition of Chris Bosh, though he ultimately ended up staying with the Miami Heat. The Rockets still put the extra cash to good use by matching the offer sheet the Dallas Mavericks made to Chandler Parsons.

Though he was often reviled in Houston and took a larger-than-needed share of the blame for the team’s woes, Jeremy Lin may have found a soft landing in Los Angeles. The guard is now expected to start beside Kobe Bryant in the backcourt.

From Fansided:

The Los Angeles Lakers acquired Jeremy Lin, aka “Linsanity” from the Houston Rockets in July. We know that Lin is talented offensively, while he’s somewhat defensively challenged. He has the potential to score 16 or 17 points per game for the Lakers this season. However, with Steve Nash in the fold for one more season, we still don’t know if Lin will start for the Lakers in 2014. Well, we may have an answer.

According to Lakers reporter Mike Trudell, the Lakers likely lineup for opening night will be:

PG: Jeremy Lin
SG: Kobe Bryant
SF: Wesley Johnson
PF: Carlos Boozer
C: Jordan Hill
Sixth Man: Nick Young
Bench Rotation: Steve Nash, Xavier Henry, Julius Randle and Ed Davis
Deeper Bench: Robert Sacre, Ryan Kelly and Jordan Clarkson

Lin, who burst into the league three seasons ago with a torrid stretch with the New York Knicks that sparked “Linsanity” in the Big Apple, has actually been eyeing Los Angeles for quite some time.

“They had interest a few years ago when he (Lin) was in the summer league and signed with Golden State,” said his agent, Robert Montgomery. “The Lakers were one of three teams that we were talking with, so they did have interest then. If you’ve been following the NBA, you know it’s a very fluid league, so Jeremy is still playing, he’s played well throughout his tenure thus far and I think that the Lakers, just like a lot of other teams, have interest and have had interest.”

If the Los Angeles Lakers are to rebuild into any kind of title contender, Jeremy Lin could be a key piece. Kobe Bryant’s window is closing rapidly, and Steve Nash is expected to retire after this season as well, making him the future of the team’s backcourt.