Point guard Lin’s arrival win-win for team and player
Sometimes the forces in the world just line up in everyone’s best interests.
The arrival of Jeremy Lin, midway through a potentially franchise-altering season, is one of those such instances.
No one knows how much a difference Lin is going to make on this team, but, in the moment, his arrival is huge for the team.
As it stands right now, the Raptors have one healthy point guard in Kyle Lowry, who has already twice this year been fallen by back issues that cost him games.
Lin jumps in with Delon Wright having been forfeited as part of the Marc Gasol trade. But his immediate value spikes with Fred VanVleet, Lowry’s primary backup, out three to four weeks minimum following surgery to repair a partly torn ligament in his left thumb.
When the idea of bringing in Lin first occurred to the Raptors, it was with depth in mind. Right now he’s a necessity for them.
But this works out very well for Lin as well.
The much-travelled veteran of nine NBA seasons is healthy again this year after almost two full seasons of rehab, ironically six months of that time was spent in Vancouver at the Fortius Sport and Health Centre, where the Raptors have held training camp for four of the past five seasons.
Lin loved Canada before his stay in Vancouver. That six months only made the bond tighter. When Lin finally returned to action this year, it was in Atlanta where playing time was plentiful but winning opportunities were extremely limited. The Hawks — and Lin is very thankful for his time there — are in the early stages of a rebuild. Developing is the focus there. Lin was looking for the chance to win.
“I’ve been to the playoffs four times and haven’t been past the first round of the playoffs and I was injured in a couple of those series, but for me to have a chance to do something special with this team — every player, when you grow up, you dream about this. There’s been a lot of highs and lows and I didn’t expect it, but ended up in Atlanta … it was top of the line, but to have a chance to play deep into the playoffs? Yeah, I’m tired of watching and being hurt for two straight years kind of adds to that. I didn’t get a chance to compete so this is awesome.”
Toronto may have been at the top of Lin’s destination of choices, but it wasn’t his only option. The Hawks management team, a professional group that is well aware of the limitations they offer a player deep into his career at this point like Lin, willingly agreed to the buyout to give him this chance while freeing up more minutes for their own developing young core and saving a little salary in the process.
There were a few things that tipped the balance in Toronto’s favour when Lin sat down to map out his next destination.
First was the desire he saw and experienced from within the club for his talents.
“They really, really wanted me,” Lin said.
“I’ve been around and I’ve been in a lot of different situations. But when the organization as a whole wants you, from front office to coaches to players, that means something.”
Lin said he has been in situations where one of the three of those groups made the intention clear or even two, but this was the first time he heard from all three groups and that hit home with him.