The
They initially tried to sign
In a less-publicized action, the Lakers put in a waiver claim for Lin when Golden State dropped him in 2011. Houston had a worse record than the Lakers and was awarded him.
But the Lakers acquired him in a trade with the
“This time, we got Jeremy Lin,” Lakers General Manager
One thing is certain. Lin isn't looking to repeat the intense attention that accompanied him while playing for New York in 2011-12.
"I'm not trying to relive that banner season and I think that's been a big weight off my shoulder. I'm not trying to recreate a 'Linsanity,' " he said. "I'm not trying to be that phenomenon that happened in New York. I just want to be myself more than ever."
It took a salary dump from Houston to make Lin a member of the Lakers. The Rockets eagerly sent him to try to make room for free agent
But Bosh declined Houston's offer and returned to Miami.
The Lakers might have found a starting point guard, seeing how
“I obviously believe that I can start for an
Lin, however, lost his starting job to Patrick Beverley last season while averaging 12.5 points and 4.1 assists. He has one more year on his contract for $14.9 million.
He has texted with
"His skill set is just clearly different than mine," Lin said, smiling. "I don't think I've ever shot a fadeaway jumper from the mid-post ever."
Lin will wear No. 17, which was most recently worn on the Lakers by
Lin wore No. 17 while with New York but isn’t expecting any flashbacks from that season, which included a 38-point outburst against the Lakers at
"I'm not trying to be a player from the past," he said. "I'm trying to make history again."