Jeremy Lin: Breaking Down Best Fits for Point Guard

There appears to be plenty of potential suitors for Jeremy Lin as he prepares to become a restricted free agent after this NBA season. But not all of his possible landing spots are a good for him.

According to Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld.com, there are already many teams interested in Lin.

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The Toronto Raptors, Dallas Mavericks, Portland Trail Blazers, Golden State Warriors and Brooklyn Nets are among the teams eyeing Lin as free agency approaches, according to sources close to the situation.

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Of those teams mentioned above, here are the best possible fits for the Harvard grad.

New York Knicks

Well, this one is a no-brainer for both sides.

New York is the best place for athletes to play if they have financial aspirations outside of their NBA paycheck. For Lin, a player with such an international appeal, that fact is no different. There is no better stage than New York and Madison Square Garden for him to build his global brand.

On the flip side, the Knicks would love to bring Lin back considering how hot his jersey sold this season and the incredible attention he brings along with him worldwide.

Even if the Knicks were able to somehow land Steve Nash, Lin would have an top-notch mentor to help him develop into the great point guard he hopes to be one day, and that's the worst-case scenario.

Still, I doubt that will happen, and I'm fully confident that come next season, Lin will once again be running New York's offense.

Dallas Mavericks

The Mavs have a ton of cap space to work with this offseason, and that could benefit Lin.

Because of the Gilbert Arenas provision in the new collective bargaining agreement, Lin's salary cannot exceed around $5 million for the first year of any deal.

However, according to Kennedy's article, there is a way around that if a team like the Mavericks wants to snag the point guard.

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Lin’s options are somewhat limited due to a restriction called the “Gilbert Arenas Provision” that was added to the new collective bargaining agreement. This rule states that Lin’s salary in the first two years of his next contract cannot exceed $5,000,000 and $5,225,000.

However, there is a loophole. A team with salary cap space could make things interesting by increasing Lin’s salary in years three and four of his contract and paying him the average salary of the four-year deal. However, if the Knicks match a back-loaded offer, they’ll have to pay the actual salary that he’s due for each season.

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Dallas has more than enough cap space to make such a deal if the plan to sign Deron Williams falls through.

Lin would be paired with Dirk Nowitzki, who already has a championship ring. Playing with a guy like Dirk will instantly make Lin's job easier. The Mavs will have the money to surround Lin with the players he needs, and he would get plenty of playing time during the season.

Brooklyn Nets

With the Nets moving into a new arena next season, it would seem that losing Deron Williams would be the end-all, be-all of this organization and would totally erase any excitement for the newest team in Brooklyn.

But if Lin were to open the Barclay's Center, that would instantly change.

Granted, Lin isn't better than Williams at this point in his career, but he could garner just as much, if not more attention than the all-world point guard.

Brooklyn would be a great place for Lin to continue building what is an already impressive global brand. He would instantly be the face of the franchise with plenty of playing time to follow.

And, of course, the Nets have the cap space to backload a deal to bring Lin to Brooklyn. That would really give the Knicks headaches courtesy of their crosstown rivals.