NBA Free Agents 2012: Latest Buzz on Jeremy Lin and Top Restricted Free Agents
Jeremy Lin captured the imaginations of countless New York Knicks fans last season when he went from backup journeyman to starting NBA point guard seemingly overnight.
The emergence of Linsanity in the Big Apple has since made the 23-year-old floor general one of the most sought-after restricted free agents this summer.
The Houston Rockets offered Lin an offer sheet in the ballpark of four-years and $30 million shortly after the free-agency period began on July 1, and now time is running out for the Knicks to make a decision whether or not to match the offer and bring back Lin for next season.
As for the rest of the league's top restricted free agents this summer, here is the latest buzz.
Nicolas Batum
Restricted free agent Nicolas Batum is a young veteran. At age 23 Batum has already played four NBA seasons and started more than 200 games. That ideal mix of experience and potential is why Batum is being sought after by several teams this offseason.
Batum has agreed to an offer sheet with the Minnesota Timberwolves that would last four years and pay the French star anywhere from $45-50 million over that time.
Ryan Anderson
The NBA's Most Improved Player in 2011-12, Orlando Magic power forward Ryan Anderson is a restricted free agent but will now be headed to the New Orleans Hornets next season after the Magic agreed with the Hornets on a sign-and-trade deal involving Anderson, this according to a report by the Boston Herald.
Brook Lopez
Decent 7-footers are difficult to come by in today's NBA, so it comes as no surprise that Brooklyn's Brook Lopez enters this summer's free-agency period as one of the top restricted bigs. Lopez played in five games last season before going down to an ankle injury but is averaging 17.4 points and 7.5 rebounds for his career.
The latest on Lopez has the former Stanford big headed to a new destination, potentially Orlando in a trade that would bring Dwight Howard to Brooklyn, according to ESPN's Chris Broussard and Brian Windhorst.
Eric Gordon
Arguably the best restricted free agent available heading into this summer's signing frenzy was Hornets shooting guard Eric Gordon.
According to ESPN.com's Chris Broussard, Gordon has agreed on a maximum offer sheet with the Phoenix Suns that would pay him $58 million over the next four years.
Gordon is hoping that the Hornets do not match the offer sheet so that he can play with the Suns next season and help them in their quest to deliver the franchise's first NBA championship.
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