NBA Free Agency 2012: Latest Buzz on Jeremy Lin and Big-Name Free Agents

The last of the big-name 2012 NBA free agents are on the move as this summer's bidding season and negotiating period winds down.

Early 2012 overnight sensation Jeremy Lin heads a list of a handful of notable players who are creating buzz at the moment thanks to the latest news surrounding them. Here we'll look at the latest on Lin and two other free agents.

Jeremy Lin

According to ESPN New York's Ian Begley, Jeremy Lin looks to be headed to Houston to help fill the void at point guard for the Rockets after the New York Knicks made a trade with Portland to acquire Raymond Felton, who thrived alongside Amar'e Stoudemire in New York's offense not long ago. 

Lin signed an offer sheet with Houston worth over $25 million for four years, and now that the Knicks have inked Felton in a sign-and-trade in addition to signing veteran Jason Kidd earlier this offseason, Linsanity in the Big Apple seems all but over. The Knicks will reportedly not match the offer, according to ESPN's Stephen A. Smith.

The Knicks are doing themselves a favor if so, though; Felton was spectacular for NY for the short time that he was there. He averaged 17.1 points and nine assists per game in 2010-11 before being traded to the Denver Nuggets. 

Eric Gordon

The New Orleans Hornets will make a run at competing next season with talented shooting guard Eric Gordon on board after matching Phoenix's max offer of four years and $58 million, according to ESPN.com's Marc Stein.

Gordon averaged 20.6 points per game last season with the Hornets after coming over in the preseason trade that sent Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Clippers. Gordon will now make the lives of 2012 lottery picks Anthony Davis and Austin Rivers that much easier as the team's designated star player. 

It is rather awkward, though, that Gordon can be so excited about returning to New Orleans after he gushed about the Suns for so long this summer, but I guess $58 million is enough to change anyone's mind.

Nicolas Batum

According to the Associated Press via ESPN.com, the Minnesota Timberwolves are all-in on Portland Trail Blazers forward Nicolas Batum. Minnesota has put in an offer sheet for four years and $46 million that the Blazers have three days to match.

Batum, who is a young veteran with plenty of solid years ahead of him, only averaged 13.9 points per game last season on 45 percent shooting from the field. Although he is only 23 years old, it seems the T-Wolves are a bit desperate to acquire a semi-big-name free agent this summer.

According to the same ESPN.com report on Sunday, Blazers general manager Neil Olshey has been consistent in his replies that Portland will match whatever offer Minnesota throws at Batum. 

That being said, let's put it this way: If the Blazers let him walk, it wouldn't be the worst front-office move they've ever made. 

Follow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Patrick Clarke on Twitter for more reaction on this summer's 2012 NBA free agency action.