2015 NBA Free Agency: Best Potential Landing Spots for Jeremy Lin

Jeremy Lin is an unrestricted free agent, and suitors are sure to come calling for a player who can capably serve as a low-level starter or a top-tier leader of a second unit. 

Even though the point guard hasn't been able to live up to the reputation he created for himself during his Linsanity period with the New York Knicks, he's still proved that he belongs in the NBA. Lin will turn 27 this offseason, so he has almost the entirety of his athletic prime left in front of him, and he's coming off a season in which he averaged 11.2 points, 2.6 rebounds and 4.6 assists for a struggling Los Angeles Lakers squad. 

The turnovers that plagued him early in his career? He's kept them at more reasonable levels for years now, and that improvement has come while he's honed his skills as a strong offensive threat in pick-and-roll situations. 

Even though opinions about Lin seem to fall on opposite ends of the spectrum, the reality lies somewhere in between: He can be a valuable contributor on a solid team, even if he's never going to be a star. 

So, what's best for Lin this summer? We're looking for the locations that can make the most of his talents, whether through available playing time or the right stylistic fit. Ideally, he'll find both, but that's not a guarantee during the NBA's golden age of point guards; there are simply a lot of talented players at his position already entrenched in featured roles. 

To be clear, this is not about where he'll end up. As Mark Medina reports for InsideSocial.com, the Lakers have expressed interest in bringing him back, while the Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies, Indiana Pacers, Chicago Bulls, San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Clippers have shown desire for his services as well. 

The Lakers may be a possible landing spot for him—a leading candidate, even—but that doesn't make them one of the five best. Not after he struggled to find success under Byron Scott and would now have to fight for playing time with a broken-out Jordan Clarkson, a healthy Kobe Bryant and the fresh addition of D'Angelo Russell. 

5. Indiana Pacers

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At this point in Jeremy Lin's career, he's not going to start in most locations. Some of his ideal landing spots do indeed involve roles that would see him running the show for the second unit, and the Indiana Pacers are one such destination. 

George Hill is firmly entrenched as the starter, but the Pacers could certainly use some offensive firepower off the bench. It's been a while since the team had a strong option who could create shots for himself and others, but Lin could change that with one stroke of his pen. 

Of course, the point guard isn't a perfect fit for this team. 

Typically, Indiana employs players with a hard-nosed, defensive mentality, but the point-preventing end is most assuredly where Lin is weakest. Though he can be an adequate defender in pick-and-roll situations, he doesn't exactly hold his own night in and night out. 

But the Pacers still roster Roy Hibbert, who's more than capable of covering up for many of Lin's mistakes on the defensive end. Beyond that, there are standout stoppers littering this roster, and point guard is the easiest hole to cover up. 

Basically, his offensive game is worth acquiring, thanks to his potential teammates' ability to clean up for his mistakes. Whether he's running pick-and-rolls of his own, dishing the ball out to open shooters on the perimeter or spotting up, he'd add something to an Indiana bench that could use more punch. 

4. Chicago Bulls

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The Chicago Bulls certainly wouldn't be able to offer Jeremy Lin a starting gig, but he shouldn't let that deter him from hearing them out. After all, Derrick Rose isn't exactly a model of perfect health, and the second unit desperately needs an upgrade from Kirk Hinrich. 

"As a willing passer and someone who likes challenging the big men of the game at the rim, Lin can run an offense within a pick-and-roll, a skill that shouldn't be undervalued," Mark Karantzoulis wrote for ChicagoNow.com while calling the Harvard product an option for Chicago in free agency. "With more of this basketball expected in Chicago under [Fred] Hoiberg, that could certainly be a weapon if harnessed correctly."

The same caveats that popped up for Indiana apply here, though. 

Defense isn't exactly this point guard's forte, and that's a bit troubling given the new leanings of this Chicago organization. A healthy Joakim Noah should be a nice option to pick up the trash behind him, but Hoiberg's arrival in the Windy City is only going to keep the offensive trend going, one that began this past season under former head coach Tom Thibodeau. 

Plus, Lin would have to learn how to thrive off the ball in Chicago. He's always been better while controlling a possession, but there are plenty of players on the Bulls roster who need the rock in order to function at their peak levels—Rose, Jimmy Butler, Noah and Pau Gasol all qualify. 

3. New York Knicks

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Is it time to rekindle Linsanity? 

Jeremy Lin has never experienced as much success as he did during his first stint with the New York Knicks, where he became an instant, out-of-nowhere sensation and put up some monstrous numbers. He only suited up 35 times for the Madison Square Garden residents, but he averaged 14.6 points, 3.1 rebounds and 6.2 assists while shooting 44.6 percent from the field. His player efficiency rating was even a career-best 19.9, according to Basketball-Reference.com. 

But while many fans of this downtrodden franchise would likely welcome him with open arms, expecting him to turn back the clocks and become an instant sensation once more, a lot has changed. 

Mike D'Antoni is no longer running the show, and head coach Derek Fisher's triangle offense wouldn't allow Lin to play the pick-and-roll ball that made him so special during that initial 35-game stretch. Instead, he'd have to focus on constantly moving the rock and serving as a spot-up shooter, unless he were allowed to play outside the system in certain situations. 

Beyond that, the rotation at point guard doesn't allow for guaranteed heavy minutes. Jose Calderon is still in the Big Apple, and Jerian Grant was added during the draft. Plus, Langston Galloway can play some minutes at the 1 in a pinch. 

The convergence of factors during Lin's first New York stint was perfectly conducive to a breakout, given his skill set and the opportunity that came with no realistic replacement. That's not the case anymore, but Lin would at least be given a shot at the starting job and welcomed with open arms. 

2. Houston Rockets

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Sure, the ending to the last tenure with the Houston Rockets was a bit unfortunate. 

"If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them," Jeremy Lin tweeted, quoting scripture after he felt disrespected that the franchise had used his number on a billboard while recruiting Carmelo Anthony. 

Normally, this wouldn't be too problematic. But it may have been the final straw, because Lin was already widely viewed as available in a trade. 

"It's not a secret to anyone that Jeremy Lin is on the trade block," Kurt Helin wrote for Pro Basketball Talk after Lin took to social media. "In fact if Anthony chooses the Rockets (not likely) they reportedly have a deal already set up where they wouldn’t have to take any salary back. One way or another it’s likely Lin is wearing the No. 7 of another team at some point this year."

Eventually, he ended up on the Los Angeles Lakers after a trade, but there apparently wasn't too much bitterness on the part of the organization. According to Bleacher Report's Howard Beck, the Rockets are still interested in bringing him back. 

"The Rockets remain high on Lin and are expected to be among his chief suitors this summer," he reported back in early February. 

It can still happen, especially with Patrick Beverley and Jason Terry hanging out in the open market. The Rockets don't have a legitimate starting point guard right now, and there's no guarantee they'll want to match whatever offer sheet Beverley signs now that he's a restricted free agent. 

Lin would have to adjust to more of an off-ball role alongside James Harden, but he's more experienced and increasingly mature now. Doing exactly that is a distinct possibility. 

1. Dallas Mavericks

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The Dallas Mavericks really just don't have any better options. 

The incumbents? After Raymond Felton opted into the last year of his current deal, the Mavs are left with him and Devin Harris. A few years ago, that may have been a workable rotation but not in 2015's NBA. 

Beyond that, there aren't really many impressive free-agent point guards who might make the trip to Dallas. Based on my ranking of the 50 best players who entered the summer without current deals, these are the top five: 

1. Goran Dragic, who has re-signed with the Miami Heat
2. Brandon Knight, who has re-signed with the Milwaukee Bucks
3. Reggie Jackson, a restricted free agent who Stan Van Gundy proclaims is the top priority in Detroit
4. Rajon Rondo, who will not be coming back to Dallas
5. Lou Williams, who hasn't been seriously linked to the Mavericks

This class doesn't exactly boast a plethora of options. Beyond those five, the Mavericks are looking at players such as Jeremy Lin and Cory Joseph. 

If for no reason other than sheer opportunity, this has to be the best destination for the Linsanity star. He may not be the first choice for Dallas, but that doesn't matter here. He'd get to play, and he'd get to play a lot. 

Right now, there's not another location that would be forced into handing him heaps of offensive responsibility. 

Adam Fromal covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter: @fromal09.