Jeremy Lin Trade Rumors: Kings Expressed 'Exploratory' Interest in Hawks PG

The Sacramento Kings have reportedly "expressed exploratory trade interest" in Atlanta Hawks point guard Jeremy Lin ahead of the NBA's Feb. 7 trade deadline.

Marc Stein of the New York Times reported the update Tuesday and provided further details about the Hawks' desire to trade veteran assets for draft picks:

Lin is averaging 10.8 points, 3.6 assists and 2.4 rebounds across 39 appearances for Atlanta this season. His average of 19.5 minutes per game is his lowest since 2010-11 with the Golden State Warriors.

Howard Megdal of Forbes provided comments the point guard made last week about his role:

"I feel like when you play a lot more minutes you get more rhythm, you can read the game a little bit more. You get more opportunities. I'm going out there every night trying to do my best, and some nights it is what it is, but I think it's just the flow or the rhythm... Maybe the way it works in terms of just having the ball constantly, feeling it, touching it. I don't know, but I just try to do my best in whatever role I get, I'm handed. I've been fortunate to have some big breakout games in my time."

While the 30-year-old Harvard product is limited by Atlanta's backcourt depth, he could move into the backup point guard role behind De'Aaron Fox in Sacramento.

Jeremy Lin from DEEP

The Kings also feature expiring contracts like Zach Randolph and Kosta Koufos that would be attractive to a Hawks squad trying to build for the future with draft picks and cap space, per Stein.

Sacramento is a half-game behind the final playoff spot in the highly competitive Western Conference thanks to a three-game winning streak that's moved its record to 23-21. It could be enough to make the Kings, who haven't made the postseason since the 2005-06 season, buyers at the deadline.

Lin could fill one of the roster's few holes with neither Yogi Ferrell nor Frank Mason III doing much with the offense when Fox is on the bench.