1. Jeremy Lin
Linsanity coming to LA was quite possibly the biggest shock of the off-season for Lakers fans. Hours after LeBron James declared his return to Cleveland, Houston seemed set on acquiring Chris Bosh and subsequently was looking for a deal to clear cap space for the Texas native. The Lakers stepped up, acquiring Jeremy Lin and his enormous contract with the added luxury of Houston’s first round pick in the upcoming draft.
With Lin comes a huge fan base, but big expectations. After his half-season stint in New York, he’s been a solid player, but nothing more. Fans have given him a bad rap, for whatever reason, but he’s still a quality. Depending on what type of offer and interest Lin gets at the trade deadline, he could be moved for even more assets.
The Lakers learned this summer that having an open book and a chance to pick a coach isn’t enough to lure a free agent. Now, they’ll start stockpiling assets, and Lin could acquire them some assets, likely in the form of draft picks. At the same time, Lin himself is an asset to lure in free agents, leaving the Lakers will a tough choice.