Which marginal players will the Toronto Raptors bring back next season?
Jeremy Lin
Oh, Jeremy Lin. The Raptors had such high hopes for the veteran point guard when he originally signed with the team. Lin was the prime free agent of the buyout class. Him choosing Toronto was a big deal. Initially, he was expected to have a significant role in the Raptors playoff rotation.
However, during his time in Toronto Lin struggled immensely. He was turning the ball over at a high rate, wasn’t attacking the basket with the same efficiency he showed in Atlanta, and most of all, couldn’t make a jumper to save his life.
With a deep rotation of guards and the stakes being so high, Nick Nurse pulled Lin from the rotation. He wasn’t producing at a level which warranted playing time, and when you’re chasing a title, you can only wait so long before you cut bait.
To Lin’s credit, he never complained about his role. He came into work every day and said everything right in the media. He proved to be a quality teammate and earned a championship ring because of it.
Next. You play GM: Decide the fate of the Toronto Raptors offseason. dark
Before coming to the Raptors, Jeremy Lin was averaging 20 minutes per game for the Hawks. Before that, he was a productive player in Brooklyn and Charlotte. Being pulled from the rotation likely left a sour taste in his mouth, and at this point, both sides probably agree it’s time to move on.