The Houston Rockets are going into this season with high expectations. They are expected to be in the playoffs and for the team, anything but an NBA Finals at the conclusion of the season will be a disappointment. Coming into the season, many have whispered a possible trade of Jeremy Lin. OpposingViews.com made their own trade, analyzing a deal that would land Lin with the Detroit Pistons. Here's a question, though the trade is hypothetical, would Lin thrive with a team like the Pistons?
The Knicks began winning and Lin began to excel, until the league figured him out, taking away passing lanes and playing physical ball against the 6'3" guard. He was an overnight sensation, but it looked as though the 24-year-old had too much pressure after playing his first full season in the NBA. Lin was supposed to be the face of the Rockets' franchise. He was supposed to be the player responsible for possibly getting the Rockets into the playoffs. However, that was the case until James Harden was acquired from the Oklahoma City Thunder. Suddenly, the Rockets were supposed to be in the playoffs.
Could Lin have taken the Rockets to the playoffs alone? Who knows. Now, he will be sharing the floor with Harden, Chandler Parsons and Howard. The only problem is that Houston's Coach, Kevin McHale doesn't seem to trust Lin, giving the third year player out of Harvard less playing time when it mattered the most. Ideally, Lin would be the everyday starter, which would allow him to gel with his teammates, but McHale seemed to have a win now mentality and didn't mind placing the younger Patrick Beverley in the starting lineup.
Cue in the Pistons. If the Rockets are hesitant about giving Lin a chance, why not try trading him to a team where he can flourish once again? The Pistons have pieces that could allow them to compete. The combination of Josh Smith and Lin could be strong. Payton Siva is a young guy out of Louisville, with Lin-like style of playing, who can learn from the fellow guard. Chauncey Billups is back in Detroit and he could help Lin work on his shooting.
The question has to be asked, especially since Lin emerged as, what many considered a superstar in a span of two weeks. His days as a New York Knick will never be forgotten. At that point in time, the Knicks were struggling, though the season was less than two months old. The Knicks had made a playoff appearance the season before, but they weren't a powerhouse. Lin got a chance to play and immediately impacted the team, transforming their season from a bust to another postseason appearance.
