NBA Rumors: Jeremy Lin Adds More Bite To Toronto Raptors

Jeremy Lin's last stop for the 2018-19 NBA season will not be with the Atlanta Hawks but with the Raptors. This developed after reports surfaced that the 30-year-old agreed to a buyout and is expected to head on over to Toronto.

Lin and his agents finally agreed to a buyout, and the American-Asian is apparently looking forward to joining the Raptors' backcourt. He thanked Hawks fans for the opportunity and also added that he is all hyped up to play for the Raptors in a post on his Instagram account.

The buyout agreement loomed as the logical move instead of teams picking him up on waivers. Lin holds a $13.8 million contract for the rest of this NBA season, numbers which would make it impossible for a team to claim him off waivers, ESPN reported.

Lin is expected to fill in for Frank VanVleet, who is expected to miss at least three weeks due to a partially torn ligament in his left thumb. The Raptors will be Lin's eighth team since entering the NBA back in 2010.

This NBA season, Lin has averaged 10.7 points, 3.5 assists and 2.3 rebounds. He is likely to come off the bench to spell either Kyle Lowry or Danny Green. He is the latest player to be added following the contract conversion of two-way player Chris Boucher. Like Lin, Boucher is a former Golden State Warrior.

“Heck of an addition for the Raptors with Fred being out a little bit. What I always said about Jeremy is he’s a heck of a competitor, a much better defender than people think,” said Brooklyn Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson, who is also Linsanity's longtime friend, in a report from the New York Post.

Lin was one of the players likely to be traded before the Feb. 7 trade deadline by the Hawks. Atlanta acquired Lin from the Nets last summer along with draft picks, in exchange for the draft rights to Isaia Cordinier and a future second-round pick.

Hampered by injuries during past NBA seasons, Lin has played a total of 51 games so far -- more than his two-year stay in Brooklyn. Known for his offensive moves and ability to energize a team, Lin should boost the Raptors as they prepare for the postseason wars.