NBA Rumors: Point Guard Offered $3 Million, Hints At Ongoing Talks

Jeremy Lin’s NBA journey looks likely to be coming to an end at least for the foreseeable future with the point guard said to be close to a move to the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). The Beijing Ducks were touted as his potential destination but Lin has come down and played down talks of an agreement but failed to deny speculation about ongoing talks about a move.

The American-Asian point guard, who won the 2019 NBA championship with the Toronto Raptors, has not generated any interest from NBA franchises despite playing a combined 74 games with Atlanta Hawks and Raptors last season. Lin admitted last month that free agency has weighed him down with the feeling that the NBA has given up on him.

Lin is currently in Beijing and reports claim that a number of teams from the Chinese Basketball Association are keen on signing the 2019 NBA champion. South China Morning Post’s Jonathan White reports that he has been offered $3 million per year to sign for the Beijing Ducks, who play in the North Division of the CBA.

The 30-year-old guard, who will turn a year older on Aug. 23, however, has confirmed there is no agreement at the moment but didn't deny that he was in talks with teams in the CBA. He hinted something was in the pipeline, stating: “Most importantly, I hope that I can play very happy next season. Nothing is official until I say something,” during an event in Beijing.

Lin has played for eight NBA franchises after going undrafted in 2010. He started his career with the Golden State Warriors and has also represented Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks while holding a career average of 11.6 points, 4.3 assists and 2.8 rebounds in 480 games.

Lin, however, will not be the first NBA player to play for the Ducks if he agrees a contract with the most famous franchise in the Chinese capital, as Former Knicks player Stephon Marbury played for the Ducks from 2011-2017, winning two CBA titles before joining the Beijing Fly Dragons.