Jeremy Lin news: Next steps may depend on salary demands

Jeremy LinReuters

Jeremy Lin, the Asian-American from Harvard University who rose to fame when he was still a New York Knick, is likely out of a job after the current NBA season comes to a close.

As Lin is seen not to fit the coaching philosophy that Byron Scott is preaching, it is imminent that Lin will be left out once the Lakers start to rebuild and prepare for next season.

Lin originally started at point guard but his position was slowly eaten up by upstarts Ronnie Price and Jordan Clarkson. Injuries and his style simply hindered his blend into the Lakers' engine, leading to rumors that Linsanity will be out of the team once free agency in July takes center stage.

Something being pointed out by many is the humongous contract that Lin carries. Lin's salary is somewhere in the vicinity of the $8 million mark but many believe that he is being overpaid at his skill level.

There are some who believe that Lin's salary is above the mid-level exception but his salary should be somewhere between $5 to 7 million. Some even say lower which starts at about $6 million.

There is a slim chance the Lakers would re-sign him but it would be far from what his previous contract had.

Lin signed a $25 million contract with the Houston Rockets and was absorbed by the Lakers last season. From all indications he could stay but paid dramatically lower.

But seeing that he has had conflicts with Scott and Kobe Bryant, that could be close to impossible from happening. Especially with Price and Clarkson rising to the occasion, Lin is technically left out of the picture. If he stays, he could even end up third-string behind the two younger players.

Lin's rise may have been sudden but for the folks who are familiar with Linsanity, it was apparent that he has promise. However some question his consistency and presence in the clutch, instances where Lin is nowhere to be found.

There is no doubt that Lin can hook up with another team. However, he may have to accept a major cut as far as his paycheck is concerned. That is considering that there are a lot of free agents and incoming freshmen who play the same position unless Lin decides to play in a different league like the CBA or Europe.