Jeremy Lin’s Days With Houston Rockets Numbered as Shooting Struggles Continue

Jeremy Lin's scoring woes after the trade deadline have prompted Houston Rockets head coach Kevin McHale to place a firm cap on his playing time over the last six games, leading to speculation that the former Harvard standout's days with his current team are already numbered.

The 25-year-old Lin is once again in the midst of a shooting funk that started right after the trade deadline two weeks ago. Over the last five games, Lin hasn't played more than 25 minutes. McHale has decided to stick with Patrick Beverley and James Harden as his main playmakers.

After a January surge that had him averaging 16 points and 6 assists a game, Lin suddenly fell back to Earth, averaging 6.4 points, 3.6 assists, and 3.6 rebounds in 22 minutes per game over that stretch. Moreover, he's shooting a horrible 29 percent from the field and 25 percent from beyond the arc.

Despite controlling the point guard's minutes as of late, McHale has remained optimistic Lin will overcome his struggle and become a valuable component for the Rockets, especially as a leading scorer off the bench.

"You have ebbs and flows," McHale told The Houston Chronicle. "We are going to need him to pick it up and play better, there is no question about that. And he will. He is working hard and I think he will find his rhythm. Everybody does a little of this during the season. We need to get him on a high note again."

Bound to Be Traded

Lin's unreliable performance as the team's sixth man might convince general manager Daryl Morey and his front office to finally ship Lin out of Houston, according to several NBA pundits.

Next year, Lin will be entitled to receive $15 million in the final year of the three-year poison pill contract he signed with the Rockets in 2012. NBA insiders are not buying into the idea Lin will continue to stay with the team next season. The Rockets are expected to re-tool their lineup this coming offseason.