Utah Jazz trade deadline 2019: Five potential point guard targets

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - OCTOBER 22: Mike Conley #11 of the Memphis Grizzlies drives to the basket around Ricky Rubio #3 of the Utah Jazz in the first half of a NBA game at Vivint Smart Home Arena on October 22, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - OCTOBER 22: Mike Conley #11 of the Memphis Grizzlies drives to the basket around Ricky Rubio #3 of the Utah Jazz in the first half of a NBA game at Vivint Smart Home Arena on October 22, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images)
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Jeremy Lin Atlanta Hawks Trade
PHILADELPHIA, PA – JANUARY 11: Jeremy Lin #7 of the Atlanta Hawks looks on against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on January 11, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Hawks defeated the 76ers 123-121. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

Jeremy Lin

He may not have lived up to the hype he generated in 2012 during the Linsanity craze, but what Jeremy Lin has managed is to be a super solid combo guard in the league for more than a half decade, which is no small feat.

This season, he’s putting up 11 points, four dimes and a steal per contest in 20 minutes a night for the Atlanta Hawks. He’s hit or miss defensively, but has an effective field goal percentage of 52.8, which would be a nice uptick for Utah over Rubio’s 46.7. Lin is also a strong screen-roll player and is better at creating his own shot.

63 percent of Lin’s field goals have been unassisted this season, compared to 45 percent for Rubio. Some of that is Snyder’s egalitarian offense, some of it is Rubio’s offensive shortcomings.

According to the New York Times’ Marc Stein, Lin is one of many players the Hawks have made available. His contract is up at the end of the season, but he may be a better option than the incumbent for the stretch run (and Rubio is also in the final year of his deal).

If you’re into what he does, there’s a good shot you can re-sign him on a team-friendly contract, too.