Report: Hornets' Jeremy Lin likely to opt out, but would 'love' to stay

Charlotte Hornets guard Jeremy Lin, who has a player option to opt out of his contract this summer, doesn't want another change of scenery.

Lin, who has played for five NBA teams in six seasons, told The Charlotte Observer that he plans to opt out of the second year of his contract (which pays roughly $2.2 million a year), but would "love to" stay in Charlotte moving forward.

"I don’t like moving every year, I don’t like packing and unpacking boxes. So we’ll see," he said. "But I’m definitely interested in coming back."

Lin spent the majority of his time on the floor this season either as a backup to Kemba Walker or alongside him as part of a dual-point guard backcourt. He averaged 11.7 points, 3 assists, 3.2 rebounds and shot 41.2% from the field, but particularly thrived in games thee and four of their first-round clash with the Miami Heat this postseason, where he put together back-to-back 18 and 21 point performances to help will the Hornets to two much-needed home wins.

"This is the most fun I’ve had in my six years" Lin said, per the Observer. "Being around a great group of guys and a coaching staff that really cares. I’ve learned so much about the game of basketball, particularly at the defensive end."

This season, his defensive rating (100.4) was the highest it's been since his brief "Linsanity" stint with the New York Knicks in the 2011-12 season, and the Hornets finished with the league's ninth ranked defense.

"I definitely want to play with these guys and (coach Steve Clifford)," Lin told the Observer. "When you bounce around a lot the way I have, seeing a lot of organizations, there’s a lot about this one that I can appreciate in terms of my experience, that maybe I didn’t have in other situations."

In a post on his official Facebook page in which he addressed the fans and thanked them for their support this season, Lin wrote:

"For free agency, I will seek out every opportunity that gives me the greatest chance to be the best player I can be. I believe I'm just getting started. I have more to give and more to accomplish."

If he does choose to opt out, Lin will join the extensive free agent class in Charlotte with Nicolas Batum, Al Jefferson, Courtney Lee, and Marvin Williams.

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