Jeremy Lin to join Toronto Raptors

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Jeremy Lin has finalized a buyout with Atlanta Hawks and will join the Toronto Raptors, the veteran guard announced on China's Twitter-like Weibo on Tuesday.

"Thanks to the Hawks for giving me a chance. After two injury-plagued years, you helped me regain the happiness of playing basketball," Lin wrote on his Weibo account.

"For basketball, I still have dreams, time, strength, faith, and you guys," he continued, using the hashtag WeTheNorth and mentioning the Toronto Raptors at the end of the post.

On his Instagram, Lin wrote: "The future is bright for Atlanta!!! I truly mean that! Everyone who knows me knows how big my dreams are and that I have so much left to give to the game. Hyped to join the Raptors!!"

The 30-year-old came to prominence in 2012 when he led the struggling New York Knicks to an unexpected upturn in fortunes and earned the nickname Linsanity. However, injury problems limited his playing time for the Knicks, and later teams he joined.

Jeremy Lin (C) of the Atlanta Hawks in action against the Brooklyn Nets in New York, U.S., January 9, 2019. /VCG Photo

Toronto will become Lin's eighth NBA franchise, after stints with Golden State, New York, Houston, the Los Angeles Lakers, Charlotte, Brooklyn and this season Atlanta. He appeared in 51 games for the Hawks, all but one of those as a reserve, averaging 10.7 points this season on nearly 47 percent shooting.

Lin has averaged 11.8 points in 457 career games. He has been part of three previous playoff runs, in 2013 and 2014 with Houston and in 2016 with Charlotte.

The signing of Lin will further consolidate the Raptors' squad which has been strengthened by the arrival of three-time All-Star center Marc Gasol from the Memphis Grizzlies on the trade deadline day.

The Raptors now sit second in the Eastern Conference, one game behind leaders Milwaukee Bucks.

Source(s): AP ,Xinhua News Agency