Lin sees no problems incorporating “good kid” Russell

In a lengthy interview with Greg Logan, Jeremy Lin thinks he and D’Angelo Russell is “really good kid” and the two guard will get along just fine in Kenny Atkinson’s motion offense.

“I think at the end of the day, he’s a really good kid,” Lin said of Russell. “He has a good heart, and he’s a tremendous basketball player. Once he meets our team and gets in our locker room, I’m pretty sure it will be a seamless transition. I’m sure I’ll learn a lot from him as well, and hopefully he learns from me. What we want to do is create that family atmosphere where we’re kind of pushing each other, keeping each other accountable, helping each other.”

Lin and Russell may both be point guards under the traditional definition, but as Lin told Logan, the two shouldn’t have difficulty co-existing in Atkinson’s less-than-traditional system which emphasizes ball movement and playmaking from every position.

“Kenny’s going to be making these decisions. I do know that we’ll be playing together for a lot of the time. I guess, on paper, I’m the point guard and I’ll make a lot of the point guard plays, which I’ve spoken to Kenny about and that’s obviously going to be the case. That’s what they brought me here for.

“But I think I’m going to learn how to make [Russell’s] life easier and vice versa, and I think we’re going to be able to play off each other and complement each other. I think having two dynamic, downhill players, one on each side — he’s a lefty, I’m a righty — presents some problems for the defense.”

As of now, before free agency, Lin sees the Nets as a “guard-heavy” offense, unlike last year with Brook Lopez providing rich opportunities down low and from the three.

“We’re going to miss that one-on-one, back-to-the-basket presence, just to be able to score when you really need a bucket,” Lin said of Lopez. “But if we can play together, I think we’re going to end up with good shots, and having a lot of guys who are capable of scoring, hopefully”

Lin said he and Lopez have been in touch since the trade, but declined to provide details other than that the Nets long time leader appreciated his teammates.

As for his own future —he has a player option next July— Lin was reserved in talking with Logan about the possibilities.

“I mean, that’s probably a question that’s more for the organization. But if you ask me, yeah, I hope we have a breakout year as a team and we continue to build from there. I would love that.”

• Jeremy Lin, Nets look to move on without Brook Lopez - Greg Logan - Newsday