Bucks, Sixers Interested In Jeremy Lin

12:56pm: The Bucks like Lin as a player, but have no interest in his $15MM salary next season, a source tells Marc J. Spears of Yahoo (on Twitter).

12:32pm: The Sixers and Bucks have expressed interest in trading for guard Jeremy Lin, sources tell ESPN.com’s Marc Stein.  Of course, both clubs want to see what kind of sweetner Houston is willing to throw in.

The 76ers, who have tons of room to absorb Lin’s deal and won’t have to send salary back, have emerged as a leading contender for the guard.  If the Rockets can dump Lin’s salary without having to absorb any other contracts, they can give themselves enough room necessary to possibly land Carmelo Anthony or Chris Bosh.

It’s believed that the Rockets would have to send Philly at least one future first-round pick to convince the Sixers to go through with the deal, given that Lin is owed $15MM next season.  Only $8.4MM will count against the salary cap, but that’s still a hefty amount to take on.  Sources say that the Sixers, though, are happy to take on Lin, despite having Michael Carter-Williams slated as their starting point guard, provided that the extra asset or two they get from Houston is sufficiently attractive.

Of course, it helps that Sixers GM Sam Hinkie is close with Rockets GM Daryl Morey from their days in Houston together.