The Brooklyn Nets have signed point guard Jeremy Lin to a three-year, $36 million deal according to multiple sources. Lin returns to the city he took by storm in 2011-12 while with the New York Knicks. Lin also reunites with Nets’ head coach Kenny Atkinson who Lin credits with his breakout season.

Since 2011-12, Lin has failed to live up to the hype he created for himself but he has been a solid contributor and should elevate his game with the Nets, Atkinson, and center Brook Lopez. Lin and Lopez, who will almost certainly be known as Brook-Lin, should thrive off of each other utilizing pick-and-rolls and exploiting defenses through penetration.

Adding Lin is a good first move for the Nets even if it isn’t a huge splash but the Nets aren’t going to be able to make big splashes this offseason despite having massive amounts of cap space. In today’s NBA players are just as interested in playing for a winner as they are cashing in. The Nets are still a long way from becoming contenders again but they are setting themselves up to regain some footing and take another step forward next year.

Nets’ GM Sean Marks has a long way to go to rebuild the Nets after former GM Billy King and owner Mikhail Prokhorov gambled away the teams future to contend in their first season in Brooklyn by adding Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Joe Johnson to Deron Williams in hopes of bringing in a title. That didn’t work and now Marks is tasked with building a team almost from scratch around 28-year-old Lopez. Adding Lin was a step in the right direction and should at least make the team interesting while they rebuild.

Obviously Jeremy Lin is not enough to bring a championship to Brooklyn. Not even close. It isn’t enough to make the playoffs. However, it is only a three-year deal for a player who thrived under Atkinson when Atkinson was an assistant with the Knicks in 2011-12. Lin is also a known commodity in New York and could keep eyes on the team for a little while which is about all they can ask for. Worst case scenario is Lin averages 12-15 PPG with 3-8 APG and holds down the point guard position until the Nets can find someone better. Best case scenario is Lin comes in and resembles the player he was with the Knicks for a few weeks a few seasons ago. Even if it is the worst-case scenario this was a good move by the Nets.