Jeremy Lin signed with the Charlotte Hornets this offseason as he believes the up-and-coming Eastern Conference power will provide him the opportunity his previous teams, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Houston Rockets, did not give him during his tenure.

The 26-year old Lin spurned more money and a chance to compete for a starting spot to sign with the Hornets on a two-year, $4.37 million deal. Lin's decision to pick the Hornets among several suitors came as a surprise given his intention to re-ignite his career following star-crossed seasons with the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers.

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The former Harvard standout stressed that Charlotte is a perfect place to resume his career because the Queen City allows him to have more privacy after going through a gauntlet of scrutiny during his time in Los Angeles and head coach Steve Clifford's system gives him the freedom to play his own brand of basketball.

"I just felt like this is going to be a great fit for me," Lin told reporters via ESPN. "One thing I want to do is see how close I can get to reaching my full potential. In order to do that, it takes a lot of work on my end, and it also takes finding the right situation and the right coach and the right system."

"I want to get back to what makes me what I am as a player, which is being aggressive, being on the attack and always charging toward the rim. I think that will help create easier shots for this team."     

Lin, who averaged 11.2 points and 4.6 assists in 25 minutes per game last season (ESPN/Stats), did not mince word in saying that he's a much better all-around player now than he was more than three years ago at the peak of Linsanity in New York. He added that his sub-par stints with the Rockets and the Lakers are products of him being in a wrong system and lack of opportunity to employ his own playing style.

"I do believe I am a more refined player, a more all-around player," Lin said. "I do think the work I have put in has made me better. I just don't think I have had the same fit or opportunity."

The 26-year old Lin will serve as a backup for starting playmaker Kemba Walker and run the Hornets' second-unit that features several fresh faces. Hornets general manager Rich Cho pulled off a series of moves this offseason in attempt to give their offense a boost after averaging 94.2 ppg (28^th in the league). The Hornets acquired Nicolas Batum, Spencer Hawes and Jeremy Lamb via trade and selected Frank Kaminsky with the no.9 overall pick in NBA Draft.

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