Damn, Swaggy P.
Nick Young‘s run with the Lakers hasn’t been all that great. At his best, he’s been a more-than-serviceable 6th man that can provide both scoring and playmaking off the bench when guys like Kobe Bryant and Jordan Clarkson have needed breathers. At his worst, Young has been a showboating second-rate player, whose off-court antics and tabloid dealings have overshadowed the work he’s needed to do on the hardwood. It’s no secret that the Lakers have tried to move Young in the past, but considering the latest chapter in his off-court story, the D’Angelo Russell debacle, it seems that just became a more pressing matter for the organization.
According to Los Angeles Times reporter Mike Bresnahan, the team is looking to part ways with Young this summer, likely to clear the runway for the ever-improving D’Angelo Russell.
The Lakers tried to trade Young, 30, each of the last two seasons as his production dropped. There were no takers. They will likely try to find a home for him again this off-season, which won’t be easy with a player who didn’t even get off the bench in eight games last month.
Though most people would agree that Russell is at fault, it’s pretty easy to see why L.A. would opt to trade their on-again, off-again swingman as opposed to the #2 overall pick in last year’s draft, who is expected to take the reign of the team once Kobe’s career is over.