This year’s Lakers team is full of players looking to prove that they belong in the NBA. Perhaps no player has improved his standing more than Nick Young.
Young has a player option for next year, but Mitch Kupchak believes that Young will opt-out. Despite that belief, the LA Daily News’ Mark Medina talked to Young’s agent, Mark Bartelstein, who says that Young still wants to be in Los Angeles after this year:
Nick wants to be a Laker. But his focus right now is to get healthy, get back on the court soon and finish rest of the season. That’s a conversation Mitch and I will have, but it’s too early at this point to talk about what he’s going to do.
With Young set to return Sunday against the Brooklyn Nets, the first part of that statement has already come true. Now it’s about what Young will do beyond this season.
It makes perfect sense for Young to opt-out this off-season as he could make far more money than the $1.2 million he would get by exercising his player option.
It is no secret that the Lakers want Young to stay a Laker and the feeling appears to be mutual, but the two sides will have to work out something that benefits both of them.
Young has become a fan favorite in Los Angeles and is even beginning to take a leadership role, mentoring some of the younger players.
This off-season, we will find out how bad each side really wants to stay together.
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