After a lackluster start so far in NBA free agency, the Los Angeles Lakers are still working to add the veteran pieces needed to help build around their young core.
Last year, the Lakers made headlines for all the wrong reasons with the off-court drama between Nick Young and D’Angelo Russell on top of yet another tumultuous season. Now as the Lakers look to get off to a new fresh start, it seems they are likely to move on without Young according to Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times.
“Veteran Nick Young has two more years on his contract totaling $11 million, but it will be a surprise if he’s not traded or waived before training camp.”
Despite being a fan favorite in his hometown of Los Angeles, Young’s off-court distractions began to outweigh his diminishing role on this struggling Lakers squad. He averaged 7.3 points per game while shooting career-lows both from the field and from the three-point line.
His 19 minutes per game this past season were the lowest since his rookie year with the Washington Wizards. However, despite his recent struggles, Young’s tremendous scoring ability make him a somewhat valuable commodity for any team that’s looking for a spark off the bench.
The Lakers were able to add some solid veterans in Luol Deng and Timofey Mozgov, while also locking down Jordan Clarkson with a new contract. Though it remains to be seen what the Lakers do with Young, it seems that the ‘Swaggy P’ era in Los Angeles has likely come to an end.