The Los Angeles Lakers made an interesting and unexpected move this summer in NBA free agency to sign reigning NBA Sixth Man of the Year, Lou Williams. Although the team already had a viable score-first mentality sixth man on the squad in Nick Young, the Lakers brass still made the move to bring in Williams.
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With Williams in the fold for the next three years, rumors began to swirl about Young’s status with the Lakers. Adding Williams seemed to make Young expendable, but the veteran journeyman recently spoke with Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak to get some clarity about his future with the Lakers, via Lakers Nation reporter Serena Winters:
Nick Young said Kupchak called him after Lou signing, said it was "positive," wanted to make sure Nick knew it wasn't a slap in the face
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) July 26, 2015
Signing Williams definitely gives the Lakers a bit more depth in the backcourt while also providing the team with another legitimate scorer off the bench. The real question is how will head coach Byron Scott, who has openly criticized Young, will use the veteran guard/forward now that he’s got an upgrade that fits the same role.
Young, while at the Drew League over the weekend, admitted that the trade rumors and his uncertain status with the Lakers has made the off-season a bit difficult, via Winters:
Nick Young admitted summers been tough with his name in all the trade rumors, then laughs "I felt like Pau Gasol for a minute!"
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) July 26, 2015
Obviously, Kupchak wanted to put Young’s mind at ease in the meeting with the 30-year-old, but that doesn’t exactly guarantee his future with the team. It still isn’t beyond the realm of possibility that Young is traded at some point this summer or during next season, but as of right now, he remains on the roster.
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