Lakers: Three Possible Trade Destinations for Nick Young
By Eric Yee
Nov 15, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward
(0) shoots the ball against Detroit Pistons center
(0) during the second quarter at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
Through 19 games, the Los Angeles Lakers are an abysmal 3-16, on pace for a 10-72 season
On Sunday, Kobe Bryant briefly took fans’ minds off the fact that their team only had two wins on the season after announcing his pending retirement. In the “Ben Simmons Bowl,” the Lakers took on the Philadelphia 76ers Tuesday night for the title of NBA’s worst, and Los Angeles won… or lost depending on how you look at life.
Considering that the Sixers possess LA’s top three protected pick, and that even with the league’s worst record the Lakers would only have a 65 percent chance of keeping their pick, tanking away another season is not a viable option, though that seems to be Byron Scott‘s ongoing game plan.
That said, it may be time for the Lakers to start cutting their losses, and making moves that they should have made in years past.
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Nick Young is currently in Byron Scott’s doghouse and represents the Lakers’ best chance at executing a trade.
By now, everyone is aware of the Lakers’ inconsiderate handling of Pau Gasol around the trade deadline which was subsequently one of the main reasons he declined their offer to return last season. Knowing what they know now, they can’t afford to make the same mistake twice with their current assets.
Entering the season, the Los Angeles media had already picked their ugly duckling. With the arrival of shiny, new toy Lou Williams, accompanied by Young’s prolonged struggles last season, it was an easy choice.
Surprisngly, the man formerly known as “Swaggy P,” who now prefers just “Nicolas,” has been one of the lone bright spots in this disaster of a year. Needless to say, Young’s trade value is at an all time high.
Though his defense is suspect at best, he has shown the drive and tenacity to actually try to turn his act around and mature on both ends of the floor, and even off the court. Some players talk the talk, but this season Nick Young is proving that he can walk the walk.
The Lakers’ last trade was in July 2014 with the Houston Rockets, which brought over Jeremy Lin and the pick who eventually became Larry Nance Jr, so it is arguably time to begin making moves again to prepare for life without Kobe.