Nick Young has long been reported to be on the trading block but so far, there have been no takers. And from the looks of it, Young will remain in the Lakers lineup for now, though he could be spending more time on the bench in the coming season.
With Kobe Bryant back and the addition of rookie D' Angelo Russell, Young, known for being a scorer, will most likely get fewer touches and thus, fewer attempts at the basket. The spheroid will most likely fall most of the time in Kobe's hands while Russell tries to distribute it equally among the other Lakers players on the hardwood.
Why are there no takers for Young? His contract of $21 million for four years is not really that hefty. But the value he brings does not readily reflect what the team really needs from him. He has been out for almost the entire season last year and with an expected return, jockeying for playing time could become a problem in the coming 2015-16 NBA wars.
Though a Nick Young trade is highly coveted by the Los Angeles Lakers, the reality of it all is that it may not happen immediately. It could happen perhaps in the middle of the coming NBA season, or maybe not.
The teams'salary budget limits makes it hard to accommodate someone like Young. There are teams who will do well with Young, particularly the ones in need of a primetime scorer. The question, however, is which team that is.
The New York Knicks are a possible choice, though it's not clear how Young and Carmelo Anthony could co-exist. The Los Angeles Clippers could be another, though Young will have to slug it out with Paul Pierce and Lance Stephenson for playing time.
As it stands, no team is hot on Young's tracks, and the likely scenario is that he will stay put in Hollywood until another NBA team comes knocking.
