Lakers News: Analyzing Nick Young Trade Buzz and Latest Free-Agency Moves

Things are starting to pick up around the Los Angeles Lakers. 

While general manager Mitch Kupchak and the front office aren't going nuts with names like DeMarcus Cousins and LaMarcus Aldridge, they are sticking to their rebuilding plan one small step at a time.

In other words, the front office continues to make cap-savvy moves to build around a budding young core while also looking to add a major name one year from now.

Nobody would be silly enough to suggest the Lakers are back, but each step seems one in the right direction.

Lakers Find Depth Beneath the Basket

The Lakers hit free agency with the understanding depth beneath the basket would be an issue, especially with the team not wanting to dish out top-tier cash to keep Jordan Hill around at his contract's asking price.

To help remedy the situation, the Lakers went with a cheaper option on the market with Brandon Bass, per Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports:

After a few different teams, Bass found a four-year role with the Boston Celtics and last year averaged 10.6 points and 4.9 boards in 23.5 minutes.

Now 30 years old, Bass is an excellent role player on a contender or rebuilder. For the Lakers, he's necessary depth in this way, but also in what he can do to help guide the future of the roster with young guys such as Julius Randle and rookie Larry Nance.

While not the most awe-inspiring add in this prestigious franchise's history, Bass is a necessary one, and one contenders would make without hesitation.

Depth in the Backcourt Also Addressed

Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

The next two rumors go hand in hand.

At first glance, it's odd to think the Lakers would add another guard, not with the addition of D'Angelo Russell in the draft, the promising upside of Jordan Clarkson and the combo of Kobe Bryant and Nick Young.

This is just what the Lakers did, though, according to Shams Charania of RealGM.com:

Lou Williams himself took to Twitter to celebrate the news:

"

Lake show

— Lou Williams (@TeamLou23) July 5, 2015"

In the grand scheme of things, Williams makes a ton of sense for the Lakers, especially if other names become cap casualties.

Williams put on an absolute show with the Toronto Raptors last year, averaging 15.5 points and 2.1 assists on just 25.2 minutes. He was one of the league's most underappreciated role players, and it's a move Chris Towers of CBSSports.com thinks will hurt the Raptors in a big way next year:

This value then transitions to the Lakers, a team in need of as much depth as it can get. There's a rookie point set to run things, a developmental player behind him and it's hard to know how many minutes Bryant can handle at this stage of his career.

Of course, the signing also makes a ton of sense when one takes the next bit of buzz into account.

Clearing Cap Space?

Aaron Gash/Associated Press

As astute fans will notice while reading the above, the Lakers don't have a ton of cap space with which to add players. 

Keep in mind, the team also needs to clear cap space to add former Indiana Pacers big man Roy Hibbert, per Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today. According to Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski, Young might end up the cap casualty to make it all work:

No shock here. Over at Spotrac.com, Young accounts for a $5.2 million cap hit this season and another figure just north of $5.4 million the year after, before a player option.

While Young was a key contributor to the team over these past few rebuilding years, averaging 13.4 points last season, the addition of Williams and return of Bryant throws into question how much time he would see in the rotation.

Despite the large figure, plenty of teams around the Association figure to have an interest in Young. He's 30 years old but a valuable rotational piece in the right system.

With the Lakers looking to get a tad younger and free up space for the present and future, it only makes sense one of the franchise's fixtures over the last few seasons would hit the trade block.

Now the question centers on how much the Lakers can get in return, which is for the market to decide.

All stats and info via ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.