Nick Young Trade Rumors: Latest News and Buzz on Lakers Swingman

At this time last year, Nick Young was perhaps the lone bright spot in a lost Lakers season, a brash, funny personality who basked in the Los Angeles spotlight and brought levity to an otherwise dreary locker room. Twelve far less successful months later and it appears the Swaggy P act may be wearing thin.    

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Lakers to Explore Young Trade

Tuesday, April 14

Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News reported the Lakers will "shop Young around" during the offseason. Young, 29, was limited to 42 regular-season games due to a number of injury issues, most notably a fractured kneecap. He averaged 13.4 points and 2.3 rebounds per game but shot 36.6 percent from the field.

"I blame it on the rim," Young said, per Medina. "The rim was tripping this year. I'll take her on a date and treat her better."

While the source of a joke in his season-ending interview, Young's inefficiency led to near-constant criticism from head coach Byron Scott.

“Babe Ruth was probably one of the best players in baseball history,” Scott told reporters in March. “Nick thinks he’s up there with Reggie Miller and Larry Bird from a shooting standpoint. But if you look at their shooting percentage and you look at his, he’s not there.”

That was one of a number of increasingly pointed barbs from Scott, whose own decision-making has become increasingly embattled. Young has even openly admitted to tuning out Scott, telling Medina he doesn't find the coach's feedback valuable.

“Nah,” Young said. “I don’t know. I feel like it’s just a target toward me. It’s a little unfair. But it’s cool.”

Young has $16.33 million remaining on the final three years of his contract, all coming in right near the mid-level exception range. While that seems like an overpay (and probably is), NBA salary structure is due to radically change in 2016-17, when the new television deal kicks in. Players like Young, who shoots a solid 36.9 percent from three despite his ill-advised shot choices, might suddenly command $7-8 million per season in a few years.

A team may then look at Young's salary and bite the bullet for one season, assuming it'll get value in the second and third years. Then again, given his clashes with Scott and outspoken reputation, the Lakers may only get one or two suitors willing to roll the dice.

Follow Tyler Conway (@tylerconway22) on Twitter.