Washington Wizards Better off Without Nick Young Next Season

Though the NBA is currently in the midst of their own lockout, there are plenty of teams with questions to answer in this prolonged offseason. For the Washington Wizards, they must make a decision on whether to retain shooting guard Nick Young, or let Jordan Crawford step into a starter's role.

Young had his most productive season as a professional last season, but the Wizards would be better off letting him continue his career elsewhere.

Last season, Young averaged 17.4 points per game to lead the Wizards in scoring. He added 2.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists in the process, which highlight his one-dimensional approach. He missed 18 games with a knee injury, making way for Crawford to step in with 16.3 points per game in 26 appearances with the Wizards.

It is no secret that the Wizards have seen a lot of roster turnover in the past two years, but the important pieces appear to be in place. John Wall is the franchise point guard, JaVale McGee is the explosively athletic big man and Jan Vesely is the wingman with fast-break specialization.

Andray Blatche fits somewhere in between, but has seen his stock drop with the stronger, grittier forwards like Trevor Booker pushing for time.

It took a few years for Young to find his rhythm in the NBA, but he seems to have settled in as a player who can go on big scoring tears on any given night. However, he has shown himself to be an unwilling passer and a single-minded shooter. He has the ability to penetrate and finish at the basket, but seems content to pull up or take the tough shot with a hand in his face.

The Wizards need someone they can mold to fit their system rather than a player like Young, who is relatively set in his ways.

Beyond being an inconsistent player, Young may be looking for too rich a contract for the Wizards to consider re-signing. The past two years have seen the Wizards go from a team with $70 million in player contracts to $40 million through targeted trades.

In an interview with Wizards insider Michael Lee of the Washington Post, Young said of a potential hometown discount for the Wizards, "My mama told me, never leave nothing on the table."

If Young is shooting for elite-player money with his next contract, he's barking up the wrong tree with the Wizards. He is nowhere near elite, and needs to show he can put together consecutive seasons of productivity before looking to cash in.

It is nothing against Young personally, but his playing style does not fit with what the Wizards are building towards.

Washington is a few years away from being a contender, but have plenty of youth and talent to build a winner the right way. For Young, he may have simply picked the wrong time to have his breakout year.

He could be a great addition for another team looking for a young player who can score as a starter or off the bench, but a role player is not worth the money Young is alluding to desiring.