The Los Angeles Lakers won't be using veteran shooting guard Nick Young anymore this NBA season, ''according to sources familiar with the situation,'' reports Mark Medina of the LA Daily News. The decision shouldn't come as a big surprise as Young didn't see a second of action in the last eight games. The Lakers have five more games to play this season. Medina though noted that the 31-year-old could hit the floor should he be needed ''in case of an unforseen injury.'' However, the team doesn't expect that to be the case.
Young didn't disappoint this season
As the 16th pick of the 2007 NBA draft, Nick Young, has been averaging 13.2 points per game for the Los Angeles Lakers this season. He had a tough 2015/2016 NBA season, which saw him post career-low 7.3 points per contest. Prior to this year's NBA season, there were rumors suggesting that the Lakers were ready to move on from Young. However, the team decided to keep the 31-year-old -- and it turned out great for both sides.
The reason to sit Young?
The Los Angeles Lakers have a record of 22 wins and 55 losses on the season. They are the second-worst team of the Western Conference and the third worst in the whole NBA. L.A. clearly won't be making this year's NBA playoffs, to which they haven't been since the 2012/2013 NBA campaign.
With this being said, the team has turned to giving more minutes to its younger players so they can get some experience before the season ends. Previously, the team decided to shut down healthy veterans Luol Deng and Timofey Mozgov, which means that Nick Young is the third case.
Will we see Young again in a Laker uniform?
Nick Young, who played college basketball at the University of Southern California, is a Los Angeles native.
The shooting guard signed a four-year deal worth 21.5 million with the Los Angeles Lakers in the summer of 2014. He has an option to opt-out in his last year of the deal, and he is reportedly considering what to do. Young's contract is not a bad one, and the Lakers could be open to having the guard next year.
Asked Nick Young if he plans to opt-out of his contract this summer. Said he hasn't decided, but would love to be here/see young guys' grow.
— Tania Ganguli (@taniaganguli) March 31, 2017
