Nick Young has apparently signed a one-year contract with the L.A. Lakers. The news was announced mainly through text messages sent to media outlets from Young’s agent, Mark Bartelstein.
Young grew up in Los Angeles and Bartlestein commented to USA Today that Young “will be with the team he always dreamed of playing for.”
Young signed a one year deal with the Lakers worth $1.18 million — the going rate for a veteran NBA player. He is also coming off of a one-year deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, where he averaged 10.6 points and shot 35.7 percent on 3-pointers.
CBS Sports ‘ Royce Young commented that the Lakers’ acquisition of Nick Young could be an attempt by the team to get away from the Dwight Howard fiasco. While they aren’t likely to field a contender that matches Howard’s capabilities, Young added that GM Mitch Kupchak “has done a solid job rebounding.”
The Lakers’ playability will likely depend on Young’s new teammate, Kobe Bryant, who is coming off an injury to his Achilles heel. Given the impact of such an injury, it is likely Nick Young will have an increased role early on this season. Depending on how Kobe plays when he returns, that increased role could continue or diminish.
Along with Young, the Lakers also recently picked up Jordan Farmar and Chris Kaman, who were both added by the team this week. Farmar and Kaman both signed one-year deals with the team, securing their futures in the NBA in the short-term. And depending on how well they play in the coming season, that future could be even more secure.
The Lakers have been forced into having limited spending power for the coming year’s team, because of the collective bargaining agreement. But some believe that Kupchak has still found a serviceable team for the next season.
What do you think about Nick Young signing with the Lakers?
[Image by Keith Allison via Wikimedia Commons ]
