Nick Young ‘Felt Like Pau Gasol’ During Trade Rumors

The Los Angeles Lakers couldn’t unload Nick Young this summer, so they’re hanging on to the 30-year-old chucker for the time being.

Young jokes that he felt a little like former Laker Pau Gasol, whose name always seemed to be in trade rumors during his last few years in L.A.

Swaggy P is confident that a thaw will develop in his cold war with head coach Byron Scott next season.

Per the LA Daily News:

The self-named “Swaggy P” has provided (excitement) with his infectious personality. But Young also produced headaches for the Lakers last season when he averaged 13.4 points on a career-low 36.6 percent shooting and clashed with coach Byron Scott. […] The Lakers also failed to trade Young this offseason, leading him to joke, “I felt like Pau Gasol,” who heard endless trade rumors after the NBA overturned the Lakers’ Chris Paul deal in 2011. Young also conceded “he can already see” something similar happening to him next season.

 

Yet, Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak recently met with Young to assuage some concerns. Young reported that Kupchak told him not to consider Lou Williams’ arrival “a slap in the face” to Young, even if he is also a high-volume scorer. Kupchak also addressed Young’s disagreements with Scott over his inconsistency, playing time and playful personality. […] “(Kupchak) says, I’m talented, but just work with coach,” Young said. “Work off of coach and make sure everybody is on the same page.”

 

Young also reiterated he has spent this offseason following Scott’s instructions to improve his ballhandling, spot-up shooting and his off-ball defense. […] “This year should be better,” Young said of his relationship with Scott. “Last year we had a lot going on with the team. So there was a lot of frustration. It’s a fresh start now.”