Recent NBA rumors have emerged that the Los Angeles Lakers could trade Nick Young to the Brooklyn Nets as the small forward's conflict with D'Angelo Russell is being considered "irreparable" by team officials.
Young and Russell's rift began when the latter secretly recorded the two players' private conversation regarding the former's infidelity on former fiancée rapper Iggy Azalea. The video later became public and instigated a league-wide concern on Russell with several NBA analysts saying that the incoming sophomore will no longer be trusted by any of his teammates moving forward.
Some say that last year's second overall pick should be traded immediately to avoid future internal discords, but the Lakers are keen on trading the 31-year-old Young instead than to part ways with their prized rookie.
The former USC standout is actually mentioned in trade rumors in the past three summers, but the Hollywood squad has surprisingly kept him despite his inefficiently and irrelevance on the court.
Young had averaged 7.3 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 0.6 assists per game in 54 games last season for then head coach Byron Scott, the lowest of his career including his rookie year.
With the emergence of Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. plus last season's signing of Lou Williams, Young's role on the Lakers as an off-the-bench wingman that provides instant offense has gradually become redundant.
Fansided reported that the team recently conducted a free agent mini-camp and speculations abound that it could be in preparation of an imminent trade with the Nets involving Young.
Several rumors suggest excitement about a potential Jeremy Lin-Nick Young backcourt partnership in Brooklyn, although it remains to be seen whether the Nets are truly interested in acquiring the mercurial Los Angeles native.
Meanwhile, CBS Sports' James Herbert indicated that the Lakers "will buy out" Young's contract "if they can't trade him" this offseason.
The report cited Bleacher Report's Kevin Ding as the source of the story, saying that LA is "ready to move on from him" this coming season.
Herbert also said that a separation "might be the best for both sides" as Young can move on with his vocational and personal life without Russell while the team will no longer be distracted by the two players' history.
