The Los Angeles Lakers are in need of a boost. The team has one win under their belt through three weeks of the season. Two players have already been ruled out for the year and Kobe Bryant just put his name in the record books for something he likely did not want. Now the Lakers are left hoping that certain players are capable of stepping up as the year goes on. One bit of relief that could be coming the team's way is the return of Nick Young which will take pressure off everyone.
Young was the breakout star for the Lakers last season in the wake of another injury to Bryant. However, he has yet to be seen this year as he nurses a torn radial collateral ligament in his thumb suffered in training camp. Head coach Byron Scott told the media that the small forward was beginning to practice again a return could be coming in the following weeks. Young has been participating in shooting drills along with dribbling and driving to the basket after getting the cast on his hand removed.
"This is another step in the process and taking that next step for Nick," Scott said, via ESPN.com. "He was able to handle ball today and shoot. There's still no contact. Hopefully next week sometime he'll be able to go through a full day of contact and scrimmaging and then we'll go from there."
Young's career-high season last year earned him a nice pay raise in the offseason. The swingman signed a four-year, $21.5 million contract after averaging 17.9 points and 1.5 assists per game. The return of Young will be a big help to the Lakers' roster. It will certainly take the pressure off Bryant to keep making shots along with helping Jeremy Lin and Carlos Boozer.
The Lakers are currently working out players to sign after being granted a disabled player's exception following the season-ending injury to rookie Julius Randle. The team is also attempting to shop Steve Nash in a highly unlikely move. ESPN's Marc Stein reports the Lakers are eager to try and get rid of Nash after he was ruled out for the season. The Lakers will try and target teams aiming to clear salary cap space for 2015, but so far no one has shown interest.