Nick Young is essentially the face of the Los Angeles Lakers with three of the team's biggest names out for the season. As Julius Randle, Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash all watch games courtside, the Lakers are the Young Show for the time being. With the playoffs likely out of the picture and rebuilding starting to be a priority, Young is taking a minute to speak out on some of the team issues facing Los Angeles this season and Jeremy Lin is certainly one of them.
It is no secret that Lin has struggled with the Lakers this season. The point guard was traded from the Houston Rockets with the intention that he would backup Steve Nash. However, Nash went down with an injury for the entire season which left Lin as the starter. Lin is a good bench player, he is not a good starter and it shows in Los Angeles. According to Young, Lin could have done more to be better with the Lakers during this season.
"I know it's his contract year, but he could've focused on passing a little bit more," Young said, via the Los Angeles Daily News. "Especially when Kobe was out there, [Jeremy] needed to drop dimes. It's tough. He's expected to live up to 'Linsanity,' It's a lot of pressure. But he can't let everything get to him. Everything he does, he's singled out more than anybody."
Lin has been a mystery this season. He is averaging 10.2 points on 42.6 percent shooting in just 25.5 minutes per game after losing his starting job. According to head coach Byron Scott, Lin is simply not playing with authority and not taking the shots when he has had it. The point guard views his issues differently, but understands that his struggles have been an issue. As a result, trade rumors have circled the point guard while no one expects the Lakers to re-sign him in free agency.
"I want to be able to have fun and play wherever I am," Lin said. "I can't control what they do. If I'm here, I'll definitely give it my all. If they trade me, I'll definitely give it my all wherever I am. There are adjustments that could've been made everywhere from everybody's standpoint. I don't know what they are right now. But if I sat down and thought about it for a long time, I could come up with some stuff."
The Lakers are looking to be frontrunners for a trade for Goran Dragic at the deadline with the intentions of re-signing him to a max contract. If that effort fails, Brandon Jennings or Reggie Jackson could be options for the team heading into 2015.