Nick Young might have benefited the most from the injury to Kobe Bryant. The Los Angeles Lakers small forward saw an increase in playing time and therefore an increase in stats. "Swaggy P" was arguably the most valuable player on the Lakers' roster last season and gained the attention of every NBA team in the league. With free agency approaching, Young could opt out for a large contract elsewhere or re-join the Los Angeles Lakers and hope for better results.
According to Lang Greene of Basketball Insiders, Young prefers to return to his hometown team and sign a long-term deal with the Lakers. Already opting out of his contract to test the waters, Young is reportedly keeping Los Angeles as his destination of choice over anywhere else. The Lakers have just five players under contract, one of which includes Young and his player option. With Kobe Bryant's health still up in the air, retaining Young could be a real priority.
The guard really was the perfect fit for the Lakers. As a reserve he averaged 17.9 points per game and he is confident he can continue those numbers even with Bryant on the court.
"I think I'd fit in very well. I could stick to my same routine just coming off the bench and being that scoring threat off the bench," Young said, via ESPN.com. "They need a sub sometimes, you know Kobe can come out the game sometimes. I think I showed that when he played a little bit, I think we played well together and I think I could just learn from being out there with that man, he's one of the best players to play this game."
According to Marc Berman of the New York Post, the Lakers could be prioritizing Young over Carmelo Anthony. The Knicks guard was considered a favorite free agent for Los Angeles, but that might not be the case anymore. Many believe that Anthony is more likely to re-sign with the Knicks leaving the Lakers empty handed. Securing another option is key for the team and if Young is seeking a return, he might be willing to do at a more reasonable price.
Of course Anthony is the better option than Young. However, the Lakers could re-sign Young at a cheaper salary and have more cap space to make other moves. Getting Anthony means limited moves elsewhere. If the Knicks guard looks like he is ready to stay in New York, Young becomes the priority.
