The Los Angeles Lakers are lingering around the trade rumor mill as the deadline approaches on Thursday. General manager Mitch Kupchak told the media that he has no plans on trading the youth of the team as players like D'Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson and Julius Randle will stay put. However, Nick Young, Brandon Bass and Roy Hibbert are available and players are open to the move.
Young spot with the Los Angeles New Group and said that he would be open to a trade to a playoff team. The swingman noted that he has heard the talk surrounding his name with the deadline just 24 hours away and while he stressed that he is not hoping to get traded, he is warming up to the idea.
"I'll be lying if I said I'm not hearing anything," Young said, via the Los Angeles News Grou. "I don't know if anything's going to happen. But I'm being prepared and hoping for the best. I would love to be on a playoff team and not just be sitting and watching. I would love to be in a playoff atmosphere and be a part of it."
Young is averaging career lows this season with 7.2 points per game on a 35.4 shooting percentage. He currently has two years and $11 million left on his contract making most trades hard to come by. The Lakers could find it easier to get a trade from someone like Bass or Hibbert if they keep the price tag reasonable.
According to Dan Woike of the OC Register, the Lakers could get a trade at the deadline, but all signs are pointing to the team staying put if some of their younger players are not available. Unless the Lakers were to offer up someone like Russell or Clarkson, Kupchak and company are not getting something done.
The Lakers are not in contention for the playoffs and right now their sights are set on the future and developing the young talent to take over the team following the departure of players like Kobe Bryant. One thing unclear is whether or not the future involves head coach Byron Scott. Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times is reporting that the Lakers are torn on whether or not Scott will remain with the team. He will reportedly finish out the year, but with the second-worst record in the NBA, his leash might be too short to stay on.
