Nick Young has turned down his player option with the Lakers for the 2017/18 season, reports Brad Turner of The Los Angeles Times (via Twitter). As a result of the move, Young will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
[RELATED: NBA Player Option Decisions For 2017/18]
Last offseason, Young was viewed as a potential release candidate for the Lakers. At the time, he was coming off a season in which he averaged career-worst marks in PPG (7.3) and FG% (.339). However, he enjoyed a solid bounce-back season in 2016/17, starting 60 games for Los Angeles, averaging 13.2 PPG, and posting a shooting line of .430/.404/.856.
Young’s deal with L.A. included a 2017/18 player option that would have paid him approximately $5.67MM. Heading into the free agent market, he should be able to comfortably top that figure. This year’s group of free agent shooting guards isn’t particularly strong, and Young’s 2.8 three-pointers per game was a top-10 mark in the NBA — that outside shooting ability should be coveted by a number of teams.
Young has talked in the past about how much he enjoys playing in Los Angeles, so it’s possible that he and the Lakers work out a new contract to keep him in the mix. However, the Lakers already have an eye toward their 2018 cap flexibility, and won’t want to add much guaranteed money to their books, since it could compromise their pursuit of impact players next year.
Assuming Young lands elsewhere, adding shooting will be a priority for the Lakers this offseason. Young and D’Angelo Russell, who is headed to Brooklyn, were the team’s top two three-point shooters in 2016/17.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
MORE CAP SPACE!!!!!!
Amen
Yeah, more cap space!
I wonder where he’s gonna go
Bye
Who cares never played defense
Lakers just got rid of all of the drama in 2 days? Nice work Magic!
Now if they can just package picks 27 & 28 with Deng they’ll be set,
Hopefully they’ll be able to do that and keep one of them if Magic can really work magic.
He was much improved last year. Could see him getting anything between 7-11 million
Maybe he wants to stay with his buddy Russell. lol
Lol
Anybody who gives him that will be greatly disappointed.
We’re slowly getting back to be the Lakers
Again!
Thank You!
Magic!!! I see Fox running like showtime baby, do the right thing… bring it back
Yes! And he plays lockdown defense.
I can see him as a fit in Houston or GSW based upon his personality
Free at last. Free at last. Thank God Almighty the Lakers are free at last. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.
Probably won’t be much market for a no-D, can’t pass, can’t rebound volume shooter who can’t create his own shot consistently.
He can create a shot, it’s just 30 feet away floating to the side with 2 guys right in his face. I didn’t want to pay him to start with
Nick Young to Golden State for the minimum!!!!!