Nick Young (Photo : Getty Images)
The Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets could be potential destinations for Nick Young if the Los Angeles Lakers decide to buy out Swaggy P this offseason.
The Lakers seem ready to cut ties with Young after four season, with LA reportedly open to buying out the 31-year-old shooting guard if they cannot find a trade partner for him, according to Kevin Ding of Bleacher Report.
"I would frankly be surprised if Nick Young was on the Lakers' roster at the start of the season. They've been trying to trade him for a while, they're still trying to trade him, they are willing to even buy him out if necessary to move on and really commit to the youth movement and let D'Angelo Russell do his thing," Ding said.
Young struggled to fit with the Lakers last season, only averaging 7.3 points, while playing 19.1 minutes in 54 games. Young's poor displays were mostly because of an outdated offense tailored by Byron Scott, clashing with the ex-Lakers coach on some occasions. But there is no doubt Young is still capable of contributing off the bench under the right system.
If the Lakers indeed decides to waive Young, two possible destinations for the veteran shooting guard are the Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets.
Latest NBA rumors suggested Young as a possible option for the Celtics, who still seem looking for added depth despite recent signings this summer. If Young could play a decent role off the bench, he could be an outside threat for the Celtics, giving more space for Horford to operate inside the paint.
Meanwhile, the Nets are also rumored to be a landing spot for Young, who could be a perfect fit playing under the bright lights of New York.
The Nets could certainly use a veteran shooting guard after the team failed to secure Allen Crabbe and Tyler Johnson this summer. Likewise, Young could also come off the bench for Brooklyn, but with very little talent at the backcourt, he could earn more quality minutes.
Absorbing Young's contract won't eat much of the Nets' $17.7 million available cap space, giving them more leverage in exploring mid-season trade deals.
It remains to be seen whether the Celtics and Nets are truly interested in adding Young, especially considering his performance last season. But Young is still no doubt a proven scorer, and that could be a factor for teams like Boston and Brooklyn to consider him once the Lakers buy him out.
