The Los Angeles Lakers have been making headlines this season due to the imminent retirement of the great Kobe Bryant. While rumors of changes in the coaching staff are also rampant, the D'Angelo Russell squad has been rarely involved in NBA trade talks. As the trade deadline approaches, however, it looks like the Los Angeles Lakers are looking to move some of the older members of the crew.
At the moment, two names have been the center of NBA trade rumors: Nick Young and Roy Hibbert. League sources disclosed that the Los Angeles Lakers are searching for viable deals involving the two veterans. While Hibbert has yet to comment on the NBA trade rumor, the fiance of Grammy Award winner Iggy Azalea has been quite vocal about the possibility.
"I'll be lying if I said I'm not hearing anything," said Young via Los Angeles Daily News. He added, "I don't know if anything's going to happen. But I'm being prepared and hoping for the best." Prior to these rumors, Young faced uncertainty when the Los Angeles Lakers once again reportedly dangled him as a trading chip during the offseason.
Speaking of the possibilities if he gets traded, Young shared that he eyes NBA teams that can make it to the playoffs. He said, "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."
However, the Los Angeles Lakers appear to be all praises for Young. Byron Scott shared that the NBA star is capable of making his limited minutes count in crucial games. This skill is nonetheless missing in the past games though.
The Los Angeles Lakers head coach noted, "Nick's been up and down. He's not making shots right now. That's the thing that's so important for him when he's out there on the floor, because he has the ability to make shots."
For his part, Young noted that the issue is not about his skill. Rather, he feels that his failure to sink baskets is rooted from a "mental" standpoint. That is, he needs to learn how to adjust coming off from the bench.
"His name gets called at random times to play, but I think he performs well when he's out there," shared Jordan Clarkson of Young. The young NBA star added, "He does a lot of little things on the defensive end that people don't see because of the crazy shots he takes on offense. But I think he's doing a real good job of handling the situation."
Meanwhile, Hibbert's situation is rooted from his injuries. Once a promising acquisition by the Los Angeles Lakers, the big man has now become a liability due to his absences in games and practice sessions. Hence, the trade deadline might see him exit the Kobe Bryant squad.
"The veterans on the team, sans Bryant, though, could and should be shopped in the upcoming days," noted Dan Woike of the OC Register. He added, "Center Roy Hibbert's expiring deal probably isn't as valuable this spring as it would be in years past."
