Nick Young Discussion 2014-2015

That is a very wide net.
Talent, better fit, less of a ball stopper, better on D, more of a team first guy, cheaper (more $ for a max guy), and better relationship with coach. Any one of those qualities in return could technically improve the team. Ellington fits in 6 of those boxes. So in my book by giving him that role and addressing another need with moving Young, you are improving the team.

 

I'm surprised with the value peeps are putting on Young. What team would want him? Even with his reasonable contract he offers very little except occasionally getting hot and scoring 10 to 20 pts, very occasionally. Bad D, Bad passer, whacked unprofessional player. He'll turn 29 next year and still acts like he's 17. To me he seems a tough sell and the Lakers would be lucky to get a 2nd round pick to be rid of him and the 3yrs left on his deal.

 

I agree with both of those, but Young isn't the answer to our SF problems. Only another SG out of position. A real SF must be acquired this summer, doesn't matter if it's the draft of FA. I'm speaking in terms of fit as Kobe's backup and in that role, I prefer Ellington. Not to mention that depending on how this summer plays out we could have JC playing some 2 guard. If we draft either Mudiay or Russell, then there's absolutely no room for Young.

 

Why do people think we have to get rid of Young to get Ellington? Where is this coming from? I think people are a bit down on Young because he's basically had the worst year of his career. Keep him as a 6th man (one we desperately need even with Kobe and JC on the team.) Right now, even If we drafted a sf, we would need a bench scorer, and I just don't see us getting a better player willing to come off the bench.

 

@scnottaken it's not an absolute necessity in order for Ellington to stay. But it simply makes the most sense. Kobe will play minutes in the low 30s...32? That would leave 16 minutes a night from his backup. Ellington is going to get a raise, so do we want to pay a 3rd string SG what he will command. It seems like he and the organization want for him to be back (can say for more certainty when we hear the exit interviews from Mitch and Scott) and the same can't be said with Young. As I said earlier, that's not factoring in any minutes for JC at the 2 or if we draft a guard.

The team has evolved. Young fit a need that we had at a reasonable price. I don't think he fits as well going forward. He's a ball stopping chucker who isn't very good at getting others involved. I think moving forward that a more balanced attack from the second unit serves us better. Selfish players won't benefit the development of Randle, JC, or our incoming rookie. I imagine even if all 3 start, minutes will be staggered and I'd rather any of them be the focal point to a second unit along with Ellington, Black, Davis, and whoever else we sign/draft (yes, I'm assuming we reup those two for the sake of this argument).

I don't want to entertain the notion of him at SF. That's not his spot. It's a bandaid. We NEED an actual SF. If we can address one of our 3 needs by moving him (C, SF, PG) and some combination of our other limited assets, I'm 100% for it.

He and Scott don't see eye to eye and their relationship is a distraction, blame whichever party you choose. I don't want any stink of any sort around our young kids. Don't need it. They're too impressionable. Not trying to make Young out to be this horrible egg, but compare how he handled things to Ellington, Boozer, Hill, or anyone this season not named Lin.

And as for the comparison with JR, completely different situation. They're a contender and can afford a character like that if he's a missing piece for them. We aren't and probably won't be during the rest of Young's contract. They have vets who can deal with him and aren't trying to mold their future with a few kids. Also, the coach (Bron) has no problem with him at all.

 

@scnottaken --- good point about the bench scoring, but he's an one-dimensional and streaky scorer. He doesn't get anyone else involved, so he's not a valuable 6th man as for example a Ginobili or Odom type player (not comparing talent but play styles) who can be create offense for others. I really think JLin could be a really good 6th man in the right system.

And regarding Ellington, we are keeping him with or without Young. He is cheap and possesses none of the headaches that Young presents. We are just saying Ellington is good enough as a back up, because Young's negatives largely outweigh his positives for this team. His salary and bad shooting are the least of my concerns. His attitude sucks and his relationship with Byron is a ticking timebomb. I don't want that going into next season. I want to start over with a clean slate.

 

@therealdeal, that last paragraph sums up why I don't think he should be here next year. We have a lot more flexibility without him.

if we go the Love route, we can still afford a starting SF.

If we go with Middleton or Carroll, we can even afford Wes as a backup if we want and still get someone like Mo Williams to share the spot with JC.

My draft board hasn't really changed.
Okafor
Towns
Mudiay
Johnson
WCS

But I terms of fit and filling out the rest of the roster, I think we might be better off taking whichever of the 3 bigs is there when we pick.

My ideal draft would be to get one of the bigs, trade Young and the HOU pick to get into the teens, and then package Hill and both our 2nd rounders to get back into the late 1st (if the Hill/Young need to be swapped in that plan, so be it). I don't want salary back in either deal. I'd take a SF and a PG Dekker or Grant in the teens and RHJ or Wright in the late 20s.

WCS/Black
Randle/Davis/Kelly
Middleton/Wes/Dekker
Kobe/Ellington/Brown
JC/Mo Williams/Wright

Also I completely forgot Brown in my previous minute breakdown of the SG spot. He's a keeper for pennies on the dollar. He and Ellington combined won't cost more than Young.

 

You know what they say though @therealdeal

one’s true colors are revealed in tough times

 

Hill, will be known on June 25th. Young will probably be shopped after the lottery, but we might not know anything until July; same goes for Lin. I would place on bet on Lin being back before Young and/or Hill.

 

Young's value is probably relatively low right now. Trading him this off-season would be a mistake. Personally, I think he can still be a good fit as a bench scorer. If next season he's still not the best fit, I think he'll at least shoot better than this poor season which should raise his value a bit.

I feel like since CL, I've always been saying this, but once again I think "attitude" issues are being overblown because we're frustrated with the season and need scapegoats. I don't think he's content with losing. I watched his exit interview and he explained his reaction after the win against the C Bags when they messed around during the post-game interview. He said that it had been so long since they had won, that his natural happy demeanor just came out. That's just who he is. I don't think that's a problem. At the end of the day, it still sounds like basketball is his main concern if you watch his interview.

On top of that, despite a poor shooting year, he's still the player on the roster that I trust the most to make a three pointer when we need it.

 

and here's the difference...