NBA Rumors: Lakers May Trade Nick Young This Summer After Tape Leak Scandal

As the locker room tension in LA Lakers goes full throttle, restoring broken ties among team members is increasingly becoming an impossible task for the franchise management. Deep mistrust appeared to have sapped the team's ability to work seamlessly as a whole functional team. Without harmony and trust, the task of rebuilding the team in the post-Kobe Bryant era will be a herculean task.

Now, reports are surfacing about the possibility of trading Nick Young this offseason. Two years ago, Young was signed in to the Lakers for a four-year $21.5 million deal. Under former head coach Mike D'Antoni, Young had been performing quite well averaging 17.9 points and 1.5 assists per game. Since Byron Scott took over the helms of hardcourt mentorship, Young appeared to have struggled with his performance. He was reportedly involved in frequent clashes with the incumbent head coach.

"It has nothing to do with the chemistry. It has everything to do with just basketball. Right now, I know what he's going through, and I know it's hard on him. But he's not here with us mentally, and there's no need for me to put him out there on the floor," remarked Scott as he described Young's recent gameplay as quoted by the Inquistr.

 With the video leak, a trade is allegedly being mulled upon. It can be recalled that Lakers have repeatedly tried to rid Nick Young off the roster but to no avail as there were no interested team to take him, indicative of his plummeting market value in the league.

"The Lakers tried to trade Young, 30, each of the last two seasons as his production dropped. There were no takers. They will likely try to find a home for him again this off-season, which won't be easy with a player who didn't even get off the bench in eight games last month," revealed sports analyst Mike Breshanan as reported by Los Angeles Times.

At this point, finding a willing suitor to take Young in remains a painstaking challenge for the Lakers as they still owe the athlete about $11 million for the time left on his contract. As reported by Silver Screen and Roll, the team may have to wait until the 'free-agent frenzy' calms down at the start of the offseason. Teams are regularly caught up in the intense negotiations over trade and acquisitions in the opening days and Young would the least of their worries.