Lakers' Nick Young speaks out on his relationship with D'Angelo Russell
The Los Angeles Lakers had a rather eventful 2015-16 season. Kobe Bryant retired, of course, and had himself one heck of a final game. The team as a whole was awful, posting the worst record in franchise history at 17-65.
And there was that whole Nick Young-D'Angelo Russell kerfuffle that took place late in the year. Russell had surreptitiously recorded Young apparently admitting to cheating on then-fiancee Iggy Azalea, and when Russell's phone was allegedly hacked, the video was released to the internet.
The whole situation made for an awkward locker room in Los Angeles last year. On Monday, however, Young told the LA Daily News that he's ready to mend his relationship with the young Lakers point guard.
The video's release eventually led to Azalea breaking off her engagement from Young. Russell, meanwhile, poked fun at the matter in an amusing Foot Locker ad — something Young says he wouldn't mind doing.
It's easy for us to laugh at the situation, especially since Young brought it upon himself by cheating on his significant other. Still, rubbing salt in the wound feels like a pretty low blow. Young made a mistake — an egregious one, mind you — and now all he can do is try to learn from his transgressions. If it makes him a more mature basketball player, so much the better.
Then again, after watching Young nearly blow himself up with fireworks, maybe maturity is asking a bit much.
Either way, it definitely behooves Young to try to make sure he's as close as possible to Russell. Rumors have circulated for much of the offseason that the Lakers are looking to move Young.
They'd reportedly prefer to find a trade partner for the 31-year-old shooting guard; barring that, Young's release (by way of the NBA's stretch provision) could be on the table.
