New Los Angeles Lakers president of basketball operations, Magic Johnson, has wasted no time in getting straight to work since his promotion on Tuesday.
He has already moved veteran guard Lou Williams to the Houston Rockets and has reportedly been on the phone with Indiana Pacers president Larry Bird to see about potentially trading for star forward Paul George.
However, a lesser deal is far more likely than a huge blockbuster and ESPN’s Marc Stein reports that the Lakers are seeking a second-round pick for veteran Nick Young:
Does Magic Johnson have another trade in store in his debut week? ESPN sources say his Lakers are seeking a second-round pick for Nick Young
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) February 23, 2017
This is certainly a huge change from the offseason when the Lakers shopped Young relentlessly in hopes of finding a taker but were unable to do so. Young’s resurgence has changed the market however as he is enjoying a career year.
Young is averaging 13.8 points while shooting 41.3 percent from three-point range, a career-high mark from distance. He was even invited to the Three-Point contest where he just missed out on making the final round.
The Lakers plan is obvious as the team is trying to clear out the veterans and make room for their young players. Luke Walton has spoken about finding more minutes for the Lakers’ young core and clearing out Young in addition to the already-dealt Williams will do exactly that.
