There appears to be a growing rift between Los Angeles Lakers veteran Nick Young and first-year coach Byron Scott, one that took a surprising turn with Young declaring he takes Scott's criticisms "with a grain of salt." The Lakers, meanwhile, reportedly are a "lock" to sign Dallas Mavericks star Rajon Rondo in free agency.
Reports of tension existing between Young and Scott isn't surprising, but the apparent tension between the player and the coach became that much more evident when Young essentially dismissed his coach by telling reporters he doesn't put much stock into what Scott says about him.
"I'm used to it right now, hearing what Byron has to say," Young told the Los Angeles Daily News on Sunday. "I take it with a grain of salt."
When asked if he considered Scott's feedback valuable, Young answered: "Nah. I don't know. I feel like it's just a target toward me. It's a little unfair. But it's cool."
Young, who's expected to be out for the season with a fractured left kneecap, was likely responding to Scott's remarks about him needing to become a more rounded player.
"I consider Nick either a home run or a strikeout-type guy on the offensive end," Scott, according to ESPN. "Just like I told him, he has to elevate his game. He has to grow as a basketball player if he wants to continue to play in this league for a long time. He has to get better at moving without the ball, he has to be better at defending people a little bit better and be a better off-the-ball defender as well."
If things were to come to a head between Young and Scott, the Lakers don't have many options. Young's contract earns him around $10.6 million over the next two seasons with a $5.6 million player option for 2017.
Looking ahead to the summer, Los Angeles looks poised to make a splash. The Lakers reportedly would love to sign Rondo in free agency after the season, and according to ESPN's Max Kellerman, the feeling is mutual.
"As I heard from people who would know told me a couple months ago that Rondo is mortal, about a month ago, that Rondo is a mortal lock to sign with the Lakers," Kellerman said on ESPN Radio last week, according to LakersNation. "... When I first heard that Rondo was coming to L.A., which he is, it was about a month ago and a friend of mine who knows, who is in the business, said it is a mortal lock that the Lakers will sign Rajon Rondo. I'm not going to mention his name, but it is a very reliable source who has his ear to the ground."
Lakers superstar Kobe Byrant hasn't been shy about expressing his plans to recruit Rondo in free agency, and for Rondo's part, the point guard hasn't ruled out signing with the Lakers in July. Although Rondo is on a title-contending team with Dallas, he's struggled to fit into the offense and at times has clashed with coach Rick Carlisle over play-calling responsibilities.
Things have seemingly improved between Rondo and Carlisle, but most expect Rondo to test the market this summer and leave Dallas. Although the Lakers are bound for the NBA draft lottery for the second straight year, they're considered the unofficial frontrunner for Rondo because of the allure of Los Angeles, the sizeable paycheck they can offer him and the promise of inheriting the storied franchise from Bryant when he retires.
Other free agents Los Angeles has been linked to include Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love, Miami Heat guard Goran Dragic, Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol, Detroit Pistons guard Reggie Jackson (restricted) and Orlando Magic forward Tobias Harris.
Lakers guard Jeremy Linn being re-signed in free agency also hasn't been ruled out, and forward Jordan Hill reportedly has played himself off the trade block and will return next season as a Laker.
