Nick Young accepts four-year, $21.5 million deal with Lakers

LakersÕ Nick Young thought he had a three point shot at the end of the third period, but it was called back during second half action at Staples Center Sunday, March 30, 2014.  Lakers defeated the Suns 115-99.  ( Photo by David Crane/Los Angeles Daily News )

LakersÕ Nick Young thought he had a three point shot at the end of the third period, but it was called back during second half action at Staples Center Sunday, March 30, 2014. Lakers defeated the Suns 115-99. ( Photo by David Crane/Los Angeles Daily News )

If nothing else, the Lakers will at least have some entertainment next season.

That will come in the form of Nick Young, who accepted a four-year deal worth $21.5 million to stay with the Lakers. The contract includes a player option that Young can exercise for his fourth year.

The Lakers wanted to keep Young after becoming a fan favorite last season for providing a team-leading 18.5 points and displaying an entertaining on and off-court personality. But the deal is somewhat surprising considering the Lakers wanted to limit deals to one or two years to maintain financial flexibility. But with the Lakers striking out on LeBron James and likely on Carmelo Anthony, more money was available for a player who bled purple and gold.

“They want flexibility, but they also want players who want to be there,” said Young’s agent, Mark Bartelstein. “Nick’s a terrific talent and one the fans enjoy there. What’s the purpose of cap room – to get really good players. They knew how much Nick wanted to be a Laker and how much it meant for him to be a Laker. They saw him in his play last year with the passion he played with. This is where he wanted to be.”

Bartelstein said Young sparked interest from a number of unspecified teams that offered a more lucrative deal. But Young opted for the Lakers instead after growing up here as a Cleveland High and USC standout. Young opted out of his $1.2 million player option and told this newspaper last month that he was willing to take a hometown discount so long that it was a multi-year deal.

Swaggy P received his wish.

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Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter. E-mail him at mark.medina@langnews.com