Nick Young unsure when he will return to the court

Amid the persisting losing and the never-ending injuries stood one reliable source that still made this failed Lakers’ season entertaining.

Nick Young.

He dazzled his fans with his acrobatic shots. Young kept fans and reporters entertained with colorful quotes and eclectic fashion choices. He lightened the locker room with his friendly personality.

But when will the Lakers see Young heal his injured left knee in time to return to the court?

“I don’t know. Sometime next week or the week after,” Young said. “I’m going to take it day by day. No rush.”
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Nick Young to sit out of Lakers’ two-game trip

INDIANAPOLIS — From his game-winning shots, to his acrobatic moves and commanding personality, Kobe Bryant always remained an idol for Nick Young.

But now he’s following something that has plagued Bryant all season. Young’s sitting out with another injury. He will miss the Lakers’ two-game trip with stops in Indiana (tonight) and Memphis (Wednesday) after feeling additional swelling during the Lakers’ loss Sunday against Brooklyn in his fractured left knee. It’s possible Young will return Friday when the Lakers host the Sacramento Kings at Staples Center.

“I’m Kobe now,” Young cracked. “I missed the whole shootaround and didn’t move.”

Young returned in only two weeks after nursing both a bone bruise and nondisplaced fracture in the patella of his left knee, and Young admitted that quick recovery time didn’t consist of taking an MRI. Young remained adamant he doesn’t need to be reevaluated, but he listened to the Lakers’ training staff. Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni added, “there’s no reason to push him.”

“It’s something that can get worse or cause other injuries,” said Young, who plans to receiving icing and treatment. “So that’s why they want me to wait until I’m pain free.”
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Panel on TWC SportsNet highlights Nick Young’s return

Los Angeles Lakers small forward Nick Young (0) shoots over Brooklyn Nets power forward Mirza Teletovic (33) and small forward Paul Pierce (34) in the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game at the Barclays Center, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Los Angeles Lakers small forward Nick Young (0) shoots over Brooklyn Nets power forward Mirza Teletovic (33) and small forward Paul Pierce (34) in the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game at the Barclays Center, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

The swag. The high volume shooting. The never-ending highlight reels. The entertaining soundbites. And, yes, the occasional defense.

This all became a topic of discussion on Time Warner Cable’s Access SportsNet where host Kelli Tennant, analyst Dave Miller and I talked about Nick Young’s return tonight when the Lakers (19-36) hosts the Brooklyn Nets (25-28_ tonight at Staples Center at 6 p.m. He had missed the past six games because of a fractured left knee.


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

Mitch Kupchak pleads patience with rebuilding process

Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak tried preaching patience. Nick Ut - Associated Press)

Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak tried preaching patience. Nick Ut – Associated Press)

The Lakers usually come out of the trade deadline with a mostly intact roster geared for a championship run or a significant move destined to accelerate the rebuilding process.

This year, neither scenario happened.

The only move the Lakers made leading into the NBA’s trade deadline entailed sending Steve Blake to the Golden State Warriors for young, seldom-used shooting guards Kent Bazemore and MarShon Brooks, a deal that saved the Lakers about $4 million in salary and luxury taxes.

That means Pau Gasol survived yet another trade scenario. Jordan Hill also remains here to stay despite the Lakers inquiring various teams about him. But here’s bad news for the Lakers: they mostly have the same roster that has spiraled into last place in the Western Conference. Even more bad news for the Lakers: they failed to collect any additional draft picks for this year’s star studded class or fall under the luxury tax threshold.

So after Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak concluded a busy stretch of phone calls before Thursday’s noon cut-off time, he outlined that the Lakers quest to return back to their championship luster will take some time.

“It’s reasonable to think that every now and then, or maybe once every 10 years, or maybe once every 15 years, you might have a bad year. OK?” said Kupchak, perhaps mindful of the Lakers’ 16 NBA titles. “And we are not having a good year. Our hope and desire is that next year will be a lot better than this year and we certainly have the tools to begin the process.”
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Lakers clear the air on Nick Young’s frustration with teammates’ lack of help

Nick Young, right, has words with Phoenix Suns' Marcus Morris and Markieff Morris, rear, during the first half Wednesday night. (Ross D. Franklin/The Associated Press)

Nick Young, right, has words with Phoenix Suns’ Marcus Morris and Markieff Morris, rear, during the first half Wednesday night. (Ross D. Franklin/The Associated Press)

BOSTON –The Lakers entered a place where they once competed for NBA championships, and addressed some things that go beyond handling a decimated roster or Rajon Rondo’s pending return from a torn ACL injury.

The Lakers also held a team meeting to discuss Nick Young’s frustration that he was essentially playing “one-on-five” when he drew an ejection Wednesday against the Phoenix Suns. Young won’t play tonight when the Lakers (14-25) visit the Boston Celtics (14-26) Friday night at T.D. Garden because of an NBA-imposed suspension for committing “a punching foul” on Phoenix guard Goran Dragic.

Young lamented afterwards that none of his teammates came to support him after Suns forward Alex Len committed a flagrant 2 foul on Young, prompting both Young, Len, Suns forward Marcus Morris and Dragic to engage in a scuffle.

“We just talked. We’re all on the same page now. It’s just a misunderstanding,” Young said after the Lakers’ morning shootaround at TD Garden. “We all know what to do now in situations like that. Once we talked we air everything out, we’re all good.”
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Nick Young assessed with a sore back

Dallas Mavericks player Dirk Nowitzki from Germany goes to the basket against the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half of their NBA basketball game at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, on Jan. 7, 2014. EPA/LARRY W. SMITH

Dallas Mavericks player Dirk Nowitzki from Germany goes to the basket against the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half of their NBA basketball game at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, on Jan. 7, 2014. EPA/LARRY W. SMITH

DALLAS — Nick Young hunched over his locker stall, slowly but surely dressing up into the flamboyant clothing that’s made him one of the NBA’s most fashionable players.

Young wasn’t just trying to process the Lakers’ 110-97 loss Tuesday to the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. He also struggled putting on his clothes because of a sore back that stemmed from Nuggets guard Nate Robinson fouling him hard in the second quarter of the Lakers’ loss Sunday against Denver.

“I just hurt it. It’s been bothering me,” Young said. “We’re so short. I’m not trying to miss games. I’ll try to play through everything.”

With his planned treatment on his back, hips, calves and thighs, will Young suit up when the Lakers play tonight in Houston (22-13)?

“I’m not going to say I’m out or in, but we have only eight or nine players,” said Young, who refused to blame his back ailments for posting only two points on 1-of-7 shooting. “I’m not going to leave them out to dry.”

After all, the Lakers have injuries to Kobe Bryant (fractured left knee), Steve Nash (nerve issues in back) and Steve Blake (hyperextended right elbow), all of whom aren’t expected to return until February. Jordan Farmar (left hamstring) remains sidelined another three weeks. Xavier Henry could return from a bone bruise in his right knee if his evaluation next week goes smoothly

“It was like somebody died,” Lakers forward Nick Young said of the locker room vibe. “It’s a funeral. We have to get some swag going and happy again. Then we’ll see a rainbow.”

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

Mike D’Antoni believes Nick Young needs to pay more attention to detail

#0 Nick Young and #1 Jordan Farmar are ready for media day. The Los Angeles Lakers held a media day at their El Segundo practice facility. Players were photographed for team materials, and interviewed by the press. El Segundo, CA. 9/27/2013. photo by (John McCoy/Los Angeles Daily News)

#0 Nick Young and #1 Jordan Farmar are ready for media day. The Los Angeles Lakers held a media day at their El Segundo practice facility. Players were photographed for team materials, and interviewed by the press. El Segundo, CA. 9/27/2013. photo by (John McCoy/Los Angeles Daily News)

Lakers forward Nick Young rarely finds shots he doesn’t like, making his introduction to Mike D’Antoni’s high-scoring offense a perfect fit. Perhaps a little too much.

“He’s been on me when I was passing so much,” said Young, who’s averaged 11.3 points and one assist in his six seasons. “I didn’t have that in a while. I’m excited.”

Is that true?

“Yeah, that’s the case,” D’Antoni said, rolling his eyes. “That won’t happen a whole lot.”
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Nick Young playfully talking trash to Kobe Bryant about returning

The Los Angeles Lakers held a media day at their El Segundo practice facility. Players were photographed for team materials, and interviewed by the press. El Segundo, CA. 9/27/2013. photo by (John McCoy/Los Angeles Daily News)

The Los Angeles Lakers held a media day at their El Segundo practice facility. Players were photographed for team materials, and interviewed by the press. El Segundo, CA. 9/27/2013. photo by (John McCoy/Los Angeles Daily News)

The salty language and verbal taunts echoed at the Lakers’ practice facility apparently aren’t just coming from Kobe Bryant. In fact, they’re being directed at him.

Reflecting both his playful and assertive personality, Lakers forward Nick Young spit some motivating words to Bryant as he progresses from his surgically repaired left Achilles tendon.

“I’ve been talking trash to him to get him back out there,” said Young, the former Cleveland High and USC product. “We all have. He wants to be out there.”

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Five things to watch in Lakers’ training camp

Kobe Bryant remains the top storyline heading into the Lakers' training camp. Photo credit: Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer

Kobe Bryant remains the top storyline heading into the Lakers’ training camp. Photo credit: Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer

Very few times do the Lakers head into a season without the general public expecting an NBA championship. But with the Lakers beginning training camp today, plenty of intriguing storylines remain. Below are a look at the main ones.

1. How will Kobe Bryant’s recovery go? The Lakers haven’t offered a definitive timetable on when Bryant will return to the court after spending the past five months healing his surgically repaired left Achilles tendon. He’s still running on a weight-bearing treadmill and must progress toward basketball-related drills before taking the court.
Don’t expect Bryant to practice in training camp, or many of the Lakers’ eight preseason games. Knowing Bryant’s competitiviness, though, it’s possible he’ll return for the Lakers’ season opener Oct. 29 against the Clippers at Staples Center.
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Nick Young says he and Wesley Johnson will compete for starting spot

As he’s spent the past month in informal workouts at the Lakers’ practice facility, Nick Young has heard coach Mike D’Antoni harp on one thing and one thing only.

Shoot the ball.

Young hardly struggles with that, as evidenced by his gun-slinging ways that, for better and for worse, contributed to averaging 11.3 points, 1.9 rebounds and one assist in six seasons. Apparently, though, Young needs to dial it up even more.

“He was on me when I was passing so much earlier today,” Young said Tuesday night at the NBA2K14 launch party at the Greystone Manor in West Hollywood. “I didn’t have that in a while. I’m excited.”

How Young responds to that could determine his role. The former USC and Cleveland High of Reseda standout revealed D’Antoni’s intentions that both he and Wesley Johnson are spending part of training camp competing for the starting spot at small forward.

“I think it’s going to be a little bit of both,” Young said. “Wesley is young and athletic and could fit in that Shawn Marion type game. That’s what they like about him.”
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