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If Nick Young wasn’t best known for joking around, his opening comments to the Los Angeles Lakers media following his exit interview with the front office might have sent
“They just signed me to $150 million. S**t, lifetime deal,” Young said, although cap-conscious fans needn’t panic.
“It was under the table, they gave it to me all in cash,” Young laughed.
In all seriousness, Young made it sound like the team wants him to opt in to his player option worth approximately $5.6 million this summer.
“Obviously I had a good year. They was begging me to pretty much stay, but I told Magic we’ll see,” Young said, adding that he had to talk to his agent.
“We’re gonna see how it goes,” Young said.
The 10-year veteran did, however, make it sound like staying in his hometown is far from a guarantee:
“At my age, I don’t know if I want to sit around & wait for another team to progress and grow,” Young said, adding that he hopes to compete for the playoffs.
If he does get a payday for his bounce back season in Los Angeles, he knows Lakers Head Coach Luke Walton is the man he has to credit.
“I told him I’m going to send him a Rolex this year, take him on a cruise or something. We can make it romantic, just me and him,” Young laughed.
He also said his much talked about relationship with D’Angelo Russell improved after their leaked video incident last year.
“I told him he can make it up to me by giving me the ball,” Young said with a grin.
If Young does move on, it won’t be because he doesn’t love Los Angeles.
“L.A. is home, but we’ll see. I’m getting a little older, so I’ve got to make decisions that are right for me and my family,” Young said. “They showed interest, but we’ve got to see who else in free agency out there.”
As he walked off, Young might have revealed his true expectations for next season.
“I’ll see ya’ll when I come play against you next year,” Young told the media, laughing.
All stats per NBA.com. and Basketball-Reference.com. All quotes transcribed via Periscope. Harrison Faigen is co-host of the Locked on Lakers podcast (subscribe here, or listen to our thoughts on the season below), and you can follow him on Twitter at @hmfaigen.