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Nick Young to decline $5.7M option with Lakers

Lakers veteran Nick Young plans to inform the organization Wednesday he will opt out of the $5.7 million player option on his contract, according a to league source familiar with the situation.

The Lakers expected Young to opt out. Following his exit interview, the guard/forward suggested he would like to seek a more lucrative contract on a playoff-bound team.

Young enjoyed a resurgent season under first-year Lakers coach Luke Walton after clashing with former coach Byron Scott the previous two seasons over his role, production and personality. Young averaged 13.2 points on 43 percent shooting and played some of the best defense of his career in 60 games in the 2016-17 campaign as a starter under Walton, a stark improvement from the 7.