Nicholas Aaron “Swaggy P” Young, is on his last guaranteed contract season with the Los Angeles Lakers. Despite the continuous turmoil surrounding the star forward, he remains positive. Growing up in Southern California, Young is no stranger to headlines and has always been a representation of LA basketball. As such the small forward was a welcomed addition to the team at a time when the fan base was experiencing much heartbreak. This was due to the most recent disappointment of Dwight Howard and lingering pains of the veto by David Stern that saw Chris Paul’s trade to the franchise rescinded. During the season Kobe ruptured his Achilles, Young provided much-needed excitement; from battling LeBron James on Christmas Day to his seven four-point plays, Nick became the star of the Lakers. As the silver lining in a stormy season, Swaggy averaged a career high of 17.9 points and 1.5 assists per game. Los Angeles had fallen in love with Young’s great personality, flashy style of play, and even flashier fashion sense, beginning a campaign to re-sign the self-proclaimed Prophet of Swag.

However his charm turned into a sideshow and became a distraction from on court activities in the following two seasons. The young minded vet’s involvement in recent controversy exasperated many Lakers fans. Rumors of trading the happy-go-lucky forward resurfaced, and after his worst year statistically, Swaggy’s time with the Lakers has become uncertain.

Recently Swaggy P spoke with the Southern California News Group about the issue with D’Angelo Russell this past April. Young stated, “We’re teammates, It’s been so long, so it’s kind of old.”.  He followed his comment saying

“We’ll be able to work it out. We’ve already been working it out. It is what it is. I can’t be mad forever.”

Nick Young as always is in good spirits especially after he spoke with new Lakers Coach Luke Walton.  Walton will  implement an offense that requires players who are threats from beyond the arc. Nick Young has the opportunity to bounce back from his performances under previous coach Byron Scott. Understandingly so he continued,

“It’s a breath of fresh air for me…Luke is a big-time coach and came from a championship team. I think I have the tools that we can use as a shooter.”

Coach Luke and his motion system gives Young the best opportunity to get Swaggy again. In response to his conversation with Walton about the opportunity he stated  “I left the conversations feeling good. But at the end of the day, I don’t know,” Young said. “We’ll see. I hear so much. You don’t know what to believe.” Which is the complete truth, here at the Apology and The Hardwood Nation we hope for as long as Swaggy P is a Laker he is successful.