Finally.
Nick Young will make his 2014-15 debut for the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night when they take on the Atlanta Hawks. Young has yet to play this season after tearing a ligament in his thumb during the preseason, and the Lakers have missed him as a secondary scoring option a great deal.
Without other players capable of creating their own shots, Kobe Bryant has been forced (OK, easily convinced) to take on a ridiculous offensive load, using 38.9 percent of the team's offensive possessions. In a twist of either epic foreshadowing or tragic irony, Young actually injured the thumb trying to take the ball from Bryant in practice, the same thing he'll be implicitly asked to do moving forward.
Young will come off the bench Tuesday, as was his lot for most of last season. "Swaggy P" thrived in that role, averaging a career-high 17.9 points with his best efficiency metrics to date. Generally, an increase in usage like Young saw last season comes with a decrease in efficiency, but there appeared to be appreciable improvements to his offensive game.
As entertaining as the thought of Bryant scowling at the shoot-first, shoot-second Young may be, Bryant will probably appreciate having someone else to create offense for stretches. The two should be able to play together, as well, as Young shot 41.4 percent on catch-and-shoot 3-point attempts last season, a look he should get when sharing the floor with Bryant.
Young's return likely means a decrease in minutes for the ineffective Xavier Henry and one of Ronnie Price or Jordan Clarkson.