Los Angeles Lakers head coach Byron Scott is committed to finding ways to rest Kobe Bryant as the season rolls along. Bryant took a handful of games off to get his legs back under him following an atrocious 8-for-30 shooting performance against the Kings, tweaked his game by admission, and hasn't seen more than just over 33 minutes in a single game since. Wesley Johnson's injury will make this harder for Scott to stick to, but the Lakers' have a trio of backup guards who could, and should, keep this maintenance plan in order.


It begins with Nick Young, whose first season with the Lakers was on par with any Sixth Man of the Year campaign in recent memory. Mitch Kupchak's decision to bring him back on a multi-year deal was met with some skepticism, but Young has continued to thrive in his hometown of Los Angeles. He loves being a Laker, which is the first step to the fan base's heart, but his on-court production is even more important. He's the team's leading three-point shooter, putting up 5.3 shots from deep per game while shooting a career-high 43 percent from beyond the arc. He's already made more three-point shots on the season than any other Laker player despite missing the first 10 games, opening up the Lakers' offense. 

Yes, there are moments when Nick Young falls into his poor man's Kobe Bryant impression habits, but he's been mostly good and, on the rare occasion, even sublime. Few players can incite fans like Young, but he typically finds a way to do it at least once a game. Thus far, this half court shot against the Portland Trail Blazers stands as his greatest hit of the season, but there's still plenty of basketball to be played.

 

Ultimately, the player who will see the most time while Kobe either sits out on back-to-backs or is on the bench more often than usual is Young. He doesn't have the playmaking ability to make up for Bryant, but he's a good catch-and-shoot outlet and has continued proving his solid '13-14 season wasn't just a mirage. The Lakers have two more beneficiaries, though, who fly much lower under the radar. 

Wayne Ellington went from training camp invitee to role player, contributing in a limited role thus far. He, too, is shooting at least 40 percent from three-point range, giving Scott another player to funnel perimeter attempts to. Ellington is limited on offense, even more so on defense, but continues to stick around in the NBA because career 39 percent three-point shooters will always have a niche in the league. For a season, that's with the Lakers, which has been a good thing for Los Angeles. 

Ellington plays within himself and doesn't force the kind of mid-range attempts Young does, controlling his shot distribution. 55.8 percent of his attempts are either three-point attempts or at the rim, making him an efficient player that knows his limitations. This is why, even though the Lakers lack talent, it's been very important for Bryant to spoon feed the roster around him. They may not be the caliber of talent he's accustomed to playing with, but if they're involved in the the areas they excel, they can still contribute while taking some of the load off his shoulders. 

Scott will likely continue using Ellington as a third-string shooting guard, but his minutes could rise with the absence of Johnson also calling for help in the wings. When a team has to dig for depth and talent, as the Lakers do, that also opens the door for prospects to find an opportunity. This is exactly where second-round draft pick Jordan Clarkson squeezes into the picture. 

Clarkson has played just 11.4 minutes per game -- the lowest on the team -- and still has to learn his way into becoming a productive NBA player. He has great size as a combo guard, and has potential to be a rotation player in time. The Lakers have nothing to lose in an already-lost season by developing Clarkson and giving him a chance to play with the "big boys." Playing Clarkson in an increased role might be painful in stretches, but for the long-term health of the franchise, it'd be beneficial to mold one of their own draftees. 

Clarkson leads the team in three-point shooting percentage (46 percent on the season), though he's only taken 11 total shots from downtown during his limited time on the floor. Still, Clarkson has shown he can hit NBA-range shots, is the most athletic guard on the team by a wide margin, and -- unlike Kobe Bryant -- needs to break in the tires on his car, so to speak. He's the second-youngest player on the team and was considered a first-round prospect before the second half of his season with Mizzou spiraled downward. Much like last season with second-round pick Ryan Kelly, Clarkson should find his way into the rotation as the games, and injuries, pile up. 

These three players are no Kobe Bryant, but they are pieces in a puzzle Byron Scott has been tasked with putting together. Young and Ellington have proven themselves as productive veterans on the team, while Clarkson desperately needs a chance to develop alongside them. This trio of guards will see extended minutes, especially while Johnson sits, but that's not a bad thing at all. Each can bring something to the floor and play within the offense. Most importantly, they can do just enough to allow Scott a chance to rest Kobe and keep him healthy, which has quickly become the No. 1 priority this season.