Acquisition of Nick Young gives Clippers a packed backcourt

The Clippers now have a crowded backcourt again after they acquired Nick Young from the Washington Wizards Thursday in a three-team deal.

Young eventually will be the starter at shooting guard besides Chris Paul.

That means that Randy Foye, who has been the starter since Chauncey Billups went down because of a season-ending left Achilles’ tendon injury, will go back to the bench. The Clippers also have top reserve guard Mo Williams and energizer Eric Bledsoe.

Clippers Coach Vinny Del Negro had a difficult time trying to rotate four players into his lineup. Now he will have five players all looking for playing time.

“I don’t know if you can on a consistent basis,� Del Negro acknowledged.

But Del Negro said that because of the compressed schedule — for example, the Clippers playing six games in seven days — that it’ll work itself out.

“I think everyone just has to stay ready and be professional,� Del Negro said. “Obviously, we don’t have a lot of games left. Hopefully, we can manage it well enough where we just build and get better and improve and look at the big picture more than anything.�

Del Negro said that there will be “issues because guys want to play,� but that he’ll play whoever gives the Clippers the best chance to win games.

“I have confidence in all our guys,� Del Negro said. “Randy has done a great job for us and Eric Bledsoe is coming into his own a little bit. He’s feeling better health-wise. He’s getting more of an opportunity.�

The three-team deal worked when the Clippers got Young from the Wizards and sent Brian Cook and a 2015 second-round pick to Washington.

The Wizards got Nene from the Denver Nuggets in exchange for Wizards center JaVale McGee and forward Ronny Turiaf.

“I wish the Clippers well,� Cook said. “It’s part of the business. I’ll go work hard for the Wizards.�

Decision time for Simmons

The Clippers signed Bobby Simmons to his second 10-day contract March 9. Now the team must decide whether to sign him for the rest of the season or release him. Neil Olshey, the team’s vice president of basketball operations, has until Sunday to decide.

Simmons was averaging 4.1 points and 3.1 rebounds in 20.9 minutes before Thursday night’s game.

“I’d like to. I think that’s where we’re heading,� Olshey said. “I just want to make sure there’s minutes there for him. Bobby has kind of rebuilt his career since he’s gotten here.

“Bobby has been terrific. He’s done everything we could ask him to do in order to make that commitment. But we’re going to keep evaluating it. We’ve got three more games where we have to make that decision.�

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