Mitch Kupchak says a shakeup is in store for the Los Angeles Lakers – NBA News
Los Angeles Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak has revealed that changes are on the cards for the Los Angeles Lakers, after they crashed out of the playoffs in the 2nd round for the 2nd straight season.
The Lakers were beaten convincingly by a younger and more athletic Thunder team, and the series loss has left their flaws and weaknesses exposed.
The Lakers seemed to be at odds as teammates and the chemistry that won them two titles in as many years late in the last decade was nowhere to be seen.
Kupchak’s comments come days after there was huge speculation in the NBA that tough changes lay ahead for the Lakers, who will go into the off season trade with aggression. His comments proved those speculations right.
"There will be some change. There will be a bit of activity July 1st, looking at who we can bring back and dealing with the marketplace” said Kupchak on Wednesday.
Kupchak has had exit round interviews with all of the Lakers players except for one, the most important player Kobe Bryant. The two are expected to meet later this week or early next week, and Kupchak will definitely ask him what
he thinks the team needs going forward.
The Lakers still want to build the team around Kobe. Even at his age, he is one of the best players in the league, and he proved that again this season. With his fitness and performance, the Black Mamba looks like he can go on
for a couple of more seasons without any need of holding himself back or taking caution.
However, they have important decisions to make on the rest of the players, as almost of their roster will become free agents this offseason. Steve Blake is one of the few players who still has two years left on his contract.
Kupchak said that the Lakers will exercise their $16.1 million option on All Star Center Andrew Bynum before the June 30th deadline. Bynum has also expressed his desire to play for the Lakers. So he is most probably
a lock.
"That's step one. Anything beyond that we'll discuss internally and precede if that's the course that we're going to take” said Kupchak regarding the Bynum option.
The most important decision the Lakers would have to make will be the future of Pau Gasol. The Lakers tried to trade him before the season started in a possible three team trade that would have landed them Chris Paul. They now
look towards the off season and many believe they will again try to trade Gasol.
The Lakers also have an $8.9 million trade exception which they acquired when they traded Lamar Odom to the Dallas Mavericks. They would also look to improve their draft pick as currently, they have the 60th draft
pick of the 2nd round in this year’s NBA draft.
“We'll look to improve our position in the draft. I can't imagine us being in a position to simply step into a first-round pick. But there may be a way to get up to a little bit better position in the draft” said Kupchak.
Los Angeles reached the 2nd round of the playoffs this year and for any other team this would have been an achievement. But for the Lakers, two 2nd round exits in consecutive years was too much for them to
swallow and they immediately went to the drawing boards to restructure the team and make them title contenders.
For Kupchak and the Lakers though, its all about winning the championships and that is how they grade themselves.
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