After suffering the worst win percentage in franchise history, the Los Angeles Lakers are looking to take the next step in their rebuilding process. While the franchise is focused on long-term success, general manager Mitch Kupchak and company can speed up the process through the draft, free agency and/or trade.
— Have you seen the ‘Lakers Nation’ phone case? —
With numerous assets heading into this off-season, the focus has been on the second overall pick in the NBA Draft and all the discussion has centered around taking a big man or guard. In a recent interview on The Chris Mannix Show, Kupchak shared the team has received phone calls and will entertain the possibility of moving the pick:
Well, to be in the running for the No. 2 pick, and this is just my take on it, general managers in this league know they have to offer or they will have to offer something very substantial. You can’t just call and say, “Hey, listen, we have interest in the No. 2 pick” if they’re not willing to be really, really serious. They know that. The No. 2 pick is valuable, so, to answer your question, yeah, we’ve gotten phone calls, 30 teams, 29 teams haven’t called us, and they wouldn’t. They know what the price would be, but we have gotten phone calls, and we will entertain the possibility of moving the pick if the right phone call, the right offer comes along.
As expected, the Lakers will evaluate all of their options and do what is best for the franchise. While rookie contracts are extremely valuable in any team’s rebuilding efforts, Los Angeles may receive an offer they cannot refuse in the form of an established All-Star player.
Heading into the off-season, the Lakers have numerous assets and it will be interesting to see how it all plays out. Depending on what the Lakers ultimately do with the pick, adding solid free agents to go along with Kobe Bryant, Julius Randle and Jordan Clarkson should provide fans with excitement moving forward.
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