The Los Angeles Lakers missed the playoffs for the second straight season. General manager Mitch Kupchak has a busy off-season ahead. There figures to be plenty of turnover as the roster was filled with players with expiring deals.
Kupchak addressed some of the Lakers plans over the summer and potential free agent meetings. While the team is one of the most storied franchises in all of sports, the general manger refrains from using the narrative as a recruiting tool according to Lakers Nation reporter Serena Winters:
Kupchak asked about using Lakers past to recruit(1/2): "When we entertain or recruit free agents, we rarely sell the past or the legacy here
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) April 16, 2015
Kupchak (2/2): "That’s not something we feel like we have to sell….and frankly, they don't want to hear about it."
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) April 16, 2015
Despite the tough seasons, the Lakers history is still well known in the basketball world. The last time the Lakers won an NBA championship was in 2010. It was the team’s 16th in franchise history, but in the five years since, the team has had difficulty finishing their seasons on top.
While some believe the Lakers past luster has come and gone, the team is still optimistic its tradition can prove to others that the Lakers can return to winning ways. Kupchak believes the turnaround can happen quickly as this upcoming off-season will help the rebuild.
With plenty of cap space available, the Lakers have the potential to lure some of the top free agents. The team went after Carmelo Anthony last summer and had a lengthy meeting discussing his future with the team. Dwight Howard was sought after the year prior. Both players went elsewhere as the Lakers looked in other places for their free agent needs. This year, the team could go after the likes of Rajon Rondo, Goran Dragic, or others.
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