Lakers News: Mitch Kupchak Says “Nobody Is Off Limits” In Trade Talks

Trevor Lane
3 Min Read

The Lakers are eagerly awaiting tonight’s draft lottery, where they will learn whether or not they have a top-three pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. While they hope to walk away with the number one pick (Ben Simmons hopes they do too), Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak has to be prepared for all outcomes.

Should the team lose their pick they will have to pursue other avenues to improve this summer. With over $60 million in cap space available, the Lakers will look to sign impact free agents. Without the draft pick, they would have to sell prospective future Lakers on the franchises ability to build winning teams. While D’Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson, and Julius Randle are a young core full of potential, free agents tend to flock to teams that are ready to win right now.

With that being the case, it’s possible that Kupchak will look to make a trade, which is an option even if they retain their draft pick. The Lakers are eager to improve and will consider trading anyone on the roster in the right deal. Kupchak recently reiterated this notion to Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News:

“Nobody is off limits.You have to take phone calls. If that does happen, that’s a good thing. That means you have players that other teams want.”

While there are definite benefits to building around young players, the Lakers also know that they need to give fans something to be excited about now that they are venturing into the post-Kobe era. If an opportunity arises for them to add a proven player, or even better, a star, Kupchak will have to seriously consider it.

In particular, a top two pick in the 2016 draft would give the Lakers a chance to draft consensus top picks Simmons or Brandon Ingram, but other teams may be willing to pay handsomely for that privilege as well. With Russell, Randle, and Clarkson also having varying levels of value around the league, the Lakers phone lines should be more active this year than they have over the past few difficult seasons.

No one knows for sure which direction the Lakers will go in, but it will be up to Kupchak and Jim Buss to weigh the options carefully and then set the franchise on its course.

Trevor Lane is a longtime NBA and Los Angeles Lakers fan who had the good fortune to grow up during the glory days of the Showtime Lakers, when Magic Johnson, Kareem-Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy, and the rest ruled the Great Western Forum. He has written about basketball, soccer, fantasy sports, MMA, and even pro wrestling over the course of his career, but the spectacle that is the Lakers is his true passion. He made the leap into podcasting for Lakers Nation and provides voice-over analysis for our YouTube channel. With a who's who of stars gracing the Lakers lineup over the years, including Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Shaquille O'Neal, Pau Gasol, and many others, the Lakers always provide plenty to talk about. When he isn't writing or recording, Trevor can be found spending time with his wife and daughter or on the sidelines for one of the youth teams he coaches. Outside of the Lakers, Trevor is a supporter of the LA Galaxy, US Soccer, Dallas Cowboys, and Los Angeles Dodgers. Contact: trevor@mediumlargela.com
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