Mitch Kupchak got chatty today, opening up about a lot of Lakers news. The GM started discussing Kobe’s near future with the team as he continues his rehab to get 100 percent healthy. Mitch told reporters that Kobe is “making progress probably weekly,” and his status before the season begins is uncertain.
Kupchak continued by discussing the financial future of the Lakers. A concern many fans and basketball gurus have is whether or not the Lakers can remain contenders by having so little room to breathe financially. Kobe Bryant already stated he wouldn’t take a pay cut, and his salary takes up most of the budget. When addressing the issues with making room for next year’s team, Mitch explained:
“You have to look beyond next year. You can’t say we have all this flexibility and we’re going to use it all next year. You don’t know if you’re going to use it for a free agent or a trade or to sign back Pau or Kobe. We’re in the position where we can sit down at the end of the year and look and see what’s best for the organization. We’re in control, so to speak.”
Dwight has begun his time in Houston despite the efforts of the L.A. front office to keep him on the Lakers. Remember those billboards and posters? Well, I find it interesting that the team went through with purchasing those expensive pieces of begging after Mitch Kupchak acknowledged he wasn’t surprised that Dwight left for the Rockets.
“It wasn’t a surprise. I had a feeling that Houston was a frontrunner, and whenever a player is an unrestricted free agent, anything can happen.”
Honesty appreciated, however, I would have like to have kept those dollars in the bank.
Kurt Rambis, a former Lakers player, will make his return to L.A. for the 2013-14 season as an assistant coach under Mike D’Antoni. He was also an assistant coach with the Lakers for 12 years, and was the Lakers head coach during the 1999 lock out season. Suki Thind details exactly why Rambis will make an impact this coming season in his recent post. You can check it out here. One thing is for sure, Kurt will be the defensive brain power behind this Lakers team.
The annual Nike Basketball 3-on-3 tournament is back this summer and will take place at L.A. Live August 9-11. This year, Lakers Nation has partnered up with Nike to give away free entry for two teams! To be able to enter to win a free entry for you and your team, you just have to follow the steps here.
Lakers Nation News
Mitch Kupchak Discusses Lakers Financial Flexibility And Future
Mitch Kupchak On Dwight Howard Leaving: ‘It Wasn’t A Surprise’
Lakers News: Mitch Kupchak Dismisses Idea Of Throwing In The Towel
Lakers News: Kurt Rambis To Be An Assistant Coach For Lakers
Historic Lakers YouTube Video: Robert Horry’s 2002 Game Winner
RareInk Review: Magic Johnson In The 1992 All-Star Game
Contest: Enter To Win Free Registration For Nike 3on3 Tournament
How Kurt Rambis Will Help The Lakers Significantly
Examining The Dynamic Of The Kobe Bryant And Pau Gasol Duo
Mitch Kupchak Unsure When Kobe Bryant Will Be Ready
Lakers News
Jordan Farmar Might Be the Best Point Guard for This Lakers Team [Silver Screen and
Kurt Rambis Agrees to Join Lakers Coaching Staff [Silver Screen and Roll]
Lakers Podcast Live Tonight [Silver Screen and Roll]
Steve Nash Near 100 Percent, Using Last Season as Motivation [Silver Screen and Roll]
Magic Johnson Breaks the Big O’s Record (Video) [Forum Blue and Gold]
Kurt Rambis Tweets He’s Back as Lakers Assistant Coach [Lakers Now]
Debate: Should LA Sign Lamar Odom? [Bleacher Report]
Lakers Not All That Sold on Lamar Odom [ProBasketballTalk]
Lakers Leery of Lamar Odom [FanNation]
Lakers Reach Agreement with Elias Harris [ESPN]
2013-14 Laker Girl Auditions | video [THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS]
Magic Johnson Breaks the Big O’s Record (Video) [Forum Blue And Gold]
Elias Harris Agrees To Two-Year Deal With Lakers [The Real GM]
Steve Nash expects Kobe Bryant to exceed expectations post-injury [Lakers Now]
Los Angeles Lakers Hire Kurt Rambis as Assistant [USA Today]
Summer League Player Elias Harris Signs Two-Year Deal With Lakers [Forum Blue and Gold]
Video Flashback: Pau Gasol’s First Game as a Los Angeles Laker [Swagger]
Elias Harris will sign with Lakers on two-year deal [Eye on Basketball]
2013 – 14 Laker Girls [THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS]
Keeping Tabs on Former Lakers [Lakers Now]
Lakers GM Wasn’t Surprised Dwight Howard Left [For the Win]
Predicting the 7 Biggest Names to Hit the Trade Block Next Season [Bleacher Report]
Lakers’ Steve Nash to Try Out for Inter Milan [Yahoo Sports]
Lakers Hire Kurt Rambis, Johnny Davis as Assistant Coaches [Lakers Now]
Lakers Add Kurt Rambis, Johnny Davis to D’Antoni’s Staff [Eye on Basketball]
NBA News
Latest Buzz on Veteran Free Agents Still on the Market [Bleacher Report]
Daniel Gibson turns self in on battery charge in New Orleans [ProBasketballTalk]
Pacers Acquire Scola in Three-Player Trade With Suns [NBA.com]
Who Will Play for Team USA in 2014 FIBA World Cup? [USA Today]
Memphis Grizzlies “in the mix” to Sign Free Agent Mo Williams [SI Wire]
Bobcats, Henderson Agree to Three-Year Deal [NBA.com]
Daniel ‘Boobie’ Gibson Turns Himself In On Battery Charge [Eye on Basketball]
Houston Rockets, Marcus Camby Agree to Deal [ESPN]
Grizzlies Sign Draft Pick Jamaal Franklin to Deal [Yahoo! Sports]
Weekly Salary Cap Update: Market Drying Up [HOOPSWORLD]
David Vanterpool is a Surprise ‘Serious Candidate’ in Sixers’ Coaching Search [ProBasketballTalk]
Kevin Durant Hammers a Dunk at the Drew League [Eye on Basketball]
USA Basketball Starting to Take Shape [HOOPSWORLD]
VIDEO: US Soldier in Full Gear Throws Down Windmill Dunk [CBSSports.com]
Manu Ginobili Admits He Thought He Might Retire After Season [ProBasketballTalk]
NBA Draft 2014: Andrew Wiggins Leads Loaded Class [SI.com]
The 2013-2014 NBA All-Weird Teams [CBSSports.com]
Suns ‘Optimistic’ that Channing Frye Will Be Playing for Them Next Season [ProBasketballTalk]
Madison Square Garden Gets 10 Years to Find New Location [CNN.com]
Derrick Rose Says He’s The Best Player in the NBA [CBSSports.com]
The Promise and Danger of Kyrie Irving’s Maturation for the Cavaliers [Eye on Basketball]
Mario Chalmers: Miami Heat Face ‘beast’ Next Season [USA Today]
Gustavo Ayon Claimed Off Waivers by Atlanta Hawks [ESPN]
New San Francisco Home for Warriors Could Cost $1 Billion [ProBasketballTalk]
