Mitch Kupchak will speak to the media today live at 1PM PT

FrozenIceCubes · Post #1 » by **FrozenIceCubes** » Thu Sep 24, 2015 3:55 pm

Just saw it on Twitter.. Anyone expecting anything groundbreaking? It's supposed to be a preseason press-conference...

FrozenIceCubes · Post #2 » by **FrozenIceCubes** » Thu Sep 24, 2015 4:57 pm

I won't be shocked if a trade is announced this press conference was never scheduled to take place. it could be the news of the Lakers signing MWP.

Post #3 » by **Slava** » Thu Sep 24, 2015 4:58 pm

Don't they always have a GM press conference prior to training camp? Especially since the whole squad must be leaving for Hawaii soon.

FrozenIceCubes · Post #4 » by **FrozenIceCubes** » Thu Sep 24, 2015 5:00 pm

I don't think Mitch has ever had a a press conference scheduled before media day... Maybe it's gonna be about the Lakers players and there improvement over the summer.

DEEP3CL · Post #5 » by **DEEP3CL** » Thu Sep 24, 2015 5:51 pm

There won't be any trades...besides trades are hardly ever done before camp. No need to over react every time it's a press conference.

moonpie · Post #6 » by **moonpie** » Thu Sep 24, 2015 6:44 pm

Another Kobe extension I see 8-)

Marionettetc · Post #7 » by **Marionettetc** » Thu Sep 24, 2015 8:36 pm

Good press conference so far. Love hearing Mitch speak, he's so balanced and articulate. Gonna miss him when he eventually retires.

miggs · Post #8 » by **miggs** » Thu Sep 24, 2015 8:42 pm

Just finished, some notes I took during it:

- At season's end, Mitch would like to see everyone healthy, Kobe a great year, Hibbert an all star year, young players prosper and show promise to develop that core going forward, more than something worth building on and then "add talent next year"

- Kobe will be patient and is on board with game plan "but Kobe's instincts may kick in if players aren't producing or things aren't going as they should" but Mitch hopes "it flushes itself out during training camp and the first 6-7 weeks of the season."

- The vets may play more if Coach Scott feels the young guys are struggling to help get the team wins.

- D-Lo will surely be needed to contribute from day 1, whether he's in the starting line up or not remains to be seen.

- There are up to 2 slots to fill out the roster...

Upshaw - Mitch likes his size and "God-given gifts". Feels ok about his issues after doing their research and feel they have
a good idea of what's wrong. Believe like some players who come to the NBA in similar circumstances, it may
take 2-3 years for him to begin contributing at an NBA level. He's very young but worth the gamble of his multi
year deal.

MWP - Loves seeing MWP and Randle go at it, very competitive. MWP can still be effective on the court. Mitch
likes idea of MWP in the locker room but worries of the idea of using a roster spot too early and losing flexibility.

- If an unguaranteed player outperforms a guaranteed player, and ownership allows, Mitch will seek to trade said guaranteed player.

- On Jim's self imposed clock for success, doesn't seem Mitch gives a **** because if that's all that was important the #2 pick would've been traded for veteran players.

- Mitch says in today's rules of rebuilding there are 3 ways to rebuild. Draft, Free Agency and Trades. They can't wait on 10 years of picks to develop so they'll also use Free Agency and Trades. Mitch feels this season, unlike last season, they have pieces to use in trades but "won't be exploring that any more than last year" just another avenue.

- Mitch likes Huertas and if he makes the team, he believes players will enjoy playing alongside him and feels his presence on the team won't interfere with the contribution or development of the other ball handlers on the team.

miggs · Post #9 » by **miggs** » Thu Sep 24, 2015 8:44 pm

Also DLO baffled when he was brought in the 2nd time, as the Lakers already has Clarkson, D-Lo was taken aback when told Mitch believed they could play together.

Post #10 » by **Kilroy** » Thu Sep 24, 2015 9:04 pm

- Swaggy didn't fit into what Scott wanted last year. He didn't do what he was supposed to on the court. Basically why they got Lou. Swaggy needs to figure out how to stay healthy and do what he's expected to on the court. He's been told that already.

FrozenIceCubes · Post #11 » by **FrozenIceCubes** » Fri Sep 25, 2015 1:01 am

Let's cope with each other for a second guys... Who would you rather have LMA and a gutted roster or..

Roy
Lou
Bass
MWP and potentially more pieces to be added later with the veterans minimum and room exception... The Lakers have all the tools to have a successful year.

Leor_77 · Post #12 » by **Leor_77** » Fri Sep 25, 2015 2:55 am

Some guys on LG are getting worried about Mitch's comments about DLO...Something about him trying to prepare the fans not to expect too much from him.

Post #13 » by **Danny Darko** » Fri Sep 25, 2015 5:54 pm

great presser from Mitch... Swaggy got straight worded up by Mitch there. Dang.

Post #14 » by **Slava** » Fri Sep 25, 2015 6:08 pm

Kilroy wrote:- Swaggy didn't fit into what Scott wanted last year. He didn't do what he was supposed to on the court. Basically why they got Lou. Swaggy needs to figure out how to stay healthy and do what he's expected to on the court. He's been told that already.

It would be a major cause for celebration if and when that ass is off the team.

Post #15 » by **Kilroy** » Fri Sep 25, 2015 6:12 pm

Leor_77 wrote:Some guys on LG are getting worried about Mitch's comments about DLO...Something about him trying to prepare the fans not to expect too much from him.

He didn't really say too much about Dlo, if that's what they mean... He had praise for Randle and Clarkson, but didn't go too far into Russell other than to say he's going to get PT which is more than a lot of Rookies can expect.

I think it's unrealistic to expect Russell to be impressive right out of the gate. I think it'll be like Clarkson... By the end of the season he'll have had several impressive games.... Only the spotlight is going to be on him a lot more than Clarkson.

Mitch never really praises rookies too much. He is always cautious about setting expectations for them. But I think it says something about those expectations that he's saying DLO can play with Clarkson... I think if they thought DLO was going to be dominate at the 1 or 2, they wouldn't have stressed them playing together.

Personally, I think Mitch is more trying to temper DLO's expectations, more than Fans... I think Russell has gotten a little full of himself this summer, and I think Mitch is trying to set the tone that once they board the Flight to Hawaii, it's time to get serious and prove your worth... No matter if you're an up and comer like DLO, or a over the hill vet like MWP... Nothing is guaranteed, and nothing will be given.

I actually think that's why Kobe stayed away from those guys this summer... Let them gel, but let them still have Mamba on their minds come training camp.

Leor_77 · Post #16 » by **Leor_77** » Sat Sep 26, 2015 5:26 am

^^Thanks for the reply. You said something that I was honestly thinking for a while now, that I didn't want to say, or wasn't sure about...about DLO feeling himself a little too hard this summer. Thankfully, he couldn't have better examples in Randle and Clarkson - these guys have been legitimately working their asses off. I can't see how that wouldn't rub off on him, and/or motivate him just for the sake of competing against them. The good thing is that we'll have some questions answered soon enough.

Kings2013 · Post #17 » by **Kings2013** » Sat Sep 26, 2015 6:52 pm

Did he say hed like an all star year from Hibbert? Big expectations

Post #18 » by **Slava** » Sat Sep 26, 2015 7:17 pm

Kings2013 wrote:Did he say hed like an all star year from Hibbert? Big expectations

Yeah it might have been possible in the East but not in the West. He looks like he's challenging Roy to have higher expectations for himself.