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mitch kupchak did a q & a with the lakers reporter, lots of info. most insightful though was his comments on drew.

Q: On what he makes of Andrew Bynum’s recent dominance, highlighted by his 12.6 points, 14.6 rebounds and 2.7 blocks on 64.2 percent shooting in March.
Kupchak: We know that Phil had a conversation with him four or five weeks ago asking him to do the things that will help us win … but I’m not sure you can tell a player to play well tomorrow in a meeting and all of a sudden he goes from 10 points and eight rebounds to 12 points and 18 rebounds, just on a conversation. I’m not sure I can point to one episode of something that caused him to play better, but to me, clearly his conditioning has been key. Being able to run the floor, being able to sustain a second and third effort is noticeable. It’s that time of year that he’s just in great shape. He didn’t play all summer, didn’t play all fall, didn’t really start playing until December, and he only had three or four practices before we threw him into games. Finally, he’s in NBA condition. He was also coming off an injury, so it takes some time to get the confidence back, feeling good about the knee.

Q: On how he dealt with the trade rumors that circulated about Bynum prior the the trade deadline:
Kupchak: I’d say I get 10 to 15 phone calls a year about Andrew. I’ve called teams that have young, developing players myself. I don’t think that’s going to change. Certainly if he had played as well as he’s playing now for the last three years, teams would realize that, well, the Lakers would never trade him. But he’s had stretches where he’s played well and stretches where he hasn’t, and he’s been criticized, and I think general managers look at (those weaker stretches) and think maybe this is an opportunity for me to come in through the back door, let me make a phone call. And I understand that, and don’t think that’s going to change. But having said all that: when Andrew is healthy, and he plays like he is playing right now, you are hard pressed to look at anybody in this league and say, ‘I would trade him for that person.’

Q: On if he meant that last statement literally about not trading Bynum for anybody:
Kupchak: Anybody. If he’s healthy at this level he’s at, you’d have to think about anything. In other words, you may not trade him for anybody. If he helps your team and he’s what you need, and we can advance in the playoffs, then why would you take a chance and do anything? A lot of it is the right fit, the right personality for a team, and I think we have a group of players right now that are unselfish in the big picture, I really do. We know the players we had from last year are, because they’ve been through it, but the guys we added in Blake and Barnes feel that way too, and know what’s at stake here. We know there are going to be rumors about most of the guys on this team, but that’s just the way it is. If we play at a high level and we win, nobody has anything to worry about.

I remember when I didn't like Mitch Kupchak. I'm sorry, Mitchell.

he's lying. you telling me 2 years from now he wouldn't taked dwight or lebron for bynum?

dwight hoaward says hi.

I think its possible Bynum might not be traed for anyone even Howard if he develops in to a regular all star. If he just turns out to be a good center but not a regular all star then they may trade him for someone else.

Edrees wrote:he's lying. you telling me 2 years from now he wouldn't taked dwight or lebron for bynum?

I don't think he's flat out lying. What I think he's saying is when Bynum is playing at this level we are nearly unstoppable. So say he plays on this level without injury & we 3peat & do an unprecedented 4 straight. It would be hard pressed to change what's working. Sure Howard would probably be the best Center but Drew would be 2nd. Why risk it. As far as LeBron, Kobe would have to be gone IMO not Drew.

Anklebreaker702 wrote:

Edrees wrote:he's lying. you telling me 2 years from now he wouldn't taked dwight or lebron for bynum?

I don't think he's flat out lying. What I think he's saying is when Bynum is playing at this level we are nearly unstoppable. So say he plays on this level without injury & we 3peat & do an unprecedented 4 straight. It would be hard pressed to change what's working. Sure Howard would probably be the best Center but Drew would be 2nd. Why risk it. As far as LeBron, Kobe would have to be gone IMO not Drew.

There is no way Mitch wouldn't trade Drew for guys like LeBron, Howard, Wade, etc. We'd be pretty stupid if we rejected offers like that.

On the other hand, I just don't see how the Lakers would EVER trade Kobe away, regardless of the circumstance, so no even if LeBron's coming Kobe's not going anywhere. I'd rather not have LeBron than trade Kobe. It would be the same as the Spurs trading Duncan, you just don't do that.

Asianiac_24 wrote:

Anklebreaker702 wrote:

Edrees wrote:he's lying. you telling me 2 years from now he wouldn't taked dwight or lebron for bynum?

I don't think he's flat out lying. What I think he's saying is when Bynum is playing at this level we are nearly unstoppable. So say he plays on this level without injury & we 3peat & do an unprecedented 4 straight. It would be hard pressed to change what's working. Sure Howard would probably be the best Center but Drew would be 2nd. Why risk it. As far as LeBron, Kobe would have to be gone IMO not Drew.

There is no way Mitch wouldn't trade Drew for guys like LeBron, Howard, Wade, etc. We'd be pretty stupid if we rejected offers like that.

On the other hand, I just don't see how the Lakers would EVER trade Kobe away, regardless of the circumstance, so no even if LeBron's coming Kobe's not going anywhere. I'd rather not have LeBron than trade Kobe. It would be the same as the Spurs trading Duncan, you just don't do that.

I'd take LeBron over Kobe at this stage of their careers. Thats all apathy your talking. I didn't say Mitch would trade Bynum for LeBron but thats not even in the works I was speaking more on Howard. Wade would be the same thing, Kobe would have to be gone. Not necessarily traded but even retired

wade turns 30 in 10 months. i wouldn't be surprised if kobe out lasts him.

Healthy Bynum for a whole year would be amazing. He crushed Howard 1 week ago. Keep Bynum and go after cp3 in 2012. With his health concerns he may not be a max contract guy. just get rid of odom/artest or gasol/artest in 2012 (maybe we can take Ariza back from the Hornets as well) and we'll be contenders for years to come. CP3 and Bynum, omg, the two positions that crush the Heat. then you add a little bit older Kobe, I'd like that a lot

for now, bynum is an awesome piece for us. however, because kobe is getting older, if we could trade for a superstar.. we gotta. but yeah if healthy, he shouldnt be traded for anyone now. true back to the basket centers are a dying breed.. i think miami is exciting.. but man i would sooo rather have our team than theirs for NOW because they dont have no legit bigs. for the future i would love to have wade and lebron. i really dont like bosh. dude needs to shut the heck up. he aint no star. id average 24 and 11 with bargnani at center and sonny weems starting.

dcash4 wrote:wade turns 30 in 10 months. i wouldn't be surprised if kobe out lasts him.

10 months is pretty close to a year.. wade wasnt eligible for his freshman yr, and played 2 yrs of college ball. not much offseason play.. quick outs in the playoffs except for 1 finals run, 1 olympic. kobes 33 in 5 months but hes had longgg offseasons, came in straight outta high school, has many many more nagging injuries than wade. how would u not be surprised if kobe outlasts wade? i would be very surprised.

Anklebreaker702 wrote:

Edrees wrote:he's lying. you telling me 2 years from now he wouldn't taked dwight or lebron for bynum?

I don't think he's flat out lying. What I think he's saying is when Bynum is playing at this level we are nearly unstoppable. So say he plays on this level without injury & we 3peat & do an unprecedented 4 straight. It would be hard pressed to change what's working. Sure Howard would probably be the best Center but Drew would be 2nd. Why risk it. As far as LeBron, Kobe would have to be gone IMO not Drew.

Hmm I get ya, and I agree for our current window of opportunity. But later in the future, a few years from now, I don't think Drew could ever be the #1 option that Dwight is. If our team ever got into that position where Drew had to be the #1 option in the future, I think he would take a Bynum for Dwight trade.

So yeah you are right don't mess with chemistry, but I'm saying he's "lying" because he's not really talking about 3-4 years from now.

MoLakers wrote:

dcash4 wrote:wade turns 30 in 10 months. i wouldn't be surprised if kobe out lasts him.

10 months is pretty close to a year.. wade wasnt eligible for his freshman yr, and played 2 yrs of college ball. not much offseason play.. quick outs in the playoffs except for 1 finals run, 1 olympic. kobes 33 in 5 months but hes had longgg offseasons, came in straight outta high school, has many many more nagging injuries than wade. how would u not be surprised if kobe outlasts wade? i would be very surprised.

The style of ball wade plays is not condusive to a long, productive career. Kobe has become mostly a jumpshooter the past 3-4 years, and even in his prime he didn't play with as much reckless abandon as wade. Besides wade played in college, it's not like the wear and tear started as soon as he hit the NBA. It will be interesting to see how he changes his game once his athleticism denies him. If he doesn't evolve, the end of his career might be abrupt, and who knows how long Kobe will want to play. With his shot, savy, and experience he'll always have a place in the league.

Edrees wrote:Hmm I get ya, and I agree for our current window of opportunity. But later in the future, a few years from now, I don't think Drew could ever be the #1 option that Dwight is. If our team ever got into that position where Drew had to be the #1 option in the future, I think he would take a Bynum for Dwight trade.

So yeah you are right don't mess with chemistry, but I'm saying he's "lying" because he's not really talking about 3-4 years from now.

I feel that. See its easy to say right now because Drew is finally rounding back to form from another injury, but here's something to think about. Take Drew's 2 major injuries and the way he was playing the prior time before the injuries & couple that with how he's playing now & make that 1 or 2 full seasons. This becomes a much tougher decision. Due to those injuries all thought patterns lean towards he's only going to be good for a little while but remember he's only 23. So if he strings together 2 or 3 straight seasons in beast mode it becomes a tougher choice.

TyCobb wrote:I remember when I didn't like Mitch Kupchak. I'm sorry, Mitchell.

its ok i didnt like him at one time to. But he got it right.

well it would be hard for me to not trade bynum for someone like howard. the guy is just to dominant night in and night out. bynum is coming along great though. then again we don't need bynum to do more than he is doing right now. i agree with asainac24 kobe isn't going anywhere. dude is a laker for life. anklebreaker702 you my man 50 grand and all but why would you trade kobe for lebron? i know the age difference but lebron has proven my theory of him right so far. now granted the playoffs are a different story and if he takes over there i will change my mind,but this guy has the most talent of anyone in the league imo. all the talk was he never got to play with anyone worth anything. now he has a finals mvp and a guy in bosh who put up 25/11 before. a nice shooter in miller,a nice piece in bibby. i remember lebron saying it would be easy,and they could have pat riley run the point and still dominate. how he can be so head and shoulders above everyone else when he needs more help than someone like kobe ever had?

Unless we're trading him for Dwight, I'll pass.