Kupchack: Celebrating Kobe takes precedence over Youth Dev

[stan francisco]

By the way.. just reading the responses to this topic.

It's clear that nearly every poster who has commented is smarter than Byron Scott.

Agreed, although sadly less indicative of our smarts than his 'dumbs'.

Jim, let Mitch do his job! Move over Rover, and let Jeannie take over.

When it comes to Byron Scott, we have two options this off-season:

1) Fire him

2) Force him to hire an assistant coach that is a proven coach in this league. Who is Phil Pressey and what has he done? Why does he deserve to be a MAIN assistant coach on a team? Makes zero sense. If Billy Donovan can surround himself with a guy like Monty Williams, there's NO excuse why Byron can't do the same with an elite coach. I don't care if we have to pay him MORE than Byron Scott. We need an offensive co-ordinator (and defensive co-ordinator) who can completely control the O and make every decision regarding that. If he doesn't want to do that, send him packing.

I vote for alternative 1.

[Westbreezy]

This is my opinion on these Mitch quotes-- Mitch is a very intelligent guy, think honestly if you were put in his shoes a season or two ago as GM of the Lakers, what would you do to establish the Lakers as championship contenders sometime in the future? If any GM who we consider successful were our GM like Buford or Meyers, whoever, what would they do? Put aside decisions made by the coach, I'm speaking strictly from the perspective of the GM.

The fact is this-- in any market, especially in Los Angeles, you can't openly embrace tanking. You just can't. Were not the 76ers

Mitch has to keep up the facade that they actually tried to win games in order keep the fan base / ownership sane. He's not dumb enough to think that the team as currently constructed had the ability to even come close to 45 wins. Hell, he even said "in fact, it still is possible"-- whats the probability of that happening now, 0.001%?. He's just keeping the illusion of competitiveness alive while they remain the 2nd least competitive team in the NBA and hopefully collect that top 3 pick.

Mitch's job, Jim Buss's position, and the Lakers future potential championship hopes may very well lie with the odds of getting this top 3 pick. I'm sure he's very cognizant of how good this team could be Simmons or Ingram in our core.

[dockingsched]

Mitch clarified and it sounds so much worse

[tweet]https://twitter.com/BaxterHolmes/status/685663446084370432[/tweet]

[Michael Lucky]

If we're going to make moves based off what the TV Partners and sponsors want then.....

[miggs]

I think that statement reads for the tank, not the kobe farewell, even if Mitch says otherwise. i think mitch may know that the top 3 pick gives us the best possible talent heading into free agency. the team is already going to be dominated by players with 2 seasons or less under their belt so a top 3 pick rook wouldn't necessarily be hindering growth, but instead could accelerate the team's growth and this is all before even adding potential free agents.

I think the TV partners and sponsors may also be seeing the same. they are after all, looking for long term profits rather than a two year boost followed by an even worse free fall if we just trade most of our young guns for a win-now roster. i can definitely see it... imagine a potential young core of Russell-Clarkson-Randle-Nance-Simmons/Ingram, that'd likely be enough to bring young talent in free agency like Hassan Whiteside and maybe even Nic Batum. Could re-sign Hibbert for cheap to be used as a back-up center and mentor to our other two young centers. Hibbert still has plenty to give as a mentor I think. Hibbert or Noah would be great to have as that back-up center and I think if we can end up with our top 3 pick, sign whiteside and batum, we have a great shot at picking up vets on the cheap like hibbert or noah, hell maybe even pick up Deng, he's still got something in the tank to teach our young rookie sf how to play that position, he did after all mentor Jimmy Butler and Butler has said Deng was huge in his development.

From there we make choices like bringing back two of Kelly, Sacre and Black on the cheap


Russell - vet pg - 2nd rd Pick 2016
Batum - Clarkson - Brown
Simmons/Ingram - Young - Deng
Randle - Nance - Kelly
Whiteside - Black - Hibbert/Noah

[snaquille oatmeal]

this is how you stealth tank people!

[The Skyhook]

I still think Kobe will end up taking more of a backseat to the young guys as the season progresses especially after the All Star break. Last night when the young guys got the Lakers back in the game it was with Kobe on the side line mentoring and cheering them on. He looked happy as can be while doing so. At this point I think this is the best case scenario we can hope for if this is the front office's stance on Kobe's farewell tour.

[miggs]

and now Mitch continues turning the tide




Mitch Kupchak initiated trade calls a few weeks ago looking for ways to improve the Los Angeles Lakers.

"There was a flurry of phone calls a couple of weeks ago, most of which I initiated," said Kupchak, who explained the Lakers "have to be careful with what we do. Most of the teams that would have interest in our players would have interest in our young players and we covet our young players pretty highly right now. So it would be tough for us to move a young player."

The Lakers are unlikely to make a major move.

"I suspect that there will be more activity going forward, but I wouldn't suspect a blockbuster deal."

Kupchak admitted the Lakers don't have much to offer.

"I think if we can develop four or five players going forward that look as if they belong in this league, with all of our financial flexibility going forward we'll be in a position to attract complementary, or even more than complimentary, players to play with them in free agency," said Kupchak before acknowledging that such pitches were "very difficult for us to do last year because we really didn't have much to sell."

[ArC_man]

This whole transparency thing is a bit fishy to me. I've never heard Mitch coming out and saying "we're initiating trade talks" before.

[Slava]

Looks like he's running out of things to throw under the bus rather than accept his complicity.

[crazyeights]

This covering fire for Byron has me thinking something would have to go very, very wrong to fire him this off-season--and I mean worse than worst LAL season ever and losing the pick.

As we look increasingly likely to be outtanked the 2nd half of the season (we keep beating legitimately awful teams, while we play legitimately awful ourselves--it's as no-win as it gets) I think our only shot at the pick is dumb, simple luck.

How could they fire Byron after giving him an excuse this early? And would a top FA come to a team with no coach?

[Kilroy]

One thing to keep in mind though, just before every major trade the Lakers have made, Mitch has done the rounds in the media saying "He doesn't expect a major deal." So those particular words don't mean a whole lot...

That said, I think logic and a brief analysis of the roster will tell you that a major deal just isn't possible right now... It FAs or nothing basically.
We could shuffle some money and bench talent around, but a major deal seems like it's way out of our reach right now.

[crazyeights]

One thing to keep in mind though, just before every major trade the Lakers have made, Mitch has done the rounds in the media saying "He doesn't expect a major deal." So those particular words don't mean a whole lot...

That said, I think logic and a brief analysis of the roster will tell you that a major deal just isn't possible right now... It FAs or nothing basically.
We could shuffle some money and bench talent around, but a major deal seems like it's way out of our reach right now.

Was this for another thread? Because my post was about the very real possibility that Byron is back next year. I feel like our wishful thinking has turned into common knowledge (that he'll be fired) and I'm beginning to wonder how they'd do it based on Mitch giving him the ultimate out.

If like John Ireland says that this season will need a scapegoat, I think it's clear that that has become "celebrating Kobe." If Kobe's the goat, and they've given Byron a blank check...on what grounds to they fire him and not look bad?

[Kilroy]

One thing to keep in mind though, just before every major trade the Lakers have made, Mitch has done the rounds in the media saying "He doesn't expect a major deal." So those particular words don't mean a whole lot...

That said, I think logic and a brief analysis of the roster will tell you that a major deal just isn't possible right now... It FAs or nothing basically.
We could shuffle some money and bench talent around, but a major deal seems like it's way out of our reach right now.

Was this for another thread? Because my post was about the very real possibility that Byron is back next year. I feel like our wishful thinking has turned into common knowledge (that he'll be fired) and I'm beginning to wonder how they'd do it based on Mitch giving him the ultimate out.

If like John Ireland says that this season will need a scapegoat, I think it's clear that that has become "celebrating Kobe." If Kobe's the goat, and they've given Byron a blank check...on what grounds to they fire him and not look bad?

Wasn't replying to you... That was directed at Miggs post and the few before it that were discussing Kupchack working the phones leading into the deadline.