Mitch Kupchak on the Woj podcast

Post #1 » by **Slava** » Mon Sep 25, 2017 12:44 pm

https://art19.com/shows/thewojpod/episodes/45df6f44-d71b-4246-93bf-2642fc4e19e2

I'm listening to this myself right now and will post some summary once I'm done.

Post #2 » by **Slava** » Mon Sep 25, 2017 2:03 pm

Summary:

> Got to spend a lot of time with family since getting fired. Says first time in ~36 years he hasn't been part of a training camp.
> Definitely wants a new job. Prefers to stay in basketball for longer.
> Plans to visit a few front offices, meet GMs to keep himself relevant. Excited to see how other people do things now.
> Has a few invites to attend training camps with different teams, meet coaches, executives and watch practices, share knowledge.
> Says there was an advanced time table for making the playoffs again, partly due to Jim's self imposed timeline so when they failed to deliver, he knew the possibility of change was coming. Still feels it was abrupt after so many years with the franchise.
> Hasn't spoken to Lakers since being fired.
> Says all 29 other GMs texted or called him after getting fired expressing condolences.
> Thinks tampering is not as prevalent in the NBA as agents would make you think and agents get away with more than GMs because they are not governed by NBA rules.
> Felt Phil did not want to coach in 2012 and definitely no more than a year even if he came back so he felt he had to hire D'Antoni.
> LO was "hurt beyond words" when dealt to New Orleans in the CP3 trade.
> Pau was hurt and lost trust with the team but Mitch still has a great relationship with him.
> Shared news with Dr. Buss in hospital before Demps called back and apologized saying he did not have ownership (Stern's) approval to complete the trade.
> Stern claimed Lakers panicked and traded Odom before he could re-negotiate that deal. Mitch doesn't buy it says only him, Jim and Dr. Buss know what happened during that time.
> Woj said other sources told him that Stern revising history was unfair to Mitch and Lakers.
> Woj also suggested the league knew the parameters of the deal and let it progress to agreement before reneging on it, down to "unknown" circumstances.
> Mitch feels uncomfortable talking too much about that episode.

MelosSoreWrist · Post #3 » by **MelosSoreWrist** » Mon Sep 25, 2017 3:36 pm

Slava wrote:Summary:

> Got to spend a lot of time with family since getting fired. Says first time in ~36 years he hasn't been part of a training camp.
> Definitely wants a new job. Prefers to stay in basketball for longer.

Hilarious.

Slink · Post #4 » by **Slink** » Mon Sep 25, 2017 4:03 pm

> Felt Phil did not want to coach in 2012 and definitely no more than a year even if he came back so he felt he had to hire D'Antoni.

I don't buy this. I think it was Mitch tired of having Jackson trying to influence the Lakers' front office decisions.

Post #5 » by **TyCobb** » Mon Sep 25, 2017 4:07 pm

Sounds sad. Poor guy. Jeanie needs to fix the relationship here.

TylersLakers · Post #6 » by **TylersLakers** » Mon Sep 25, 2017 4:12 pm

This is a train wreck, and I think he's being honest on a lot of fronts.

I think he's being totally honest about the Phil thing. Phil had digressed from coaching and the only reason he was coming back was because of his relationship with Jeanie and the loyalty he had with Kobe, Gasol and others. Now, what Mitch and Jim could have done better was communicate with Jeanie & Phil on WHY they were doing what they were doing. The communication and problems among Jeanie & Jim and lack of communication because Mitch was loyal to Jim was the main mistake Kupchak made in my opinion.

I also totally believe the Lamar thing. They obviously had private information on Lamar on what he was into.

EDIT: I'm not sure if anyone knows this, but there was a Kardashians episode about this trade. They had cameras in the house, and Lamar didn't come out of a basement or even let people in the house. He was that distraught and I don't believe it was simply made up for the episode. Khloe was away and not in Los Angeles at the time. Maybe if she was, his mentality would be different.

All in all, when you combine that with the talk of Andrew Bynum and how Andrew's career changed after that first knee injury, the failed CP3 trade (which he's being honest about), etc... it was just heartbreaking to listen to. I wish there was a way that pride could be swallowed on both ends and he could be brought in as a consultant, or an integral part in scouting, etc.

Post #7 » by **Slava** » Mon Sep 25, 2017 4:35 pm

One more thing I forgot to add, he said Lakers were intent on rebuilding by the time they gave Kobe his 2 year deal and felt Kobe was around to insulate them from fans frustration while the team lost games for lottery picks.

Jedi32 · Post #8 » by **Jedi32** » Mon Sep 25, 2017 4:47 pm

TyCobb wrote:Sounds sad. Poor guy. Jeanie needs to fix the relationship here.

Yeah I wish they could have kept Mitch around in some capacity. He has to much basketball knowledge and to much purple and gold in his blood to be let go like that.

Slink · Post #9 » by **Slink** » Mon Sep 25, 2017 4:48 pm

TyCobb wrote:Sounds sad. Poor guy. Jeanie needs to fix the relationship here.

His daughter died less than three years ago and on top of that lost his job with the only organization he's ever known. I feel for the guy.

J_LA · Post #10 » by **J_LA** » Mon Sep 25, 2017 5:16 pm

Sad that they haven't released a statement acknowledging all that Mitch did for the franchise. Regardless of how his final years played out.

LAKESHOW · Post #11 » by **LAKESHOW** » Mon Sep 25, 2017 5:38 pm

It's all on Jim. I've said so then, I'll say it now. He is the owner. Jim was the reason for a lot of the mistakes. Mitch was there. But I've always placed major blame in Jim. And that ain't changed after interview.

BeanBurrito · Post #12 » by **BeanBurrito** » Mon Sep 25, 2017 6:02 pm

I could barely stand listening to Mitch when he was on the Lakers (so boring)...now I am still deciding if I want to hear this 8D

Michael Lucky · Post #13 » by **Michael Lucky** » Mon Sep 25, 2017 7:38 pm

Slink wrote:
> Felt Phil did not want to coach in 2012 and definitely no more than a year even if he came back so he felt he had to hire D'Antoni.

I don't buy this. I think it was Mitch tired of having Jackson trying to influence the Lakers' front office decisions.

It was well known that Phil didn't even want to coach road games. And thank God he didn't have input in the front office. Look at the mess he left in NY.

stan francisco · Post #14 » by **stan francisco** » Mon Sep 25, 2017 10:03 pm

Slava wrote:https://art19.com/shows/thewojpod/episodes/45df6f44-d71b-4246-93bf-2642fc4e19e2

I'm listening to this myself right now and will post some summary once I'm done.

Thanks for posting this, Slava.

I listened to every word. Lots of BS revisionist history cleaned up.

Nice to get all the real inside he shared here.

Besides the narrative which is super interesting in itself, a few read between the lines take-aways:
1) Mitch is, as he always has been, a highly intelligent, talented, well spoken and wise GM. And he's a total humble and down to earth gentleman. I have just as much respect for him now as I always have.
2) David Stern was pushed over last minute by somebody to reach for "basketball reasons" in the very last second. Mitch didn't say this, I did.
3) Jim should never have been near the FO.

gts1 · Post #15 » by **gts1** » Mon Sep 25, 2017 11:31 pm

Mitch will be in the Clippers organization along side his pal Jerry West before too long. Lakers made two mistakes in not taking West in as a consultant when they had the chance and secondly not finding a way to keep Mitch onboard.

LAKESHOW · Post #16 » by **LAKESHOW** » Tue Sep 26, 2017 12:43 am

gts1 wrote:Mitch will be in the Clippers organization along side his pal Jerry West before too long. Lakers made two mistakes in not taking West in as a consultant when they had the chance and secondly not finding a way to keep Mitch onboard.

Keep Mitch? Ahahaha. Who do you think Jimmy was going to blame? Himself? Remember, we are still on the hook for Deng. Unfortunately, Mitch had to be the fall guy. There was no face saving .measure or package that involved keeping Mitch around. Remember, Jimmy tried a coup and attempted to oust Jeanie. Mitch was a casualty of Jimmy's regime that had no other ending, except for the death of a good quality guy. So yes, Jimmy killed Mitch. And that's the way it had to be.

Post #17 » by **Kilroy** » Tue Sep 26, 2017 2:38 am

Mitch was the GM under Dr Buss too... Jim Buss was a relatively short part of his career, and he did his job admirably under Jim just like he did under Dr Buss... There's absolutely no reason his career should have been linked to Jim.

Mitch was sacrificed to Magics Cult of Personality. No way Magic comes in and has the authority to have sole voice in a room with Mitch, so Mitch had to go.

And that's absolutely shameful, IMO... A huge black eye on this organization.

In fact, if we do end up with the LeBrontrotters next season, we'll need a guy just like Mitch to keep LeBron and his people from turning our org into a sideshow. Pelinka doesn't have the stones to tell LeBron 'No,' and honestly, I don't think Magic does either. But Mitch would have had no problem at all...

LAKESHOW · Post #18 » by **LAKESHOW** » Tue Sep 26, 2017 3:16 am

The owner at the time mitch was fired was Jeanie. She wasn't thinking about her dad. She was thinking about that guy who tried to rally the family to fire her. That was JIM. Who was prevalent during Jimmy's tenure? Who was Jimmy's right hand man? Who was Jimmy's guy in office when Jimmy was in charge? Who was Jimmy linked with in all the news papers and articles in running the team? Who was with Jimmy in signing Mozgov. Who was Jimmy's boy in signing Deng. Who was Jimmy's partner in all deals? Mitch Kupchak. When she was under the gun from Jimmy because Jimmy tries to run his coup and oust Jeanie, she had enough. That was the last straw. Jimmy and all his boys had to go. And guess who was on top of that list. Mitch Kupchak. Sure, Mitch has history. It's not all his fault. I agree, he is a good dude and quality executive. BUT ASSOCIATION WITH JIMMY, is what brought about his demise. ITS ALL ON JIMMY.

Post #19 » by **Kilroy** » Tue Sep 26, 2017 3:28 am

"Jimmy" was Mitch's boss... He could have fired him just as easily as Jeannie... So should he have not signed Mozgov and Deng? He would have just gotten fired sooner.
Mitch was a consummate professional and did his job...

"Jimmy" tried to "run his coup" after they were both fired. Mitch had nothing to do with it.

"Guilt by Association" was definitely the excuse Jeannie is spoon feeding to the unthinking public... It makes her look better, but it's nothing more than that.
Mitch was fired because of Magic, not "Jimmy."

LAKESHOW · Post #20 » by **LAKESHOW** » Tue Sep 26, 2017 3:55 am

I'm not gonna disagree about Mitch. He's a stand up guy, and has been loyal to and is a good dude and quality exec. All I'm saying is, after the death of the Patriarch. After the passing of the man who built the Dynasty. The Titans were at odds with one another. The next regime were at odds with each other. I'm just not buying that it's all about the lowly execs magic and Mitch. I'm just not going with the underling officers. But it is the Titans of ownership that hired and fired, and brought the franchise to where it is today, after the passing of the good Dr.