Los Angeles Lakers: Mitch Kupchak Still Right For The Job
Being the general manager for any professional sports franchise comes with immense pressure. Being the general manager for the Los Angeles Lakers is like living in a high-stakes poker game, constantly being pushed all-in.
No matter the circumstances, expectations are through the roof. The fans care not of the situation, they still expect their team to come away with the prize at the end.
Unfortunately for Mitch Kupchak, he has been dealt an awfully rough hand as of late.
After capitalizing on Pau Gasol‘s availability years ago, and cashing in on Andrew Bynum‘s development to land Dwight Howard via trade, it’s clear that Kupchak can nail the big time deal when it is a real possibility. He’s taken the Lakers from out of the playoffs to champions, and he attempted to keep them there with the Howard acquisition (and the lesser discussed Steve Nash acquisition).
Then Howard walked, Nash is a shell of himself, and even Gasol has moved on to greener pastures. Call it a bad beat, call it poor planning, whatever you like, it happens in the NBA; even to the Los Angeles Lakers.
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Now the franchise is coming off of the worst season in its history, and feelings are mixed towards the squad’s potential coming into the new campaign. While Jim Buss is clearly going to take a good slice of the blame should the team stumble, at what point does the finger point at Kupchak?
While he does deserve some blame for either A) Not building a team around Dwight Howard to placate him or B) Not having a proper contingency plan in place for Howard’s potential exit (whichever perspective you prefer to take), Kupchak has been far more good than bad for the Los Angeles Lakers, and he clearly still knows how to swing a deal.
If fans want to question whether he’s the right guy to lead the front office going forward, look no further than the team’s pursuit of free agents Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James. Both came away impressed, and even though neither signed, it’s a testament to both the franchise and Kupchak that they were allowed a presentation given the state of the roster at the time.
Kupchak also has drafted decently well, giving the team valuable talent to either move or develop, which is impressive given where he has been selecting in the process. Highly touted pick Julius Randle represents Kupchak’s best shot at landing a true star in that avenue.
Even after exhausting all options trying to bring a superstar to town this summer, Kupchak was able to forge a capable plan C and D in order to add Jeremy Lin and Carlos Boozer to the mix, both with valuable contracts and other attached assets.
But Kupchak’s best trick of all?
He has successfully disguised the Los Angeles Lakers’ rebuilding process as a reload, and is still poised to field an entertaining team that is worth rooting for. The Lakers are still developing some key young players while keeping fans eyes on their aging stars.
There will be no painful, gut-wrenching rebuild if things go on the basic course. Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash will fade out, Julius Randle and others will begin to take the reins. Free agents will sign, if for no other reason than because the Lakers will have money to throw at them with the promise of a young team on the rise (that LA weather doesn’t hurt).
And that’s why Kupchak is still the man for the job.
It could be turning trash into Pau Gasol, it could be ditching Andrew Bynum at the perfect time, or it could be selling a rebuild to a fanbase that absolutely wants no part of anything labeled as such; Kupchak has nailed the art of selling the deal.
With the Los Angeles Lakers primed to reload again over the next two summers, now is not the time to lose faith in Mitch Kupchak. His rebuild is already under way, and he deserves time to see it through.
And who knows? Maybe his next presentation leads to Kevin Durant playing for the Lakers, or the next blockbuster trade. Kupchak still knows how to make the big move, and that’s why he’s still right for the Los Angeles Lakers.