Hoops Habit
Fansided

Los Angeles Lakers: 5 Reasons To Be Excited

By Stephen Findley

April 13, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; General view of balloons and confetti falling following the Los Angeles Lakers 101-96 victory against the Utah Jazz at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
April 13, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; General view of balloons and confetti falling following the Los Angeles Lakers 101-96 victory against the Utah Jazz at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 6
Next
Jun 29, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell (1) is introduced to the media by general manager Mitch Kupchak during a press conference at the Toyota Sports Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 29, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell (1) is introduced to the media by general manager Mitch Kupchak during a press conference at the Toyota Sports Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Mitch Kupchak + Salary Cap Space

The Lakers project to have around $60 million cap space this summer (per Basketball Insiders). Despite striking out in free agency the last couple of summers, Kupchak has shown time and again that he can build championship caliber teams.

More from Los Angeles Lakers

Since presiding over the Lakers as general manager (2000 onwards) Kupchak has been masterful – trading Shaq, not trading Kobe, and adding Pau Gasol as the perfect complement (plus the often overlooked moves to bring in Trevor Ariza and Metta World Peace).

The Chris Paul signing was vetoed for “basketball reasons” by then commissioner David Stern but Kupchak continued to follow his plan to bolster Kobe Bryant’s prime with the acquisitions of Dwight Howard and Steve Nash. We all know how that played out, but I remember the excitement during that summer when this team of future Hall of Famers was assembled.

I expect the ever looming Jim Buss to put pressure on Kupchak to snag a big free agent this summer, but it seems unlikely that a Kevin Durant, Mike Conley, DeMar DeRozan or Paul George end up in purple and gold. This leaves the door open for the Lakers to add premier big man Hassan Whiteside and draft well. I believe in Mitch Kupchak.

Next: 3. Young Core

Home/Los Angeles Lakers