Kupchak spoke to John Ireland and A. Martinez on 710 ESPN and said the following regarding the situation:
I would say it’s unlikely we would do something very major. Something major would only involve a select few players on our team. That’s what this time of the year is for. We canvass the league. We try to get a feel for other teams and how they value our players and we do the same thing with other teams. Sometimes the conversation leads to a more serious conversation. You don’t see too many major deals in this league taking place. ...
These statements are similar to those made by executive vice president Jim Buss earlier this week (via the Los Angeles Times).
Kupchak also stated in the same interview that the team likely would not be active in free agency, either. He said: “I’d very surprised if we’re going to be very active. Only because of the limitations on this franchise resulting from the collective bargaining agreement.”
The longtime GM went on to explain that the Lakers are over the salary cap and would only be able to sign players for the mini mid-level exception or for the veteran’s league minimum. The mini-mid will allow the team to add a player for around three million dollars, while the league minimum is usually around one million dollars.
His hands are tied in free agency, but Kupchak can still pull off a trade. If he hopes to win another championship with Kobe Bryant, he must make a deal.
The Lakers were bounced from the playoffs in the second round for the second consecutive year. They were swept by the Dallas Mavericks in 2011 and lost in five games to the Oklahoma City Thunder this season.
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Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
