Mitch Kupchak Hates Kobe Bryant

“If this was the team that we started the season off with, I would be fine with it,” said Mitch Kupchak in an interview that appeared in the Daily News on Saturday.

Wow, he is really stickin it to Kobe. Kupchak has made some mediocre moves since taking over from former Laker’s general manager Jerry West in 2000, discounting the acquisition of Karl Malone and Gary Payton during the Lakers final championship run where Malone was injured off and on that season. Kobe called him out 48 hours after the end of last season demanding that there be a change made immediately. The media took it and ran with it, now he is the man who will be moving the chess pieces to make Kobe say he is ready to make a checkmate with whoever joins and possibly adds talent to this current laker squad.

When asked about the current team Kupchak says, “I look at our team and look at a very balanced team with veteran and young players.” Now I agree to some extent, But it is still very important to have a big man that can produce. Of course Kobe’s comments put a lot more pressure on Kupchak, which he admitted. In his exit interview press conference he stated that the Lakers management were going to be more aggressive than they normally are in changing the team back to a playoff worthy championship caliber team they once were. Nobody has seen a sign of this yet!

Derek Fisher was a great pickup for backcourt experience, Coby Karl was a decent acquisition to saturate the bench, Luke re-signing was the best move they made yet. WHERE IS OUR EXPERIENCED BIG MAN? Chris Mihm, I dont think so. I can already see my face cringing when he takes his first step on the floor in the beginning of the season before he jumps for his first rebound. The basketball Gods only know how consistent he will be, since he has been playing video games and reading Harry Potter the last year and a half or whatever. Andrew Bynum is still green, he got his minutes in last season due to “greasy face” being sidelined, but he has yet to prove himself on a consistent level. He better be squatting 50% more than last summer, because his legs are his weakness.

When Kupchak says, “Just because there hasn’t been a dramatic trade in July, doesn’t mean there won’t be one down the road,” it makes me hopeful and angry at the same time. I know that it takes time, effort and cooperation to make these deals happen. But be aggressive, show us [Lakers Fans] that you have some balls. If you say you’re gonna be more aggressive than last year, than be it.

If there is no trade in August, should we give him the benefit of the doubt that there will be one mid-season?
He needs to be aware that the first half is the bulk of our games, 52 to be exact. Including a 16 day east coast swing, and all the games versus Pheonix.

Make it happen Mitch!