Is Mitch Kupchak really the worst GM?

[LogicMan]

Having recently lost out on two of the top free agents, Chris Paul and Dwight Howard, having traded away all picks, and having a carousel of coaches and approaches, alienating Phil Jackson and Jerry West, and now dumping MWP as Kobe's final years are in play, is this guy wacked or what.

Who is driving their franchise deeper into a hole?

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Short answer...no.

CP3...that was a done deal, Stern killed it.

Howard...him not re-signing was in play from the beginning. So it was a known risk and still was applauded as a major coo.

Coupling him with Nash, and Jamieson...those were win a title now moves. They didn't work out.

Phil...I really think it was Jim Buss who wanted to turn the page rather than wait til Jackson made up his mind...not a Kupchak move imo.

Now that everything has blown up in his face...MWP is not the final piece to put them over the top...I understand the move.

He tanked in the playoffs, but I liked Sessions and thought he was not allowed to grow into the role on a championship caliber team. I also didn't like the D'toni hire...I can pin those on Kupchak, but I don't think he's the problem.

 

[lakersrule]

No hate for Jim Buss? I believe he's had more of a final decision on recent moves than Mitch, specifically D'Antoni.

Mitch actually acquired CP3 at one point, until a few owners bitched.

MWP is junk. They'll get better production at the 3 from Nick Young while saving money. Not sure how this a bad move.

How exactly has he alienated Jerry West?

 

[BOTSLAYER]

agree, and clearly it is Glen Grunwald.

Is Jim the actual GM? or just acting? If acting GMs then...still Knicks...then Jim.

 

[Hornsstampede2.0]

So the HEAT wreck their team for two years in order to free up cap space for 2011.

They had an empty arena and obvious tanking to achieve it.

They are lauded as some model organization...... but they still risked everything on the hopes of 2011.

The LAKERS are heading towards the same thing in 2014.

But, they never had to completely gut the roster to make it happen.
They were still a relatively good team that had sold out crowds.

Essentially he gutted a roster and reset the entire franchise direction without losing any fan interest.

If the LAKERS get the likely combination of Kobe, Melo, and Lebron in 2014, he will win the GM of the year.

And it appears that is more likely than not.

The chatter about it is suddenly tangible. Those guys are already loving the idea of doing it for the greatest franchise in the NBA.

I would hold off on burying the LAKER management just a bit.....

 

[HammerDown]

Having recently lost out on two of the top free agents, Chris Paul and Dwight Howard, having traded away all picks, and having a carousel of coaches and approaches, alienating Phil Jackson and Jerry West, and now dumping MWP as Kobe's final years are in play, is this guy wacked or what.

Who is driving their franchise deeper into a hole?

...this from a Celtics fan. Puhlease.

These guys would rather be holding San Quentin uniforms than Celtics.

 

[Shanemansj13]

Celtics are fucked for a long drought AGAIN.

 

[Shanemansj13]

So the HEAT wreck their team for two years in order to free up cap space for 2011.

They had an empty arena and obvious tanking to achieve it.

They are lauded as some model organization...... but they still risked everything on the hopes of 2011.

The LAKERS are heading towards the same thing in 2014.

But, they never had to completely gut the roster to make it happen.
They were still a relatively good team that had sold out crowds.

Essentially he gutted a roster and reset the entire franchise direction without losing any fan interest.

If the LAKERS get the likely combination of Kobe, Melo, and Lebron in 2014, he will win the GM of the year.

And it appears that is more likely than not.

The chatter about it is suddenly tangible. Those guys are already loving the idea of doing it for the greatest franchise in the NBA.

I would hold off on burying the LAKER management just a bit.....

Lebron will never go to LA. And depending on ths scenario to get you GM of the year is pitiful. The guy has made a number of questionable moves. Now he will have to do the hardest thing, rebuild while losing his superstar, unless they pull off something next yr of course.

But there are plenty of GMs worse than him.

 

[LogicMan]

Horns, I am with you..mostly. Carmelo wont be a franchise builder, he wont suddenly draw interest among other FA's, maybe even the opposite, but Lebron, Lebron could be the hero that could draw free agents in that Kobe could not. It would be Lebrons team, his town, his legacy.

Its all in on Lebron to save them, so IF Mitch is all in on this plan, by givng up all the other assets, which he has done, than he needs to start the selling now.

Miami is going to get trumped by LA

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

Horns, I am with you..mostly. Carmelo wont be a franchise builder, he wont suddenly draw interest among other FA's, maybe even the opposite, but Lebron,

Lebron could be the hero that could draw free agents in that Kobe could not. It would be Lebrons team, his town, his legacy.

Its all in on Lebron to save them, so IF Mitch is all in on this plan, by givng up all the other assets, which he has done, than he needs to start the selling now.

Miami is going to get trumped by LA

James will NEVER play in LA with Kobe.
If Kobe wants James, he will have to leave that rebuilding project in LA.

James doesn't need LA to draw top FA. Look around him down here.
Most NBA players would actually prefer to live near South Beach then in LA.

The Lakers are looking at someone next year (not James or Anthony), and then Love in 2015.

Losing Howard set them back a couple years.

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

So the HEAT wreck their team for two years in order to free up cap space for 2011.

They had an empty arena and obvious tanking to achieve it.

They are lauded as some model organization...... but they still risked everything on the hopes of 2011.

The LAKERS are heading towards the same thing in 2014.

But, they never had to completely gut the roster to make it happen.
They were still a relatively good team that had sold out crowds.

Essentially he gutted a roster and reset the entire franchise direction without losing any fan interest.

If the LAKERS get the likely combination of Kobe, Melo, and Lebron in 2014, he will win the GM of the year.

And it appears that is more likely than not.

The chatter about it is suddenly tangible. Those guys are already loving the idea of doing it for the greatest franchise in the NBA.

I would hold off on burying the LAKER management just a bit.....

Shaq forced that team to be broken up.

At that point, they had no other choice to do anything but what they did.

Riley had it all planned out for Shaq's $$ to come off the books the same day James' came off of the Cavs books, and then hope he would take it.

Howard leaving the Lakers in the shape they are is eerily similar to what happened to the Heat.

That includes hoping for the same ending (getting James).

The difference was that before Miami, James was playing in a terrible city under terrible management.
Now he has no reason to leave a city and ownership that he loves and is more than up to the task of keeping him on contending teams year after year.

 

[LAKERSUSCBAM]

Lakers have always been known to gamble and most of the time it has paid off. There's an ongoing tug of war with Mitch and Jim which has played out since Doc was in bad health and after he passed. One thing is for sure they're always going to try and field a winning team at most any cost including trying to line up an older squad as they did this past year. Didn't work and clearing the slate for the crop of FA's. Will they land one, two, none? No one knows today but when the dust clears my money is they'll be back to contending.
Horns said it perfectly and this coming from a conference rival but an astute one at that. Oh and how are the Celtics' chances next few years with an unproven college coach, rejects with a high profile storied team??

 

[Lakers+USC=#1]

Having recently lost out on two of the top free agents, Chris Paul and Dwight Howard, having traded away all picks, and having a carousel of coaches and approaches, alienating Phil Jackson and Jerry West, and now dumping MWP as Kobe's final years are in play, is this guy wacked or what.

Who is driving their franchise deeper into a hole?

Your name cant have logic in it, then blame the lost of CP3 on Mitch.

 

[BOTSLAYER]

Your name cant have logic in it, then blame the lost of CP3 on Mitch.

 

[BOTSLAYER]

one more for the road...

 

[trojanfan12]

So the HEAT wreck their team for two years in order to free up cap space for 2011.

They had an empty arena and obvious tanking to achieve it.

They are lauded as some model organization...... but they still risked everything on the hopes of 2011.

The LAKERS are heading towards the same thing in 2014.

But, they never had to completely gut the roster to make it happen.
They were still a relatively good team that had sold out crowds.

Essentially he gutted a roster and reset the entire franchise direction without losing any fan interest.

If the LAKERS get the likely combination of Kobe, Melo, and Lebron in 2014, he will win the GM of the year.

And it appears that is more likely than not.

The chatter about it is suddenly tangible. Those guys are already loving the idea of doing it for the greatest franchise in the NBA.

I would hold off on burying the LAKER management just a bit.....

Well said!! While I don't necessarily agree that the Lakers will get both Lebron and Melo, I have learned over the years that it is not wise to say that the Lakers can't do something when it comes to landing free agents or making blockbuster type trades!!

And I think the biggest problem for Heat fans is that they know that the Lakers are doing exactly what the Heat did and they are looking to do it, as you said, without gutting the roster and playing in an empty arena!!

Can't think of any other reason why so many of them spend more time talking about the Lakers than they do their own team!!

 

[trojanfan12]

Lebron will never go to LA. And depending on ths scenario to get you GM of the year is pitiful. The guy has made a number of questionable moves. Now he will have to do the hardest thing, rebuild while losing his superstar, unless they pull off something next yr of course.

But there are plenty of GMs worse than him.

Glad we have Lebron's agent here to let us all know what Lebron will or will not do!!

 

[trojanfan12]

one more for the road...

 

[BOTSLAYER]

Glad we have Lebron's agent here to let us all know what Lebron will or will not do!!

He might not be LBJs agent but if you look at the facts and the situation I think it is next to impossible LBJ goes to the Lakers.

-If Kobe is still playing it is absolutely no.

-LBJ wants Rangzzz and Lakers will be in rebuild mode. At the very least they will be a new team and most likely need adjustment time that makes a ring less probable. LBJ knows this.

-The Heat have a very good thing going.

Anything is possible though...

 

[trojanfan12]

He might not be LBJs agent but if you look at the facts and the situation I think it is next to impossible LBJ goes to the Lakers.

-If Kobe is still playing it is absolutely no.

-LBJ wants Rangzzz and Lakers will be in rebuild mode. At the very least they will be a new team and most likely need adjustment time that makes a ring less probable. LBJ knows this.

-The Heat have a very good thing going.

Anything is possible though...

Perhaps you can find me one quote from Lebron where he states that he will not go to the Lakers or that he does not want to play on the same team as Kobe!!

With the money the Lakers have to spend and the fact that D-Wade is on the downside of his career and Bosh has proven himself to be inconsistent at best, who is better positioned to re-build quickly and get back to contention?

Lebron will do exactly what every other free agent will do. He'll sit back, look at the package that each team has to offer and make the decision that he feels is best for him (which is exactly what he SHOULD do).

I'm on record as saying that I think he retires with the Heat, but you'd be foolish to just dismiss out of hand the Lakers ability to put together a very attractive package for Lebron or any other top free agent!!