If his record proves anything, it's that Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak managed to pretty well destroy the dynasty that Jerry West built in Los Angeles. And yet he didn't lose his job. How has he managed to keep it?
Also be sure to check out Matt's take on How Mitch Kupchak Ruined the Lakers.
Maybe it's because of his draft day prowess. Here is Kupchak's draft history, and the players still available when he made his picks:
- 2002: Kareem Rush, Chris Jefferies. Still available: Carlos Boozer, Matt Barnes.
- 2003: Brian Cook, Luke Walton. Still available: Josh Howard, Leandro Barbosa
- 2004: Sasha Vujacic, Marcus Douthit. Still available: Chris Duhon, Anderson Varej o
- 2005: Andrew Bynum, Ronny Turiaf, Von Wafer. (He may have done a good job here.)
- 2006: Jordan Farmar (to complete the Shaq deal), Danilo Pinnock. (Too soon to tell.)
The Lakers would be sitting much prettier if Kupchak had drafted Boozer, Howard, and Duhon instead of Rush, Cook, and Vujacic. And yes, I realize that every team passes over some players who end up being good, and that you can't judge a GM by the draft alone. My only point is that Kupchak is certainly no draft-day genius—at least not to an extent that might justify keeping him around.
So maybe it's his amazing offseason acquisitions that have kept Kupchak in the driver's seat. Let's see...Vladimir Radmonovic, Shammond Williams, Aaron McKie, Vlade Divac.
Hmm. No, it couldn't be that.
Aha—I have it! Kupchak's secret must be his intelligence in signing quality foreign players to keep up with teams like the Spurs.
Sasha something— That's all he has found?
I'm running out of ideas here.
Does anyone really need more clarification as to why Laker fans think Jerry West would be able to pull off a deal that Mitch Kupchak couldn't? Simply put, most Lakers fans correctly assume that they themselves would have fared better as Lakers GM than Kupchak has.
It doesn't necessarily need to be West at the helm—it just needs to be ANYONE besides Mitch Kupchak. He has proven time and time again that he's incapable of making the Lakers better. And it isn't like he would've had to swing a miracle. Here are some OBVIOUS deals that Kupchak has missed out on over the last few years:
Today's Must Reads
Carlos Boozer
First of all, the Lakers could have just drafted him—but people have forgotten how close Boozer was to coming to LA before he landed in Utah. Many sources even reported that the terms were in place: Boozer for Caron Butler, Vlade Divac, and Devean George.
It would be bad enough if Kupchak hadn't tried to make the deal. It's more pathetic that the deal was pretty much settled...and he still couldn't get it done.
Baron Davis
Davis has always wanted to play in Southern California. He went to UCLA, hosts a charity basketball tournament in LA, and is great friends with Magic Johnson.
Back in 2005, Davis was traded from the Hornets to the Warriors for Speedy Claxton and Dale Davis. Are you trying to tell me that Kupchak didn't have equivalent pieces to move? If Kupchak were a good GM, he could have packaged Brian Grant and Chucky Atkins. If he were a stupid GM, he could have packaged some combination of Atkins/Caron Butler and Chris Mihm/Devean George.
But Mitch Kupchak? He didn't even try.
Allen Iverson
Denver gave up next to nothing to get AI: Andre Miller, Joe Smith, and two first-round picks. If the Nuggets pulled it off with a weak package like that, you'd think the Lakers could have done it with some sort of Farmar/Walton/Kwame/draft picks combination. In any event, it DEFINITELY could have been had by adding Odom or Bynum to that mix.
But no. Not Mitch Kupchak.
Chris Webber
This one is just plain nauseating. Not because Webber is all that special—but because it was such a no-brainer.
After Webber became a free agent, Kupchak wouldn't have had to give up anything to get him. Nothing. Free. All he had to do was offer him money. That's it. No trades, no risk. The Lakers were even on Webber's "Wish List"...and they were struggling at the time, with two starters on the injured list.
When the Lakers didn't pull the trigger, I was sick to my stomach. I wasn't even counting on Kupchak to look toward the future I just thought he'd be able to address present needs, by making a remarkably easy deal.
Whoops.
Vince Carter
In December 2004, the Nets got Carter for Alonzo Mourning, Eric Williams, Aaron Williams, and two first-round draft picks.
Kupchak would have had to TRY to put together a package that weak—he literally would have had to acquire players inferior to the ones he already had. To be honest, I don t even know who Eric Williams is.
I can't for the life of me understand how Kupchak didn't make a deal here...especially with Kobe begging him to turn the Lakers into contenders. ANY combo of Laker players would have been enough.
Jason Kidd (and Carter again)
Word has it Bynum would have gotten the deal done this year. At this point, though, Lakers fans would have been kidding themselves to believe that Kupchak was even THINKING about pulling the trigger.
Not with his history of utter ineptitude.
To make it even more worse, these deals weren't mutually exclusive, meaning a competent GM could have pulled off more than one of them. Of course, Mitch Kupchak isn't a competent GM.
The truth is that it shouldn't matter whether Kobe asks for a new GM or not—Kupchak needs to be fired. It's addition by subtraction.
The actual deal the Lakers ultimately make is anyone's guess. Acquiring Kevin Garnett would be a dream. If you pair a guy like that with a guy like Kobe, the sky's the limit.
That said, a reasonable GM wouldn't put all his eggs in the Garnett basket which suggests that the Lakers should plan on signing Rashard Lewis. At least then a deal for Jermaine O Neal, Jason Kidd, Ron Artest, or Pau Gasol doesn t look like settling if the Lakers can't get KG...and the team has some pieces to potentially move for an even bigger name.
Provided, of course, that Kupchak isn't still running the board.
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about 1 year ago
I hate the cheap shot at Andre Miller. And the Sixer's trade wasn't nothing. Draft picks are draft picks, Smith is an expiring contract, and most importantly, Miller is the perfect point guard to help nurture a young team. It is no coincidence that the Sixers played great ball with Miller on their team as opposed to AI and Webber.
Also, Webber would be a disaster. Have you watched the Conference Finals? Other than last night, he hasn't played well at any point in the postseason. He'd get swallowed up in the West, and the Lakers would actually be worse playing him over Bynum and Brown.
And I don't think Kobe would like to watch the offense, stagnate, clear out, and watch as Vince Carter takes a spinning fadeaway 23 foot jump shot =/
about 1 year ago
That's pretty inexcusable. Howard was so ridiculously undervalued in college for no good reason.
That being said, find me 5 GM's outside of R.C. Buford that don't have the similar track records.
As a Warriors fan, need I recount how we traded Penny Hardaway and three number ones for Chris Mills (via Webber, Gugliota and Donyell Marshall)?
It hurts every time.
We also passed on Kobe, McGrady, and 25 other players who turned out to be much better than anyone we selected.
about 1 year ago
While I agree that Mitch is no Jerry West, you are quite selective in your history lesson ... leaving out anything that might be considered a good deal. You've even rewritten history with a slant to try and prove your point.
For example, he traded Kareem Rush for TWO second round picks ... the first one of which turned into Rony Turiaf and the second coming next year. He also traded Jumaine Jones for the 40th pick this year. And the trade with Boston was a GREAT trade for LA. We got rid of a cancer who did not want to play here in exchange for a decent center, a servicable backup who turned into this year's 40th pick, and a runt of a PG (OK ... so Chucky DID stink).
My point is simply that, while I don't necessarily disagree that Mitch has not done the job we needed, comdemning him by telling only half the story is a real cheap shot.
about 1 year ago
2006 - paul millsap is still available.
about 1 year ago
Daniel - as a fan, I have tried to fair with Kupchak for too long now. Enough is enough. What is the other half of the story? Second round draft picks? Seriously? For example, I know Turiaf is fun to watch and has a great story, but if you are objective about it, he is a mediocre bench player at best. Another example, Luke Walton, surprised a lot of people with his ability to fill in as a role player. But he is by no means a second or third option type player. Role players aren't valuable when you have to ask them to be stars. The Lakers don't need second round draft picks, they need players that can actually create their own shots. If anything, the fact that your only defense for Mitch Kupchak are trades for second round draft picks only furthers my point that he needs to go. The most intelligent thing he has done was to draft Bynum ... a pick the Lakers earned only because Kupchak's ineptitude turned them into a bad team in 04-05. If I missed out on a deal that has actually benefited the Lakers, please tell me. But also provide some evidence that is has helped the team.
Dave - I know a GM with a better track record. Jerry West. And he is conveniently available.
about 1 year ago
Drafting Walton in the second round. Bad sign. Of all the moves you have mentioned the Boozer trade is the most infuriating but I heard that Utah backed out of that one.
about 1 year ago
Kupchak sucks. He also had one of the worst strategies in the history of GMs. After Shaq was traded, he basically said publicly that the Lakers strategy was to save up cap space until 2008 so that they could make a run for Yao or Stoudamire (and I think there was a third guy) who were going to be free agents that year. Well, I don't know why he'd think they'd want to come there considering they could sign more lucrative extensions by staying put. Not to mention, they might like where they are. And each of the guys they wanted, signed extensions.
Also, before the 2005-2006 season, they were on the verge of signing Antonio Daniels and Mitch didn't pull the trigger because Daniels wanted 4 years instead of 3. Now he's no all-star obviously, but he's a good role player who does a lot of things well. A lot of things that I think would've have made him very good fit in the triangle. Nice work, Mitch.
And I would say most GMs are better than Kupchak. I mean, maybe they don't pull off big moves or get free agents either, but their teams aren't the LA freakin' Lakers! Marquee franchise, second biggest market, Hollywood, great weather, chicks, etc...
Kupchak is awful.
about 1 year ago
I think you are wishful thinking if you think Mitch wasa put into place to make decisions or be a Real GM. Jerry Buss had wanted to assert control for years. Before the Kobe thing, Before the Shaq thing there was the Jerry West thing. Jerry is a purest. He actually scouts talent and looks at chemistry as the key component for putting teams together. Jerry Buss never had patience for West's long term vision. Remember it took almost 6 years to win a championship when the team was destroyed before (Magic left). It was West who brought Shaq, saw Kobe's long term potential and was perfectly content knowing it might be a few years down the line. Back to Mitch. Mitch does not have the feel or the tough to be a Real GM. He is a paycheck player or GM. He does not have the imagination or the confiidence from management to do anything else but follow the company line. I don't blame Mitch as much as Jerry Buss who has always been a great talent evaluator. He started to care more about gambling, Dui's and having his son run the team than what was best for the franchhise. Jerry Buss has been a great owner for Los Angeles but his focus on the franchise has dwindled over the years and he knew what he was getting when Mitch took over. Mitch is not the guy. When West left Mitch benefitted and did not have to do anything for years. He took over in the middle of a championship run. When he needed to do anything I agree he either did not have the balls for the job or did not have the authority he needed to get deals done. Either way I believe this comes from the top. As Kobe said earlier this week Jerry Buss let the Shaq thing happen and Shaq believed Kobe! WOW!
about 1 year ago
Matthew - I do agree with this stance. It probably is more Buss' fault than anyone. But I don't think that Buss has been making all the calls with Kupchak just being a figure-head. I mean, why pay someone - pretty good money at that - if they aren't going to be doing anything? While Buss obviously makes the final decision, I don't think Kupchak was even pursuing the deals I mentioned above. Also, I imagine that Kupchak puts most of the input into draft choices. But in the end, I guess it really doesn't matter who did and didn't do what. The facts are that Kupchak hasn't done anything to improve the Lakers. If Buss has kept him around merely as a potential fall guy, here is where it pays off. Kupchak needs to go no matter whose fault it was.
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