LA Lakers: Sitting on the GM Seat Is Not Easy

Have you ever wondered how it feels to run the show while sitting in an NBA team GM’s office?

So many decisions to make with so little time, no hesitation whatsoever, all that needs to be done predict and hope for the best. Of course, the hot seat—if you will—can reach different levels of heat depending on the team. Under the lights of Hollywood, the LA Lakers are the prime example for the hottest GM seat in the NBA.

Let's take a look at what the most important issues are that face the Lakers GM and find out how fans’ opinions vary.

I am not saying that Mitch Kupchak is doing a bad job, even though I admit coming down hard on him in the past, he has done a great job in resurrecting the team, even though they fell two games short from winning it all.

He deserves a lot of credit and I still believe that he should have been named the Executive of the Year (since he did not deal any of his top players to take the No. 1 spot in the West unlike Danny Ainge who dealt almost his entire roster).

The first issue that needs to be dealt with is the free agents on the roster. Ronny Turiaf and Sasha Vujacic are solid role players and keeping them is important for the team.

First is Turiaf. He has been offered a good deal from the GS Warriors and a matching offer is not going to be made according to analysts. If Turiaf departs, it is going to leave a major hole in the Lakers bench that needs to be filled since he was one of the most consistent players coming off.

Sasha Vujacic, on the other hand, has been offered a one year deal but did not reach a decision yet. Let's wait and see.

The most important decision to make is what to do with the huge expiring contract of Lamar Odom. Many want him shipped out for Ron Artest or Tayshaun Prince. That is not a bad idea especially after the pounding the Lakers received on the hands of Paul Pierce and the Boston Celtics in the finals.

I like Odom’s game after the arrival of Gasol and I think he is going to be more valuable to the team when Bynum comes back by sliding down to being the fourth option, so his 10 points-10 rebounds game will be super helpful (after all, not many teams has four options with double digit averages).

In my humble opinion, I think the best solution is to play the waiting game. Odom probably has the biggest expiring contract in the league, thus making him a coveted player for teams seeking cap relief.

That could also be held true for the Lakers as well. If the team keeps up the strong play, one last chance to Odom would be spared to redeem himself. If they come short again from winning (losing in the finals again) then they can be a major player in the off-season.

If the team could not function with Bynum's return (in the early stages of the season) then there is always a team that is willing to trade before the All-Star break. A mid-season trade might be a good idea. Besides, no one knows what might happen during the season e.g. Bynum’s injury last season.

In addition, Andrew Bynum has an extension coming up and that could complicate things even further.

The last part of the puzzle lies with the empty roster spots that need to be filled.

The Lakers, most probably, are not going to re-sign DJ Mbenga and Ira Newble. They barely played any minutes during the season and almost nothing in the postseason.

Keep in mind; the organization is in the luxury tax threshold and signing solid players is not going to be that easy. This is a whole different matter.

What will Mitch do this season remain to be seen. Is he going to pull the trigger on a trade, is he going to stay put for a while, what is he going to offer Bynum, and who are the reserves he is going to sign to start another title run? All of these questions are his to answer; all we can do is wait.