Mitch Kupchak is determined. The Los Angeles Lakers were one of the worst teams in the NBA last year and he going to make sure that does not happen twice. With Kobe Bryant locked down for two more seasons, the general manager knows he must do everything he can to build a championship contending team now and not later. That is why he is planning to go "all in" on recruiting Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James to the Lakers in free agency.
Plenty of teams are trying to figure out how they can land the Anthony, James tandem. That would require a lot of salary cap space, something Los Angeles does not have. With a few key trades and moves, they might be able to acquire the room which is exactly what Kupchak is drawing up.
"We're prepared," Kupchak said, via ESPNLosAngeles.com. "If any of those players do want to make a move, we're prepared. And if we get word, when we're allowed to get word, we will go all out." "There's only so much you can do. The rules, at least financially, are such that for a max, max player, you're talking taking $30 [million], $35 million less to make a move. There are some players that are willing to do that, and some players just aren't. But we are prepared with enough space to be aggressive."
Kupchak plans on meeting with both free agents come July 1 and will use Bryant as a recruiting tool. Both Anthony and James are good friends with the Lakers veteran which might work in Los Angeles' favor. Of course the question of health comes into play. Bryant has barely been seen on the court since tearing his Achilles tendon and fracturing his knee. He played just six games last season. Kupchak says the veteran is fine and is hoping he will use his popularity to help this offseason.
"My understanding is that a lot of the players at different levels talk to each other, and quite frankly, I don't know what they say," Kupchak said. "They do recruit each other, and I would not be surprised if Kobe reaches out or if free agents reach out to Kobe. I know from time to time we recruit free agents. I'll call Kobe and say, 'Hey, give this guy a call.' We did it with Steve Nash a couple years ago. So it's not unusual. When we do it, it's after July 1st. Players talk year round."
If the Lakers are getting both James and Anthony, Steve Nash must go. That is not going to be easy considering no team wants to pick up an inflated contract for a veteran that may or may not play. He does not qualify for the amnesty clause, so Los Angeles has a challenge on their hands.
