After pulling off a blockbuster trade on July 4 for two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash, Los Angeles Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak wasn't sure if he could make another "homerun" deal before the start of next season.
Even though the Dwight Howard rumors were ongoing, with the Lakers being the frontrunner, Kupchak remained skeptical about whether or not a deal would ultimately get done.
"I just never felt that there was a deal that (the Magic) thought that they would do," Kupchak said. "Without going into great detail, I just felt the Magic were just canvassing the league, which is the job. ... I didn't think there would be a deal. It got really quiet a couple weeks ago. Before that, it was very crazy - and then it just died. So we had kind of moved on."
Kupchak went on to explain how the Lakers had to lockup both Antawn Jamison and Jordan Hill with the mindset that a potential blockbuster trade for Howard not being likely. With so many demands of a trade to the Brooklyn Nets, and other teams beginning to aggressively pursue Howard, the chances seemed slim that the Lakers would acquire the three-time Defensive Player of the Year.
Despite all the speculation and the Orlando Magic delaying a deal, Kupchak and company were able to pull of the amazing deal in which the Lakers only had to sacrifice Andrew Bynum and a couple bench players.
With the moves he's made to this off-season to add Nash, Howard, Jamison and Jodie Meeks onto the Lakers roster, Kupchak continues to prove that he is one of the best GM's in the league as he forced the Lakers into title contention once more.
