The Los Angeles Lakers have by far made the biggest blockbuster deal thus far this offseason. With the acquisition of Steve Nash, Antawn Jamison, Jodie Meeks and Dwight Howard, GM Mitch Kupchak definitely deserves a pat on the back.
With what Kupchak did I began to think about the formation of the "Big Three" of LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade in Miami. So I began to wonder between Kupchak and Miami Heat President Pat Riley, out the two who did the best job of constructing a "super" team.
We all know before the 2010-11 season James and Bosh joined Wade in Miami.
Though they were a new team that season, the Heat managed to make it to the NBA finals only to let the championship slip through their hands to the Dallas Mavericks.
That offseason Riley took it upon himself to motivate his players, especially James by showing him his championship rings and continuously reviewing film with All-Star. You can argue that his Riley's tactics lit James' dormant competitive instinct, but James eventually led the Heat to a championship this past 2011-12 season against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
That brings us now to the present.
Riley formed the "Big Three" in 2010; Riley has also added Mike Miller, Shane Battier and recently marksmen Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis to assist the "Big Three".
With the way the "Big Three" play, those additions are a perfect match being that when the defense collapses on James, Wade or Bosh that leaves the role players open to drain the three or just simply attack the basket.
This has been proven to be the winning formula for the Heat, especially coming off championship season in which they boasted one of the highest three-point percentages in the league.
Now let's get to Kupchak and the newly reloaded Lakers.
Just looking at the big names on paper there's no question that the Lakers have defiantly maximized their chances for becoming NBA champions once more.
I mean the starting five looks more like an All-Star team line-up than a regular season line-up. You got Nash, Kobe, Metta World Peace, Pau Gasol and Howard.
That's scary.
But this isn't the first time Kupchak made a "super" team out in L.A., remember back in the 2003-04 season when he signed veteran's Karl Malone and Gary Payton to join Kobe and Shaquille O'Neal. They didn't get the job then, losing to the Detroit Pistons in the NBA finals that year.
But this is a new team so maybe the same results won't apply.
It's no doubt that Kupchak has done the better job creating a new power house in the league, but this season we'll see if it all goes according to design.
So in the grand schemes of things, Kupchak wins over Riley, but Riley may win the battle long term.
I only say this because Riley formed a powerhouse team of young players who are now reaching their prime. Kupchak's guys are not old but their seasoned and only have a few years left.
The Lakers may or may not win the championship this year, but we know with the absence of Derrick Rose for the Chicago Bulls in the East, the Heat may be on their way to a third consecutive championship appearance.
The beauty of these "super" teams, though many fans of small market teams may be appalled, is that the world may final see a Bryant vs. James NBA finals.
That will be amazing.
So if that happens, both Kupchak and Riley deserve statues outside their team's arenas for a job well done.
