GM Mitch Kupchak Has Highest Expectations For Lakers
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (CBSLA.com) - After coming out of the worst seasons of LA franchise history, the Lakers are looking to put that in the past.
General manager Mitch Kupchak talked to the media Friday at the team's headquarters in El Segundo, saying the team's expectations for the upcoming season are no less than a 17th title for the Purple and Gold.
"First and foremost, we have to stay healthy, and that begins with Kobe (Bryant) and Steve Nash, said Kupchak. "And I think our offseason acquisition, Carlos Boozer, who is an established player in this league, he is healthy. But I think a big degree of our success will depend on if those three guys can stay healthy."
Kupchak expects Bryant, who will return from an Achilles and knee injury which limited him to six games last season, to have no effects on either injury and to play at a top-tier level.
According to Kupchak, the 16-time All-Star has been working daily and has been in constant contact with new head coach Byron Scott.
"I think he's going to have an excellent year. Once again, he's gonna have to stay healthy. He's been working every day. I get reports." I've seen him personally, added Kupchak. "I know he's working and speaking with Byron (Scott) on a daily or semi-daily basis. He's gonna play differently than he played 10 years ago. Maybe not so different than what he played two or three years go, because if you tracked his progress over the years – from a wild, athletic player in the late '90s and early 2000s – he's gradually turned into a not-so-much predictable, but a seasoned veteran. (He excels at) knowing when to turn it on and when not to turn it on. He goes to certain spots on the court. He doesn't take wild shots. He doesn't gamble as much on defense."
Kupchak used the 2006-07 season as an example on how they went to a .500 team to a NBA Finals team.
"Our expectations are to win a championship. I know that sounds (unrealistic), because expectations outside of this room might not be the same, but I'm not sure the year; I think it was 2006-07. We were 42-40, and going into the (next) season, there was a lot of speculation during the summer about one of our players that didn't want to be here. And we got a great start during the regular season with Andrew Bynum as the center, and then he went down 30 games into the season. And expectations going into that season weren't very high. And of course when Andrew went down, they went down quite a bit. But we were able to make a trade a month later, and then four months later we're in the Finals against Boston," Kupchak added.
The Lakers open their season against the Rockets at Staples Center on Oct. 28.