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Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak: Dwight Howard, Pau Gasol will not be traded
The Los Angeles Lakers will not trade Dwight Howard or Pau Gasol before Thursday’s deadline, general manager Mitch Kupchak said Wednesday on ESPN Radio.
Kupchak: “Dwight is our future.”
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) February 20, 2013
Kupchak said that the relationship between Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard — who have reportedly been unhappy with each other — is a “work in progress.”
Kupchak repeatedly defended Howard, who has struggled in his first season in L.A. and received criticism for his effort. Howard has also dealt with a shoulder injury.
Kupchak on Dwight: “When he wins his 1st championship, and he will, people will look at him differently.”
— Mark Willard (@Mark_T_Willard) February 20, 2013
Kupchak: “This team’s window is this year and next year and a lot of that has to do with Kobe.”
— Mark Willard (@Mark_T_Willard) February 20, 2013
Howard is a free agent after the season.
Kupchak also said the Lakers would not trade Gasol, whose role has been diminished by Howard’s presence and coach Mike D’Antoni’s system. Gasol is currently out with a right foot injury.
The Lakers, expected to contend for a title this year after the offseason acquisitions of Howard and point guard Steve Nash, are currently 25-29, tied for ninth in the Western Conference standings.
Chemistry before Physics
In order for the Lakers to reach their true potential, Kobe has to play the enabler of the clown, and the clown to stop crying and start playing, The problem is that Kobe doesn't want to mentor Howard unless Dwight first toes the line.
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LikeOf course they can't trade Gasol. He is their insurance policy if (when) Howard leaves. If the Lakers are going to keep Howard, they need to acquire a quick point guard who can penetrate without the need of a screen or four guys who can shoot 3's at 38% or better. And if Howard wants to be a franchise player, he needs to hold onto passes (3 turnovers per game is a lot for a non-ball handler) and improve his free throw shooting.
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LikeDo Nash a favor and trade him to Indiana
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LikeDR Buss seems a little more dead all of a sudden...
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LikeMitch is in denial. These guys are too old. Time to blow it up and trade our players to get a younger team. Keep Kobe trade everyone else.
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LikeBig mistake. Dwight doesn't have what it takes to be a champion.
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LikeDallas will get him and the Lakers will be lucky to get some minor compensation with a sign and trade. Texas has no state income tax and California just passed a millionaires' tax, raising its income tax rate to the second highest in the country. The trend is to get centers who can shoot from distance to open the lane for penetrating point guards. Howard is a dinosaur who can't make free throws. Worst case scenario is the Lakers sign him to an expensive long-term contract with a no-trade provision.
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LikeOutside of Atlanta, I cannot imagine anybody having interest in Howard. The guy is a cancer.
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LikeKupchak is being blind: Howard does not want to be a Laker. He can not stand Kobe, Kobe can not stand him. I do not see Howard staying in LosAngeles under any circumstances next year so why not bite the bullet and trade him off for chips to use later on? Howard is not a stupid man he knows the max deal he will get will be in LA, he also knows with the extremely high tax rates there it won't kill him to move to say Atlanta he could still come out ahead. Atlanta has postioned themselves nicely to nab him.
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Likegeeon1 Or....he is being "loyal" to his vision? Sometimes that happens and works for the best, so I am ok with his investment. If you recall, the Lakers rolled the same dice with Kobe years ago by letting good players like Van Exel and Eddie Jones go and it worked. So, just because there are issues now, does not mean it cannot work out for the Lakers.
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