PDA

View Full Version : Maybe Kupchak knows what he's doing after all



LakeShow
12-13-2007, 11:32 AM
Maybe Kupchak knows what he's doing after all

Lakers GM deserves credit for drafting Andrew Bynum two years ago and then resisting the urge to trade him.
December 13 2007


For a guy from Hicksville, maybe Mitch Kupchak isn't the brain-dead numskull that some Lakers fans have made him out to be. . . .

The Lakers general manager -- birthplace: Hicksville, N.Y. -- deserves credit for rolling the dice by drafting 17-year-old Andrew Bynum two years ago and then resisting the urge to trade him before he reached his potential. . . .

BTW, although Bynum already is nearly a quarter of the way through his third NBA season, only five NBA players are younger than the Lakers center, who won't be of age to legally buy brandy for his eggnog until October. . . .

In addition to Bynum's teammate, rookie Javaris Crittenton, the younger-than-Bynum club includes rookies Kevin Durant of the Seattle SuperSonics, Spencer Hawes of the Sacramento Kings and Thaddeus Young of the Philadelphia 76ers, as well as sidelined No. 1 pick Greg Oden of the Portland Trail Blazers. . . .

Chinese rookie Yi Jianlian of the Milwaukee Bucks was born the same day as Bynum, Oct. 27, 1987. . . .

Bruce Bowen, the 36-year-old former Cal State Fullerton forward who will line up against Kobe Bryant when the defending champion San Antonio Spurs play the Lakers tonight at Staples Center, is the NBA's oldest starter. . . .

Shaquille O'Neal, 35, is the NBA's second-oldest starter. . . .

http://www.latimes.com/sports/basketball/nba/lakers/la-sp-crowe13dec13,1,5244388,full.column?coll=la-headlines-sports-nba-lakers&ctrack=3&cset=true

He's now traded for Ariza, a very good defensive player that will be a starter soon and will help propel the Lakers to new heights. I feel good about this team.

Reggie Miller
12-13-2007, 11:54 AM
Keep telling yourself that...

Kupchak could be Branch Rickey, Red Auerbach, and Billy Beane all rolled into one, and it still wouldn't keep the Buss family from crossing him up...

Mr. Body
12-13-2007, 11:57 AM
Billy Joel is also from Hicksville, N.Y. It's on Long Island.

Anyway, the Lakers have drafted well the last couple years, at least with Farmar coming around. The Bynum move was excellent and makes up at least slightly for trading Caron Butler for Kwame Brown. Never trade a UConn player away lightly, especially for a high school player that has done nothing.

da_suns_fan__
12-13-2007, 12:17 PM
I thought Kupchak was gonna get KG?

Medvedenko
12-13-2007, 02:03 PM
Yeah, the Caron trade was dumb in hindsight...but for balance and seeing if Odom can play the 3 was the impetus of that trade. Too bad Kwame gets hurt and Odom can't regain his SF form and is now playing more 4 in the offence. Still, I believe they should trade Odom for a decent 2 way PF...Oneal is on my sights as well as Pau Gasol.

ChumpDumper
12-13-2007, 05:20 PM
He traded Shaq away when he had two good years left in him. :tu

itzsoweezee
12-14-2007, 12:38 AM
they're a marginally good team. they're not championship contenders. that's a huge step down from what they once were.

Purple & Gold
12-14-2007, 09:19 AM
they're a marginally good team. they're not championship contenders. that's a huge step down from what they once were.

Wait till Bynum blows da fuck up Spurs fan. :hungry: :hungry: :hungry: