Mitch Kupchak: Lakers ‘Unlikely’ to Make Trades

Despite the team’s ongoing struggles, and the mild panic among fans and media, the Lakers’ GM says not to expect a shakeup. The LA Times reports: “Turning around to face Jerry West, Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak couldn’t resist joking that he needed some advice on how to handle the team’s loss Wednesday to the league’s worst team in the Cleveland Cavaliers. But following West’s statue unveiling outside Staples Center, it’s clear Kupchak is taking an even-handed approach to the team’s personnel after the Lakers (38-19) sputtered into the All-Star break losing their last three games after winning the first four games of a seven-game trip. The first question, of course, involves whether the Lakers would make a trade before the Feb. 24 deadline. ‘I think it’s unlikely,’ Kupchak said. ‘But there’s eight days to go. All of the general managers are here in Los Angeles [for All-Star] weekend and there will be a lot of yapping. There will be a lot of guys moving off to the side and there will be a lot of phone calls. You make phone calls and you take phone calls. That’s what we do. I stand by what I said that it’s unlikely, but I don’t think any general manager can stand here and say there will be absolutely no changes in eight days, in particular at this time of year.'”