Here's What I Think About Mitch Kupchak's Job As GM

He kinda sucks at getting free agent deals done but he's great a acquiring a player via trade. As for the draft since 2009, you can thank Ryan West for that. Before Ryan, Mitch didn't do so well. If you mentioned Andrew Bynum, Drew was a Jim Buss pick. The best picks Mitch ever made pre-Ryan West was Kareem Rush and Jordan Farmar. Since Mitch took over as GM when Jerry West left in the summer of 2000, he signed guys like Mitch Richmond, Karl Malone, Gary Payton, Horace Grant, Metta, Bryon Russell, brought back Vlade, Vladimir Radmanovic, Smush Parker, Jim Jackson, Isaiah Rider, brought back Fish, Steve Blake, Matt Barnes, Theo Ratliff, Antawn Jamison, Aaron McKie, Troy Murphy, brought back Jordan Farmar, Chris Kaman, Jodie Meeks, Wesley Johnson, Kendall Marshall, Nick Young and Steve Nash

People said GP and Karl signing was all Shaq. Jodie was great with the Lakers. His best years was with the Lakers. Nick I think was a ok singing. He struggled this year with his hand injury. Farmar was a good pick up with his championship experience. Kaman was a good 1 year rental and didn't wanna be back in LA after spending his time there for several years. Smush was a cancer. Vladimir a ok signing at first but he's a idiot. Metta and Fish were a great acquisitions. Blake and Barnes was decent to me. Wes isn't starting material but I think he'd be better off the bench though. Kendall was a decent pick up. Great passer, improved his shooting a little but then got traded to Milwaukee and tore his ACL. I still think Steve Nash was a great pick up if it wasn't for Damian accidentally injuring him I believe it would've worked out. The rest of the guys I named was at the end of their careers. They were all great before came to the Lakers.

For the trades he's done, he's acquired Pau, Chris Paul, Dwight, Horace, Lindsey Hunter, Trevor Ariza, Kareem Rush, Lamar, Caron, Brian Grant, Shannon, Adam Morrison, Ramon Sessions, Earl Clark and Jeremy Lin.

He's acquired 4 All-Stars for the Lakers. Pau, CP3 (even though it was vetoed), Dwight and Horace. Traded 9 guys on that list that helped the Lakers get the NBA Championships or get us in the Finals. Sometimes Mitch and get a great deal and the other team can get nothing out of it. And some of those that were a diamond in a rough. Some how Mitch can do that. Guys like Trevor, Shannon and Earl Clark. I thought they were just a throw in and it turns out that they can produce.

There are Laker fans who were hating on Mitch who can't get free agents for the past couple years but then boom, they makes a decent trade to make up for that and Laker fans aren't that mad at him anymore. Does everybody agree with me that Mitch kinda sucks at getting free agent deals done but he's great a acquiring a player via trade?

 

Thats why i think we need to hire someone that will focus on signing FA. They can do their homework on upcoming FA that we'd potentially be interested in and work on the pitch.

I think we'd have a better shot if we had someone that can fill that void

 

Man, this is getting old. I've refrained from writing anything but why does everyone think Mitch sucks at getting free agents? Where is the proof?

Did those who are claiming this really think that Carmelo (last year), LMA, DJ, and Monroe (the only guys the Lakers offered the max) were going to sign here? The Lakers are in full rebuild mode and like it or not, FAs want to win. If that is what people are basing this idea that Mitch sucks at attracting FAs, and coupling that with the ridiculous overreaching assumptions made by the media that were not based on any fact, then I'm just at a loss for words. Unbelievable.

Just because Mitch didn't pursue guys that the arm-chair GMs here on Lakersball wanted doesn't mean he can't lure FAs. What is attractive about the Lakers up to this point of the rebuild? If I were LMA and were looking at my basketball mortality, why would I sign with the Lakers that have an unproven roster and had a horrible year last year?

 

We haven't needed a big free agent signing in the Kobe era which has been most of Mitch's career up until these past few seasons where we actually have some cap space and in a rebuild. So I don't really get what's the big deal.

The best signing we got from Mitch was Ron Artest when Ariza signed elsewhere. Other than that, we have made amazing trades getting the necessary pieces to be as successful as we have been. How many of these teams who have made "big signings" been as successful as teams who built up over time other than the Heat?

 

Mitch was very much involved in drafting Bynum. Former assistant GM Ronnie Lester scouted him, and told Mitch. Mitch looked at Bynum himself and agreed with Lester. Mitch told Jim. They all agreed to draft him.

The reason why Bynum is often called a "Jim Buss" pick is because Phil reportedly wanted Sean May. Jim Buss, being head of basketball operations, overruled him. It was really pick involving Buss, Lester and Mitch in unison.

I also disagree with your notion that only Kareem Rush and Farmar were Mitch's good picks. Ronny Turiaf was a nice hustle PF off the bench who often gave bigger centers trouble. Luke Walton was a pretty solid rotation player until his injuries started. Javaris Crittenton was a fairly talented guard before his off-court life took a toll.

I agree with you about free agents. He needs to work at improving in that area.

 

Damn, I forgot about Ronny.

 

I also forgot another pick. Even though I didn't like him much since all he did was shoot and did nothing else, Brian Cook did play 9 years in the league. Not bad for a 2nd round pick.

 

This is what I was saying before Aldridge FINALLY said he was going to the Spurs.

Every PLAN we have gone through where we have money and are going to get somebody, WE HAVENT GOTTEN ANYONE.

I am already wanting to not go into next summer with this "2016" plan.

Just trade for people or sign-and-trade for people

 

I'm sorry but I feel this thread is redundant. This topic was beaten to death after the Hibbert trade.

 

The FAs mitch has failed to woo..Anthony, Aldridge, Howard, Monroe, Robin Lopez, and even Carroll is going to be a blessing in disguise with the guys he's gotten with his magic wand. Now if he lands Justis Anderson for the S&T of Lin.....man this team will be fun to watch plus be a playoff team.

 

I was posting cheesy 80s song titles in the FA thread to calm the board because I was thinking Mitch wouldn't let us down. I'm disappointed with many people here believing BS from the press trying to make Mitch look incompetent. Now, even with these wizardly moves, some here are still hung up that we didn't show Aldridge more analytics when it didn't even matter in his choice. Kobe told Aldridge, Mitch will surround him with complementary supporting pieces; BOOM! An All Star Center and sixth man of the year PG. BOOM! solid back up veteran PF for good measure. Aldridge will probably be playing more center than before and probably won't compete for anything with SA's old core and new players after gutting their team for him.

 

Mitch is part of the problem, but I wouldn't say he is the main reason. When it comes to the top tier of FA, the Jeanie and Jim are always involved, and that is where the REAL problem is.

 

Mitch is the best in the business. The things he has done are amazing. You can't make chicken pie out of chicken crap but some how he did it. IMO anyone having a problem with Mitch at this point.... well I don't even want to say what I think about that. People need to realize that the league did a full assault on the Lakers to keep them from winning. There has been a lot to overcome. In just a few years we have became a team with a legitimate chance to make the playoffs and be a very good team that will attract FA for years to come.