Mitch Kupchak on the Hot Seat in LA

Despite engineering two NBA championships and spending nearly a quarter-century with the organization, Los Angeles Lakers General Manager, Mitch Kupchak, is on the hot-seat in La-La Land.

Kupchak must hope for a harmonious locker room, 50 regular season wins, and a return trip to the post-season. Sound realistic? Mr. Kupchak hopes so.

Make no mistake; Kupchak’s job is not an easy one. For starters, he was handed the reigns to one of professional sports’ most-admired organizations, succeeding his mentor, Jerry West. West, who established himself as arguably the greatest GM in the league’s history, was part of nine world championships with the Lakers, and is immortalized as the silhouette on the NBA’s logo. Further, Kupchak is charged with juggling the expectations of three of the NBA’s strongest personalities; Kobe Bryant, Phil Jackson, and long-time owner, Dr. Jerry Buss. It’s debatable how much cheese Kupchak has in regard to personnel decisions, given the influence Kobe maintains with Buss. If the Shaq Trade is an indication, Kupchak’s voice is barely discernable within the organization.

Finally, last season the Lakers ranked sixth in the NBA in team salary, despite finishing seventh in the Western Conference. The Lakers have tied-up nearly 40% of its payroll in Kobe Bryant and Lamar Odom, leaving little opportunity to significantly improve the roster. The challenges are immense for Kupchak, who is following a legend and must manage the Kobe-Phil-Buss dynamic. If the Lakers exceed expectations, pundits will point to Kobe’s play and Phil’s ability to harness Kobe’s game within the team concept. If the Lakers fail to meet expectations, Kupchak may be on his way out and searching for a 9-5.

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