<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">As part of a five-player trade in August 2004, the Lakers sent a first-round pick to Boston that was lottery-protected last season ? meaning the Lakers, because their choice was a lottery choice, got to keep it and draft 17-year-old Andrew Bynum. But they lose the pick this year unless it is among the draft's top 11. There are 14 picks overall in the lottery. Either way, the Lakers still have a first-round selection because they get Miami's as part of the Shaquille O'Neal trade, although it will likely be toward the end of the round. "I don't think it changes anything," Laker General Manager Mitch Kupchak said. "Nowadays it's unusual where you get a player that's going to help you win right away. It usually takes a year or two or three. We look at our draft choices as a way to replenish our system with young players, knowing their contributions aren't going to come for a while." The pick the Lakers sent to Boston has bounced around the league, with several scenarios waiting to unfold when it officially becomes the Celtics' (if not this summer or next, they are guaranteed the pick in June 2008). The Celtics already sent the pick to Atlanta last February as part of a trade for Antoine Walker, and the Hawks later sent it to Phoenix as part of the Joe Johnson trade. The Lakers originally sent the pick to the Celtics, along with Gary Payton, Rick Fox and about $2 million, for Chris Mihm, Chucky Atkins and Jumaine Jones.</div> Source Statements like that just piss me off to no end. Maybe he Mitch hasn't heard or seen the things Chris Paul is doing down in New Orleans. You know the team that embarrassed the Lakers a few weeks ago. The team the Lakers are trying to chase in the playoff race. Danny Granger? LeBron James? Dwyane Wade? Yao Ming? Amare Stoudemire? Mitch needs to be stripped of any draft responsibilities for the rest of his (hopefully shortlived) run as Lakers GM. I'm just glad he had nothing to do with the Andrew Bynum selection. If Mitch had his way, the Lakers would have been stuck with Sean May.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Bobcats:</div><div class="quote_post">Why does Mitch Kupchack still have a job as a GM? I'm still baffled by that alone.</div> me too. but then again, you can say the same thing to isiah thomas in new york. the raptors are the only smart team in the league, firing their dumb GM <div class="quote_poster">Quoting Shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">I'm just glad he had nothing to do with the Andrew Bynum selection. If Mitch had his way, the Lakers would have been stuck with Sean May.</div> given mitch's track record, we probably would have ended up with rashad mcants. after all, the only players mitch drafts are one that have a nice looking shot for example, von wafer and sasha vujacic
