Advice for Kupchak

Shapecity · Jul 2, 2009

I’ve known Mitch Kupchak for a long time — since 1983-84, my first season on the Lakers beat for the Orange County Register.

One of my fondest memories was sitting with Mitch, high up in the then-Anaheim Stadium stands, at an Angels-Yankees game. It was August 1987 — I remember it because Randy Velarde was in New York’s lineup, in his first week in the big leagues, and I would later cover him when he was an Angel.

Kupchak would remember it as a Yankees-Angels game because, besides being a fine basketball player who has turned into a top-notch executive, he bleeds pinstripes.

Another thing I have always remembered about Mitch was, what was significant about his last NBA game as a Laker? I always thought it should be a Trivial Pursuit answer. I will let you know what it was at the end of this post.

We haven’t talked for a few years, and I am not gonna bother him now. But that won’t stop me from making a few suggestions on what he should do this summer in preparing the Lakers to defend their hard-fought NBA title.

1. Bring back either Lamar Odom or Trevor Ariza, but I don’t think you can do both without slighting someone in the pay department. And that, as they said about crossing the streams in “Ghostbusters,” would be bad.

espite all the feel-good stories following the title clincher, about how both want to stay and the Lakers want to keep both, Odom and Ariza merit raises befitting free agents who have contributed much to a championship. Both are going to get outside offers that they can’t refuse, and I am betting one of them won’t.

2. Keep Shannon Brown. Please. I for one didn’t figure him to be a throw-in when the Lakers obtained him from Charlotte, and his role grew and grew as a Laker.

Brown is one of those young players on NBA rosters who just needs meaningful minutes to succeed. He’s athletic, talented and he gets it. And Derek Fisher, who showed new life in the Finals, isn’t going to get better at 35.

I might be in the minority among Laker watchers, but I am tired of being teased by Jordan Farmar, and underwhelmed by Sasha Vujacic. The worse the latter shoots, the more his cult-hero status rivals that of Chuck Nevitt and Mike Smrek in their Lakers days. You older Lakers fans will get it.

3. If you’re going to sign a restricted free agent from the Knicks, make it be David Lee and not Nate Robinson. As much as I enjoy watching the little guy play, I don’t think Robinson’s a fit in the Lakers offense — not when I think Shannon Brown can do the same things with fewer shots and isn’t a defensive liability size-wise.

I know the Knicks want to clear cap space for the 2010 free-agent bonanza, but I still think they should sign Lee (42, right) to a long-term deal. I have always liked him as a player, especially as a rebounder and as a finisher, and his energy reminds me of 76ers great Bobby Jones, one of the better defenders I ever saw — and like you, Mitch, a star at North Carolina. If Odom is the one you can’t keep, Lee would be a nice replacement, even if he is a Florida guy.

4. Don’t change your stance on the home/road head coach idea. Phil Jackson is a tremendous asset, but if he feels he can’t do it fulltime, give him a high-paid consultant’s job and let Kurt Rambis take over.

Jackson at home and Rambis on the road can’t work, because Kurt is always going to come off worse by comparison, just because he would coach all road games.

We both know your longtime friend is ready for it. Everybody thinks Kobe Bryant is the coach now, anyway.

5. Take some time off and enjoy yourself this summer Mitch, you did a great job. You’ve followed the master and succeeded as he did, and we know that Jerry West is a tough act to follow.

I’d say go watch the Yankees play the Angels, but the Angels win most of those nowadays. And I want you to be happy. I wish we could dine at Fatburger or the Mongolian Barbecue again, but my doctors wont let me.

Answer to my question:
In his last game as a Laker, Mitch Kupchak (at left as a Washington Bullets draftee in 1976) was ejected for fighting with Hakeem Olajuwon in the fourth quarter of the decisive game in 1986 Western Conference finals. That was before Ralph Sampson’s stunning turnaround jumper upset the Lakers and ruined what could have been four consecutive Celtics-Lakers NBA Finals. I will never forget Michael Cooper laying on the floor in shock and disbelief.
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Source: OC Register

Nice read. Valid points.

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Advice for Kupchak

Shapecity S2/JBB Teamster Staff Member Administrator

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