HoopsHype.com Rumors

When Los Angeles Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak called Phil Jackson to tell him the Lakers were hiring Mike D'Antoni instead of him as coach, he responded the only way he knew how. "I laughed," Jackson told ESPN's "Mike & Mike in the Morning" show Wednesday. "It was humorous to me when Mitch said that we think that Mike is a better coach for this group of guys." ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Phil Jackson, Mitch Kupchak, Coaching, Mike D'Antoni 

Kevin Ding: Talked to Mitch Kupchak about his private exit meeting with Dwight Howard. Mitch: "There was no discussion of the coach whatsoever." #lakers Twitter @KevinDing

Los Angeles Lakers, Free Agency, Mitch Kupchak, Mike D'Antoni, Dwight Howard 

The Lakers, who hoped Howard's return would help bridge the gap to a new era that could be kickstarted in the summer of 2014 when they have so much salary cap space and may not have Kobe Bryant, are flirting with quite a fallout here. General manager Mitch Kupchak had already urged Howard to choose quickly in the days after the season ended with a first-round sweep by the San Antonio Spurs, informing Howard that he'd be holding up the team's business if he waited until the official free agency period in early July to make up his mind. USA Today Sports

Los Angeles Lakers, Free Agency, Mitch Kupchak, Dwight Howard 

While he hasn't had anything to say to the press, Dwight Howard had a lot to say to Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak back before the relative silence, however. Howard was one of several Lakers -- Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol being the most noteworthy -- to have an extended separate meeting with the GM after his exit interview with both Kupchak and D'Antoni, multiple sources confirmed to ESPNLosAngeles.com. ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Free Agency, Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Mitch Kupchak, Mike D'Antoni, Dwight Howard 

Jerry Zgoda: Faces spotted just walking into gym: Danny Ainge, Mitch Kupchak, Ty Corbin, Mike D'Antoni, Jerry Sloan, Rick Carlisle, RJ Adelman Twitter @JerryZgoda

Danny Ainge, Mitch Kupchak, Mike D'Antoni, Jerry Sloan, Rick Carlisle, Ty Corbin, RJ Adelman 

Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak was supportive of D’Antoni in comments made during his exit interview last week, appreciating what he did in a season stained by constant injuries. “To Mike’s credit, he made adjustments,” said Kupchak. “Once we started getting players back and once he started to see what our real strengths were, he was flexible and made adjustments, and that’s when we started to win games and gather momentum.” Lakers.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Mitch Kupchak, Coaching, Mike D'Antoni 

Dave McMenamin: Antawn Jamison had his exit interview with Mitch Kupchak today at the Lakers practice facility, according to a source Twitter @mcten

Los Angeles Lakers, Mitch Kupchak, Antawn Jamison 

After Dwight Howard was ejected during the Game 4 loss to the Spurs, he walked past Mitch Kupchak and, upon receiving a pat on the butt from his General Manager, turned around and yelled in his direction. Predictably, this created a stir as fans and media wondered if Howard was chewing out Kupchak, and if so, the trouble this might signal. As expected, Kupchak was asked about this during Tuesday’s exit interview media session. “You know something,” mused Kupchak. ”I went home that night and I watched “Rocky V,” with Rocky fighting the Russian. (Editor’s note: I immediately informed Kupchak that the movie in question was “Rocky IV,” because this is the knowledge I bring to the table at an exit interview.) And my phone rang, and somebody said ‘What did Dwight say to you?’ “I said, ‘I have no idea what you’re talking about.’ “They said, ‘Well, look on the TV.’ “So when there was a commercial, I went to the sports channel and I saw what they were talking about. I never heard a word he said when he walked past me. So until Sunday evening, around 9:30 or 10 o’clock at night, I didn’t know a thing about it.” Sulia

Los Angeles Lakers, Mitch Kupchak, Dwight Howard 

Mitch was later asked if he asked Dwight about the yelling. “I did," said Kupchak. "He said he forgets completely what he said, but he was frustrated with the officials and turned around and apparently barked something back at the court.” Sulia

Los Angeles Lakers, Mitch Kupchak, Dwight Howard 

Eric Pincus: Mitch Kupchak asks spokesman John Black if should defer any Lakers amnesty questions to @Mark Cuban Twitter @EricPincus

Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers, Mitch Kupchak, Mark Cuban, John Black 

Will you have a discussion with Mitch Kupchak and Jim Buss about your future? Pau Gasol: Yeah. It'll be a discussion for sure. There's no doubt about it. We all have to look to the future, and to the immediate future. Next season, it's important for everyone, for myself, for the team. I'm sure there's going to be talks. All the parties care. I'd love to continue to be here, continue to help the team be the best it can be, and be on board as much as I can. That's my thought process. But we have to be on the same page. I want to make it work. NBA.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Pau Gasol, Mitch Kupchak, Jim Buss 

Serena Winters: Dwight said he didn't remember anything after the technical foul, including any exchange with Mitch Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Mitch Kupchak, Dwight Howard 

Mike Bresnahan: Hate to cramp everyone's Laker tweets but...Dwight wasn't mad at Kupchak while leaving court. Mad at refs, hard fouls by Spurs. Proceed! Twitter @Mike_Bresnahan

Los Angeles Lakers, Mitch Kupchak, Dwight Howard 

D'Antoni, who has two more guaranteed years worth $8 million, won't need to worry. Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said last week D'Antoni will return next season, crediting how he managed a 40-32 record his first season despite no training camp and persisting injuries, notably to Nash (fractured left leg). Los Angeles Daily News

Los Angeles Lakers, Mitch Kupchak, Coaching, Mike D'Antoni 

Even though the Lakers eventually rebounded to record the league's fifth-best record during the second half of the season at 28-12, and even though General Manager Mitch Kupchak has given him a vote of confidence, it still feels as if he's not the right coach. Dwight Howard seems to agree with that, and if the Lakers re-sign Howard, D'Antoni soon could be gone. Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Mitch Kupchak, Coaching, Mike D'Antoni, Dwight Howard 

The Los Angeles Lakers released the following statement from General Manager Mitch Kupchak regarding Eddie Jordan becoming the new Head Coach at Rutgers University: “On behalf of the entire Lakers organization, I’d like to congratulate Eddie on his new position as Head Coach at his alma mater, Rutgers University. A member of our 1982 NBA Championship team, Eddie has been a part of the Lakers family going back more than 30 years. We thank him for his contributions both as a player and coach to our club, and wish him the best of luck with the Scarlet Knights.” NBA.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Mitch Kupchak, Coaching, Eddie Jordan 

On Friday, Kobe Bryant got a visit from Lakers Vice President Jim Buss, General Manager Mitch Kupchak and Coach Mike D'Antoni. Bryant is still on crutches, recovering from April 13 surgery to repair a torn left Achilles' tendon. The Lakers All-Star guard uploaded a picture to his Instagram account with the caption, "Got a few more visitors today ... Jimmy B, Mitch K and Mike D. We talked about the season, next season and more importantly about the strategy for this upcoming series #lakerfam #amnestywho?? Lol #coachvino." Bryant is expected to be out for six to nine months. Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Mitch Kupchak, Mike D'Antoni, Injuries, Jim Buss 

Lakers Coach Mike D'Antoni will be back next season, General Manager Mitch Kupchak said Wednesday. "Yeah, he's back. I think he's done a great job," Kupchak told The Times. "There's been no discussions otherwise. "He's made adjustments. He's been flexible. He's evaluated how he coaches as the season's progressed. He's listened to the players. He's very easy to work with and we think in particular since the meeting the day of the Memphis game, yeah." Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Mitch Kupchak, Coaching, Mike D'Antoni 

The Lakers have remained patient with D'Antoni. "Much has been made of the injuries, and the coaching change [in November] and no training camp, which is certainly a part of it," Kupchak said of their up-and-down season. "It takes a while. You're in New York coaching and you see the Lakers once or twice a year, you don't know the personnel. And the injury situation when he got here, Steve Nash had the broken leg. There's just too much going on to really look at it any other way." Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Mitch Kupchak, Coaching, Mike D'Antoni 

Marc J. Spears: Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak told Y! Sports he is "optimistic" Steve Nash could return from hip & hamstring soreness in GM1 vs Spurs due to shots Twitter @SpearsNBAYahoo

Los Angeles Lakers, Mitch Kupchak, Steve Nash, Injuries