HoopsHype.com Rumors

Even before the Hawks suspended Josh Smith on Jan. 16, word had leaked that Smith had become unhappy in Atlanta and began considering playing elsewhere. He's the top candidate. But don't rule out Pau Gasol. Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak knows how to execute a big deal, and the season-ending back injury to Celtics rookie forward Jared Sullinger makes the Boston an even more active in trade talks. USA Today Sports

Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, Trade, Pau Gasol, Mitch Kupchak, Josh Smith 

Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak, however, said that a trade is not imminent. "I don't think we're at the point where you say, 'It's time for a trade,' and a trade happens in three to four days. That's just not how this league works," Kupchak said in a phone interview with ESPN. ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Trade, Mitch Kupchak 

It’s unclear if the Nets contacted Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak about Howard, but other teams were told the three-time Defensive Player of the Year is unavailable. The feeling is the Lakers (17- 24), who appear on their way to missing the playoffs for the first time since 2005, will wait it out and sell Howard on being the centerpiece of their future. “The Lakers will call Howard’s bluff,” said a league executive. “And then he’ll re-sign.” New York Daily News

Los Angeles Lakers, Mitch Kupchak, Dwight Howard 

If the Los Angeles Lakers don't make the playoffs, there is some speculation that General Manager Mitch Kupchak could lose his job. He said recently he's not sure they'll be active at the trade deadline. "We don't have many options," Kupchak told the LA Daily News. "It's not like we're going to be active or overly active in the trade market." The Lakers owe $29.85 million toward the luxury tax and Kupchak probably would want to bring back less money if he does make a trade. News-Herald

Los Angeles Lakers, Trade, Mitch Kupchak 

Eric Pincus: I checked in with Mitch Kupchak today. The Lakers haven't heard from the league yet on the disabled player exception (Hill). Twitter @EricPincus

Los Angeles Lakers, Free Agency, Mitch Kupchak, Jordan Hill 

Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak sounded skeptical about making a deal before the Feb. 21 trade deadline. "We don't have many options," Kupchak said Wednesday at the Lakers All-Access event at Staples Center, hosted by the LA Sports & Entertainment Commission. "It's not like we're going to be active or overly active in the trade market." Long Beach Press-Telegram

Los Angeles Lakers, Trade, Mitch Kupchak 

The Lakers also filed for a disabled player exception for Jordan Hill on Tuesday, general manager Mitch Kupchak told ESPNLosAngeles.com. Hill needs hip surgery and is expected to be out the rest of the season. If the league grants the petition, the Lakers will be allowed to spend a little more than half of Hill's salary, about $1.78 million, in order to sign a free agent or to absorb a player's contract acquired in a trade. ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Free Agency, Trade, Mitch Kupchak, Jordan Hill 

According to Kupchak, the Lakers will not definitely use the exception if it becomes available to them, especially with Clark unexpectedly stepping up in Hill's absence. "There's no downside (to receiving the exception)," Kupchak told ESPNLosAngeles.com. "You never know what could happen." ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Free Agency, Trade, Mitch Kupchak, Jordan Hill 

General Manager Mitch Kupchak said the Lakers would consider applying for a disabled-player exception for injured big man Jordan Hill, though the team was leaning against it because of its already bloated $100-million payroll. They would be allowed to spend $1.78 million on a free agent if the NBA granted them the exception. "We'll look into it," Kupchak said. "We have until Tuesday." Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Free Agency, Mitch Kupchak, Jordan Hill 

Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak told a group of about 1,000 season-ticket holders at Staples Center that he was "disappointed" with the team's performance this season. "If you have a bunch of cylinders, we're not running on all cylinders right now," he said during a Q&A session Sunday morning, before the Lakers fell to 15-18 with a 112-105 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Sunday night. Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Mitch Kupchak 

Kupchak said a Lakers roster with an average age of 28.5 was not too old. "I don't think age is a factor, no. That's an excuse," he said. "I don't think that's a factor at all when you look at our team. Young teams don't win championships. You have to have a good mix of experience and some legs in this business. . . . I don't think for a second this team is too old to win a championship." Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Mitch Kupchak 

The Lakers' splashy offseason acquisitions could have become nothing more than a pipe dream had Ramon Sessions exercised his $4.66 million player option to stay for the 2013-14 season. "Had Sessions not opted out, it's probably unlikely that we pursue Steve Nash," Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said in an interview with this newspaper. "It's also probably unlikely that he pursues us." Long Beach Press-Telegram

Charlotte Bobcats, Los Angeles Lakers, Mitch Kupchak, Steve Nash, Ramon Sessions 

Sessions returned to Staples Center when the Lakers hosted the Bobcats on Tuesday, maintaining zero regrets on how he handled free agency. "I really didn't want to go into my contract year not knowing if I would be the starter, I would be the backup or that I'd be traded," Sessions said. "I jumped out, made the decision I made and I went with it." Long Beach Press-Telegram

Charlotte Bobcats, Los Angeles Lakers, Mitch Kupchak, Steve Nash, Ramon Sessions 

About the Lakers firing him, Brown said: “I appreciate the opportunity that the Buss family gave me and Mitch Kupchak gave me. Coaching the Lakers was an exciting, great time. It was a dream job for a lot of people, including myself. And it’s their team and so whenever, however they wanted to operate it I was okay with. It’s not my decision to talk about the decision that they made. I just live by whatever decision they make.” Orange County Register

Los Angeles Lakers, Mitch Kupchak, Coaching, Mike D'Antoni, Mike Brown, Jerry Buss, Jim Buss 

Nor do these variables provide clarity on what will happen after Dec. 15, the first time teams can deal players they signed during the offseason. "If you're happy with your team, then the date doesn't mean much although you will probably get calls anyway," Kupchak said Monday in a phone interview with this newspaper. "If you're not happy with your team, you'll make calls." Long Beach Press-Telegram

Los Angeles Lakers, Trade, Mitch Kupchak 

So how exactly did the Lakers go from nearly 95% sure Jackson was their man to D'Antoni? "When we relieved Mike [Brown] of his duties, clearly what we anticipated took place, which was a groundswell of support for Phil Jackson," Kupchak said. "To be honest with you, by late Friday night after the game and early Saturday morning, if we had to make a decision at that point ... statistically there was a real good chance that Phil Jackson would be our coach. We just felt there was so much public support, it might be difficult not to hire him." Kupchak was concerned the team was going along with public pressure instead of making the decision based on merits. "We had some time to challenge in our minds the public support," Kupchak said. "We gradually got to the position where we should do what we think is right for the team, not only for the present but going forward." Los Angeles Times

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

Apparently the organization had doubts that Jackson, despite his credentials, was the right coach for the roster. "We did not hire Phil back because we didn't think that the players we have fit the system. There was some uncertainty as to how long he wanted to be a coach," Kupchak said. "We want to have a coach for several years." Los Angeles Times

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

Johnson is presuming that the call was left to Jim Buss and not Jerry Buss, which might be more of an accurate reflection of how the decision was made. "Obviously he's entitled to his opinion. I'm disappointed he feels that way," General Manager Mitch Kupchak said. "I respect his opinion but I don't agree." So how exactly did the Lakers go from nearly 95% sure Jackson was their man to D'Antoni? "When we relieved Mike [Brown] of his duties, clearly what we anticipated took place, which was a groundswell of support for Phil Jackson," Kupchak said. "To be honest with you, by late Friday night after the game and early Saturday morning, if we had to make a decision at that point ... statistically there was a real good chance that Phil Jackson would be our coach. We just felt there was so much public support, it might be difficult not to hire him." Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Phil Jackson, Mitch Kupchak, Coaching, Mike D'Antoni, Mike Brown, Magic Johnson, Jerry Buss, Jim Buss 

Kupchak was concerned the team was going along with public pressure instead of making the decision based on merits. "We had some time to challenge in our minds the public support," Kupchak said. "We gradually got to the position where we should do what we think is right for the team, not only for the present but going forward." Apparently the organization had doubts that Jackson, despite his credentials, was the right coach for the roster. "We did not hire Phil back because we didn't think that the players we have fit the system. There was some uncertainty as to how long he wanted to be a coach," Kupchak said. "We want to have a coach for several years." Should the Lakers be worrying about three years from now given Bryant's contract ends in two? "There is no way to determine now if Phil was the coach we would have won a championship with," Kupchak said. Los Angeles Times

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

Mike Trudell: Kobe credited Jim Buss as playing an essential role (alongside Kupchak) in acquiring Nash & Howard. Buss suggested first call to Nash. Twitter @LakersReporter

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Mitch Kupchak, Steve Nash, Dwight Howard, Jim Buss