HoopsHype.com Rumors

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 

Mitch Kupchak continues to be confident that Dwight Howard will re-sign with the Los Angeles Lakers this offseason, when the center becomes a free agent. “I expect it,” Kupchak said Tuesday. Howard had 26 points and 17 rebounds in Sunday's win over the San Antonio Spurs, the Lakers' first game without Kobe Bryant. “For the last six or seven weeks, we’ve been seen him playing like he played in Orlando,” Kupchak said of Howard. RealGM

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

Before Saturday's practice, Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak shared with the team a 30-second video on his cell phone that showed Bryant outlining how the Lakers could win their 17th NBA championship without their star because of a torn left Achilles tendon that will sideline him at least six to nine months. "It was classic Kobe with the way he inspired us," Lakers reserve guard Darius Morris recalled. "Mitch brought a video of him right before he went into surgery just telling us we know we have to do. Just go out there and get it done. " Long Beach Press-Telegram

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Mitch Kupchak, Darius Morris 

One more reason the Lakers won't use their amnesty clause on Kobe Bryant next season, from @teamziller: "...Then there's the matter of Bird rights and Kobe's 2014-15 salary. If the Lakers use amnesty on him, they would renounce his Bird rights. So if he doesn't play in 2013-14, the Lakers could not then go above the cap to sign him without using an exception. Assuming the Lakers re-sign Howard after waiving Kobe and do not pawn off Pau for a low-salary package, they would still end up above the tax in the 2014 offseason, meaning that Kobe could sign for only $2.5 million. Kobe Bryant has a whole lot of money. But does anyone think he's going to play for $2.5 million at any point? No. No no no." Sulia

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Mitch Kupchak 

I suspect Ziller is right about the amount for which Kobe will play -- though he would certainly understand the value from a PR and roster construction standpoint by taking so little -- but the bigger thing is the Bird Rights issue (something I wasn't aware of). It's another impediment in the all-too-neat sounding end scheme to save money next year while Kobe rehabs and then bring him back for the '14-'15 campaign. There are plenty of other reasons the Lakers wouldn't do it. The PR would be awful, and at least some of the money saved would have to go into protection for Jim Buss and a moat around the training facility. And more importantly, the concept only works if Kobe doesn't play at all next year. Sulia

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Mitch Kupchak, Jim Buss