Kobe Bryant will be back when he’s back, and when he is you can expect him to play like Kobe Bryant — he’s not changing.
But what else can you expect from the Lakers this season? What about next summer?
Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak met with the media on Wednesday and basically reiterated previous answers in new words. For example, he said once again they franchise is “100 percent” behind Mike D’Antoni as coach. Of course, what else is he going to say?
In the short term, Kupchak said to expect a lot more of Pau Gasol down on the block (via reporters Kevin Ding of Bleacher Report and Mike Trudell of Lakers.com):
Mitch on @paugasol: "If he's healthy, he's going to be an All-Star player. He'll be the focal point of our play in the paint."
— KEVIN DING (@KevinDing) September 25, 2013
Kupchak said that @paugasol made a lot of sacrifices to try and accommodate Howard in the post. That's obviously no longer an issue.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) September 25, 2013
Gasol is incredibly skilled as a scorer and passer on the block and for the past couple of seasons (due to Andrew Bynum and Dwight Howard) he has been pushed into more of a power forward role. This season he goes back to his strengths, so long as Mike D’Antoni lets him.
As for Kobe, Kupchak said there is no timetable and again said he is not even running at 100 percent yet. Kupchak didn’t sound like a guy who expects Kobe to be in uniform opening night.
Most Lakers fans are not focused on this season but the next summer — that is when a lot of Lakers salary comes off the books (including Gasol and Kobe) and the franchise can rebuild with free agents. Kupchak said the Lakers plan to bring back Kobe Bryant, but they have not discussed a price with him yet.
Mitch Kupchak on Kobe: "He intends to retire a Laker. ... We feel the same way."
— KEVIN DING (@KevinDing) September 25, 2013
But Kupchak is realistic about getting the big names (LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and others) to come to L.A. next summer. Kupchak has said before the plan is less for the summer of 2014 and more about 2015 and beyond and he echoed those thoughts again.
Kupchak on free agency next summer: “It’s going to be tough to get players to move. It really is.”
— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) September 25, 2013
As for Shaq as co-owner of the Sacramento Kings….
Mitch Kupchak on @SHAQ part-owning Sacramento Kings: "I'm glad I'm not DeMarcus Cousins, I'll tell you that."
— KEVIN DING (@KevinDing) September 25, 2013