Kupchak

Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak was clear Saturday that the team has no intention to use their one-time amnesty on Kobe Bryant. "That's not even something that we've discussed," Kupchak said. "That's the furthest thing from our mind right now. " Bryant, who tore his left Achilles' tendon Friday night, underwent surgery Saturday and is projected to be out for a minimum of six to nine months. Between July 10 and 17, the Lakers can amnesty a single player who was under contract before the 2011-12 season.

There's unanimity within the Lakers. Kobe Bryant and General Manager Mitch Kupchak both want Dwight Howard to return. There's also a problem within the Lakers: Howard isn't so sure. He declined to reveal which way he was leaning after his one-year run with the Lakers. "I'm going to take my time, get away from the game, my phones and everything and just clear my head," Howard said Tuesday in an end-of-season interview at the team's practice facility. "I'll do what's going to be best for myself, what's going to make me happy.

TV cameramen yelled and cursed at each other as dozens of reporters scrambled to get an interview with Gary Vitti. It's never a good sign if the longtime Lakers trainer is the target of a media crush, but somebody had to provide medical details Saturday of the hard news: Kobe Bryant is sidelined six to nine months because of a torn left Achilles' tendon. NBA teams begin playing around Oct. 31, meaning Bryant theoretically could be back in time for the start of next season. "I think that's a realistic goal for him," Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak said.

On Tuesday, Rutgers University officially announced the hiring of Lakers assistant coach Eddie Jordan as the Scarlet Knights' new head coach. Jordan, who played for Rutgers from 1973 to 1977, replaces Mike Rice, who was recently fired after a practice video became public that showed him abusing players verbally and physically. “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," Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak said in a statement Tuesday.  "A member of our 1982 NBA championship team, Eddie has been a part of the Lakers family going back more than 30 years.

The right knee that bothered Kobe Bryant last season finally went in for some service. Bryant had arthroscopic surgery last week on the knee, the Lakers announced Friday. The knee bothered Bryant so much in April that he sat out a handful of regular-season games, and it was eventually drained near the end of the Lakers' first-round playoff series against Oklahoma City. Bryant is rehabilitating the knee and is expected to return in time for training camp, which opens Sept.

To all you folks who are complaining about the Laker rough stuff, wake up. You call yourselves fans, then put your team down when they start fighting fire with fire. Don't you remember what happened last year when the Lakers did not respond to the Celtics' aggressiveness. I praise Pat Riley for using his tough guys (Kupchak, Spriggs) and ruining the Celtics' intimidation factor with some Laker body slamming. PAUL CLARKE Laguna Beach

Are the Lakers out of their minds? Trade Sam Perkins for Benoit Benjamin, a has-been, and Doug Christie, who has a history of knee problems? Has the Laker front office been impressed with the Angels' recent trades? Assistant General Manager Mitch Kupchak says, "We feel we might have to take a couple of chances . . . " He must have caught "Whiteyherzogitis." ROBERT WEBSTER Costa Mesa

The NBA draft was entirely anticlimactic for the Lakers, who failed to trade into the top five spots, or the middle of the first round, or even the end of the first round. They can only hope for better luck in free agency. It won't be easy. NBA rules limit them to spending $3 million toward a free agent next season because they are so far over the luxury-tax threshold. Don't expect that to lure many candidates in a league with an average salary of $5.3 million. More realistically, their main signing will be a re-signing.

*Audio of Ramon Sessions exit interview After talking with Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak on Tuesday at his exit interview, Ramon Sessions knows the Lakers would like to keep him. ""It was clear leaving the meeting they wanted me back," Sessions said. "It was 100% clear. " Sessions said he "definitely" wants to return to the Lakers and described his experience with the team as a "dream come true. " But he said he doesn't know how he's going to proceed regarding his player option worth $4.55 million next season.

Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol were in the Lakers' training facility on the same day, possibly for the last time. They arrived several hours apart for their exit interviews Wednesday and then stepped into the sunshine afterward, though nothing looked overly bright about the Lakers' future. "There will be some change," said Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak, the sting still fresh from another ouster in the Western Conference semifinals. "When you lose before you think you should have lost, you have to open up all opportunities.

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?

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. " D'Antoni is 40-32 since taking over as the Lakers' coach, though the Lakers are 28-12 since the day after a team meeting called by D'Antoni in Memphis in January.

Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak was clear Saturday that the team has no intention to use their one-time amnesty on Kobe Bryant. "That's not even something that we've discussed," Kupchak said. "That's the furthest thing from our mind right now. " Bryant, who tore his left Achilles' tendon Friday night, underwent surgery Saturday and is projected to be out for a minimum of six to nine months. Between July 10 and 17, the Lakers can amnesty a single player who was under contract before the 2011-12 season.

TV cameramen yelled and cursed at each other as dozens of reporters scrambled to get an interview with Gary Vitti. It's never a good sign if the longtime Lakers trainer is the target of a media crush, but somebody had to provide medical details Saturday of the hard news: Kobe Bryant is sidelined six to nine months because of a torn left Achilles' tendon. NBA teams begin playing around Oct. 31, meaning Bryant theoretically could be back in time for the start of next season. "I think that's a realistic goal for him," Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak said.

Earlier this season, when Kobe Bryant was in the middle of a mindless streak during which he played at least 40 minutes in 10 consecutive games, his coach could only laugh about it. "I told him they'll put a statue of him at Staples [Center] but it might be literally me riding him to death," said Mike D'Antoni at the time. "They might just take him off the floor and bronze him right there. So be it. We need a win. " Earlier this month, when Kobe Bryant was in the middle of a streak of seven consecutive 40-minute games, his general manager could only shake his head.

Will Kobe Bryant be back for the start of next season? "I think that's a realistic goal for him," Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak said Saturday. Bryant will be out six to nine months because of a torn left Achilles' tendon, the Lakers said. He was injured with 3:08 left in Friday's game against Golden State. Bryant told Kupchak to deliver something when they met while Bryant prepared for surgery earlier Saturday. "Actually, Kobe gave a message for me to pass on to the guys on the team, most of which I can't share with you right here," Kupchak said wryly.

The smell of champagne emanated from Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak, his clothes stained, his smile bright and spirits high, the journey now complete with L.A.'s championship in place over the hated Boston Celtics. During a quiet moment after Kupchak ducked down a Staples Center hallway with his family, he said Thursday night was his time to celebrate before it was back to work Friday morning. Kupchak now has to put a team together and coax his coach, Phil Jackson, back for next season for an attempt to three-peat.

Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak watched an old friend walk toward him Saturday night, but just stared for a moment when he got there. His friend didn't look like he remembered him, at least not in the body. "The face looks like George," Kupchak said. Much of the rest doesn't. George Karl, the Denver Nuggets' coach, underwent treatment for a form of neck and throat cancer in the off-season, and has lost about 50 pounds. "I haven't found many suits that fit me, I know that," Karl said.

With the trade deadline at noon Pacific time Thursday, General Manager Mitch Kupchak made it clear over recent days he has no intention of trading center Dwight Howard. "It's hard to get a talent in this league and to have a talent like Dwight Howard," said Kupchak on Wednesday on ESPN Radio's "The Herd with Colin Cowherd. "  "He belongs to have his name on the wall and a statue in front of Staples [Center] at some point and time. " Howard responded well to that with a 24-point, 12-rebound game against the Boston Celtics.  In just 30 minutes, Howard hit 10 of 13 shots to help the Lakers win, 113-99.

Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak reiterated Tuesday that he will not trade Dwight Howard. The NBA trade deadline is Thursday. Given the Lakers' struggles this season (25-29), Howard's name is popular on the rumor mill. "It's unlikely that there will be an upgrade in the talent of this team. I just don't see how that's realistic," Kupchak said. "We'll continue to be on the phones and make calls, take calls and listen, but don't anticipate anything dramatic taking place in the next two days.