Mitch Kupchak isn't used to getting criticism. But suddenly the Los Angeles Lakers general manager is taking a lot of heat for moves he has made the last two seasons that have not panned out.
Now, the Lakers face a major rebuilding project, and whether Kupchak will be the one spearheading that project is not entirely clear.
According to multiple media reports, Kupchak defended his decision to sign aging and injured Steve Nash to a three-year contract.
"No regrets," Kupchak said before the Lakers played the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday, as reported by ESPN. "You have to recognize where you are as a franchise and we felt we had a two-year window, maybe three, to go for a championship and that's what we did.
"Looking back on it, which nobody can do, that's a different story. But at the time, we knew exactly what we were doing."
A Slamonline.com article led off questioning that judgment.
"The Los Angeles Lakers inexplicably gave a three-year deal to Steve Nash in the summer of 2012, which also cost them two first and a second-round draft pick."
Little has gone right for the Lakers since Phil Jackson retired after the 2010-11 season. The team hired former Cleveland Cavaliers coach Mike Brown to replace him.
Prior to the start of the lockout shortened 2011-12 season, the Lakers had a deal in place to trade Pau Gasol to the New Orleans Hornets that the NBA rejected. Paul went to the crosstown Clippers instead.
In the summer of 2012, Kupchak acquired Nash, Dwight Howard and Antawn Jamison, hoping to return the Lakers to championship contender status. Nash broke his leg during the second game of the season, which has been the source of him missing 75 of the Lakers' 135 games the past two seasons.
The Lakers fired Mike Brown five games into the 2012-13 season. They compounded the problem by hiring coach Mike D'Antoni, rather than asking Phil Jackson to return.
It was later revealed that part of the reason the Lakers made the moves they did in 2012-13, signing 30-something veterans Nash and Jamison because they were trying to win a championship before owner Jerry Buss died.
Los Angeles started the season 17-25 before embarking on a furious rally to make the playoffs last season. Kobe Bryant, who was playing 48 minutes on several occasions after the all-star break, suffered a torn Achilles tendon.
The Lakers were swept by the San Antonio Spurs, and Howard left the Lakers for the Houston Rockets two months later.
No one accused Kupchak of making a bad deal by signing Nash to a three-year, $27 million when it happened. His signing Kobe Bryant to a two-year, $48.5 million deal in November of 2013 met with more criticism.
A lot of those decision were made by new owner Jim Buss, but Kupchak continues to receive the blame.
Kupchak likely has a ways to go before the Lakers lose faith in him, but at age 59, may not be willing to reconstruct the team that can return to championship contender stats and may be getting tired of unrealistic expectations.
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