The Los Angeles Lakers chose to stand pat as the NBA trade deadline came and went on Thursday. The team didn’t really have the assets to make any major moves even though general manager Mitch Kupchak did admit there was some activity before the deadline passed.
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On Friday, Kupchak spoke to the media about the direction of the franchise moving forward. Kupchak said the main focus is preparing for the 2015 NBA draft, via Lakers Nation reporter Serena Winters:
Mitch Kupchak says #1 priority is the NBA draft. "We have to find out if we're going to have a Top 5 pick or not, where Houston pick is…"
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) February 20, 2015
Unlike in years past, the Lakers will have the opportunity to bring in some young talent through the draft. The team will have potentially two first-round picks as well as two second rounders.
Kupchak went on to say draft selections will help dictate moves made in free agency this summer:
Kupchak on #2 order of things: "Based on what ur picks are & who you draft then you kind of line up what you think you may do in the summer"
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) February 20, 2015
The Lakers will have a considerable amount of cap space at their disposal this summer with the flexibility to make a major splash in NBA free agency. A few players have been rumored as potential targets like Goran Dragic, Rajon Rondo, LaMarcus Aldridge and Marc Gasol.
It remains to be seen if they’ll have an opportunity to land one, two or any of the players mentioned, but Kupchak and company will definitely be busy trying to lure them to Los Angeles.
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