Mitch Kupchak drafted Luke Walton. I’m a big-time Luke Walton guy. Obviously, not a world-beater, but he’s not a scrub either and always seems to make heady-plays (as any guy wearing white skin in the NBA is required to do. I’m sure it’s in his contract: make heady plays). Unfortunately, he’s overpaid. After the 2007 season, averaging 11 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists, Kupchak inked Walton to a 6 year, $30 million deal. A deal that seemed solid enough at the time, given the options.
3 years later? Not so much. Especially considering Walton may miss the entire 2010-2011 season with back problems. $15 million is a lot to pay a man to waive a towel while dressed in a suit for the next three years.
Then there’s Vladamir Radmonavic. The talented, but frustratingly under-achieving forward from Yugoslovia. After averaging 10-5-4 (on 41% 3-point shooting) for the Clippers in ’06, Kupchak inked Vlad Rad to a 5-year, $31 million contract, with final incentive being an opportunity at a starting job.
After a tumultuous Lakers career, Phil Jackson said Vlad was a “space cadet.” The final straw came in February of 2008, when Radmanovic allegedly showed up to practice in Vans sneakers. Thankfully Kupchak was able to shed that contract by some how hustling Larry Brown into taking Radmanovic for Shannon Brown and The Ghost of Adam Morrison.
Kupchak once again showed his savvy, as Shannon Brown turned into another electrifying member of the Lakers’ bench, after spending time on benches exclusively all over the league.
Then you have the case of Sasha Vujacic. After leading the Italian league in scoring, Vujacic was drafted by the Lakers. After a couple years of insignificance (His greatest moment pre-2008? Being on the court during the final seconds of a play-off game vs. Phoenix in 2006. Watch this clip. Seriously, look at our starting line-up. LOOK AT IT!!!!!); Vujacic sprung to life in the 2008 play-offs, and really, was the only Laker not named “Kobe Bryant” to do anything significant in the loss to the Celtics.
After the season, he threatened to take his talents back over seas. I remember seriously thinking to myself, “Man, we’re screwed if we don’t re-sign The Machine!!” Eventually Kupchak inked Vujacic to a 3-year, $15 million dollar deal.
It’s the same deal, that, two years later, the Lakers are offering a first round pick to anybody who would be willing to take said contract off their books. It’s also the same contract that led me to jokingly Tweet after the 2010 NBA Finals: “Mitch Kupchak’s first off-season assignment? Arranging the assassination of Sasha Vujacic.”
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