Since the Lakers were bounced in the second round of the playoffs by the Thunder, chatter in Los Angeles has centered around speculation that a shake-up is coming, perhaps involving a Pau Gasol trade. However, speaking to T.J. Simers of the Los Angeles Times, Lakers vice president of player personnel Jim Buss said the odds are "very good" that Gasol, Kobe Bryant, and Andrew Bynum will all be wearing Lakers uniforms in the fall.
"No," Buss said, when asked if he thought Gasol should be traded for multiple assets. "I think changes are going to be made moving Pau lower to the basket. We can improve that way with a change in coaching strategy rather than a change in personnel."
Despite saying recently that he was "very disappointed" by the Lakers' season, Buss stressed that he doesn't expect any blockbuster moves this summer. According to Buss, Los Angeles will look to improve its bench and will try to re-sign Ramon Sessions, who has decided not to pick up his 2012/13 player option. The VP of player personnel adds that the team's superstar appears to be on board with this approach.
"[Kobe]'s already had lunch with [GM] Mitch [Kupchak]," Buss said. "And from what I'm hearing Kobe is pretty satisfied with this team. If I heard differently from Kobe, it would put some doubt into what I was thinking…. But I'm hearing he believes this team kept together can do something. And he's only got a short window of time remaining to win championships, so apparently he believes this group gives him the best chance to do so."
—–