Before the Lakers' six-game road trip gets underway tonight in Denver, GM Mitch Kupchak spoke to NBA.com's Mike Trudell about upcoming deadlines, possible trades, and the team in general. Highlights are below:
- Kupchak is keeping an open mind about ways to improve the team via any deal, big or small: "We continue to look at everything, and if there's something that we can do today to improve the team for this season and into the future, we'll consider it."
- With four players on non-guaranteed contracts, the Lakers may find themselves with much less flexibility a week from now, Kupchak acknowledged. On February 10th, all players on non-guaranteed contracts have their deals guaranteed for the remainder of the season.
- There was some "immediate urgency" to look around for a point guard when Steve Blake suffered a fractured rib.
- "If there were a way for us to get a 25-year-old, All-Star, ball-handling guard we'd love to do it," said Kupchak, though he acknowledged that finding a bargain this month is unlikely.
- There are no exact dates when players in China will arrive back in America, Kupchak said, adding that the Lakers would have to wait for clearance from FIBA before attempting to sign any of those guys.