Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak says the team might look to acquire an additional first-round pick in this year’s NBA Draft, reports Mark Medina of The Los Angeles Daily News. Kupchak said, “We may look to get a pick some other way because we have guys we interviewed who aren’t going to be gone before the second round, but they’ll be around after [our current pick]. You only get so many assets in this league. Draft picks are an asset. There’s cap room, draft picks and players. Those are assets you can use to rebuild a team.”
More from out west:
- Mike Tokito of The Oregonian looks at the busy summer a number of Trail Blazers have ahead of them. LaMarcus Aldridge and Damian Lillard will be occupied with Team USA, and at least six players on their current roster are expected to participate in the summer league.
- The biggest improvement in the Blazers roster needs to come from within, writes Jason Quick of The Oregonian. The team needs growth from players like C.J. McCollum, Thomas Robinson, and Will Barton if they are to become serious contenders, opines Quick.
- The Jazz will be looking to add a star with their lottery pick, but will look to add depth with their second pick in the first-round, as well as with their second-round pick, number 35 overall, writes Aaron Falk of The Salt Lake Tribune. Jazz VP of Player Personnel Walt Perrin said, “Franchise players. All-Stars. That’s what we’re looking to get. But we also understand that we need depth. We need rotation players. And we have a lot of needs in terms of shooting, in terms of defense and rebounding.”