Fansided

GM Mitch Kupchak says Lakers can build around Kobe Bryant

By Andrew Melnick

November 16, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Former pro basketball player "Julius Dr. J" Irving sits next to Los Angeles Lakers Mitch Kupchak during the ceremony unveiling the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
November 16, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Former pro basketball player "Julius Dr. J" Irving sits next to Los Angeles Lakers Mitch Kupchak during the ceremony unveiling the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar /
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November 16, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Former pro basketball player “Julius Dr. J” Irving sits next to Los Angeles Lakers Mitch Kupchak during the ceremony unveiling the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s statue in front of the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
November 16, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Former pro basketball player “Julius Dr. J” Irving sits next to Los Angeles Lakers Mitch Kupchak during the ceremony unveiling the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s statue in front of the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

When the Los Angeles Lakers announced they signed guard Kobe Bryant to a two-year, $48.5 million extension through the 2015-16 season, many pundits began to question the move, wondering if the Lakers would ever have the money to add another piece to the team to help win another championship.

However, Lakers’ general manager Mitch Kupchak doesn’t think getting Bryant and the current roster more help will be any problem.

“I think we do,” Kupchak said when asked about winning another championship on a conference call with a small group of reporters via Dave McMenamin of ESPN Los Angeles. “I think we do. The challenges are there. The collective bargaining agreement doesn’t make it any easier for anybody. It’s restrictive and challenging, but yes, I do believe we can.”

Bryant tore his Achilles at the end of last season and 35-year old hasn’t played in a game this season.

“As I mentioned, we continue to have flexibility during the offseason not knowing what may take place during the offseason with these free agents” Kupchak said via Lakers.com. “People continue to look at the offseason as the year to get a free agent, which is true. But for financial flexibility, it (helps) in a lot of ways in terms of making deals, so we do maintain that as well.”

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