To say things haven't gone the way the Los Angeles Lakers planned would be an understatement. Things have gotten so bad in Laker land that at one point many speculated the team will trade Dwight Howard before he has the chance to walk through free agency this summer.
But according to a Newsday article, Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak, that's not going to happen.
"I think there's still time, but I wouldn't say there's plenty of time," Kupchak said recently from his office in Los Angeles. "I don't think anybody anticipated that we'd be in late January [four] games under .500. I don't think anybody expected for us to have the record today that we do."
When asked about his remaining options to salvage this season, Kupchak said, "We will not make a trade. We will not trade Dwight Howard. We have no intention of making a trade. It's unlikely that we'll make any trade with any of our principal players. To make another change at this time of the year being behind the eight-ball like we are, I think that would just make it more difficult. The talent is there. We have to find our way."
Howard has continued to battle shoulder problems and has had trouble adjusting to coach Mike D'Antoni's offensive scheme. Despite that, however, the Lakers have won five of their last six games, the latest one being an ugly affair in Detroit.
The Lakers have also been accused of being too old, but Kupchak disagrees.
"Old? If you're looking to make excuses, I suppose," he said. "I put this team together with Jim Buss. We don't think they're too old. We have great experience. When I look at our team and I make a list of things that may contribute to our record to date, age is not one of them. I think seven or eight games from now we'll have more answers. We're trying to get into the playoffs and make a run."
On Tuesday, the Lakers march into Brooklyn as the Nets will try to avenge their earlier season loss in November.
