Report: Kupchak Talking to Nuggets

The Denver Nuggets reportedly have decided to fire Allan Bristow as vice president of basketball operations and name Laker General Manager Mitch Kupchak as replacement within two weeks, which means only that Kupchak remains a highly regarded candidate for most every opening of this kind around the league but not that he is going.

Kupchak would neither confirm nor deny Monday whether he has talked with the Nuggets, let alone whether a deal is close to being in place. He also would not comment when asked if Denver officials have wanted to talk to him, significant in that, unlike most other situations involving management personnel, a clause in Kupchak’s contract says teams do not have to receive permission first from the Lakers before proceeding.

But history shows the chances of Kupchak leaving as slim, now more than ever since Executive Vice President Jerry West has gone public with his intentions to retire at the end of next season, a move that would almost certainly elevate Kupchak to the top spot in basketball operations. He has interviewed for many jobs over the last few years, but that was more a willingness to listen than a desire to leave an organization and a city he enjoys.

There’s nothing to say he wouldn’t listen. But unless the Nuggets are prepared to offer huge money as a lure, there’s also nothing to indicate Kupchak would seriously consider an exit from the Lakers.

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Shaquille O’Neal played 42 minutes Monday against the Orlando Magic, the most time in the nine games since his return, after sitting out of practice the day before to rest his abdominal muscle and a new injury, a sore left knee. He suffered that injury when he bumped legs with a member of the Miami Heat in Saturday’s game. He wasn’t sure which player, just who it wasn’t: Alonzo Mourning.

“Not Zo,” O’Neal said. “Zo quit. Somebody else.”

So ended another chapter in the rivalry O’Neal has done nothing to play down. The latest ended with Mourning managing only five points and four rebounds in 27 minutes, though the Laker team defense played a considerable role, and O’Neal getting 24 points and 14 rebounds in 33 minutes.

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Two other Lakers with bothersome injuries played big minutes Monday. Robert Horry, plagued by sore knees and forced out of practice the day before because of sprained ankle, went 35 minutes against the Magic. And Eddie Jones played 40 after straining his groin in practice.