This Is the Year Kupchak Probably Will Take Call

For two winters, Mitch Kupchak took telephone calls from other NBA general managers, listened politely, and told them the Lakers were not interested in a trade.

Jerry West, before Kupchak, had often employed the same tact, kind but firm, the organization pleased with its roster of Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant and the rest, reasonably certain it had championship potential.

Well, the telephone calls have returned, as they do every January. The general managers have come to talk trade, to poke through the Laker roster, to judge Kupchak’s eagerness and anxiety, and to gauge Jerry Buss’ willingness to spend more.

The Lakers used to dismiss them.

“That’s not the case this year,” Kupchak said. “You have to do your job.”

Kupchak would not say he is shopping players, only that he is listening and mulling the possibilities. He said Tuesday there had been no serious offers from another general manager, and neither had he made one.

“But, yes, there have been conversations regarding personnel,” he said. “As we get closer to the February deadline, there will be more. It’s our hope these guys pull together and win games. But we cannot assume that.

“It’s unlikely anything’s going to happen, because of the way it is to make a trade in this league. But, it’s possible.”

The trading deadline is Feb. 20.

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Kupchak said his mode is to “proceed cautiously,” willing to make a deal that matches financially and personnel-wise, but also allowing for the Lakers’ recent improvement. That is, O’Neal’s recent improvement.

“This team is only going to be as good as he carries us,” Kupchak said. “I don’t think that’s a secret. If he can play like he has played since he’s been here, we’re going to win games.

“If Shaquille had been healthy from the beginning, there’s no doubt in my mind our record would be substantially better than it is now.”

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Devean George has developed alignment problems in his knees, hips and back while compensating for tendinitis in his right ankle, Coach Phil Jackson said Tuesday night. Specialist Alex McKechnie, known for his work with O’Neal, among many others, was summoned to correct George.