Mitch Kupchak breaks down the Lakers’ trades

Among the highlights in Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak’s press conference on the Lakers acquiring Cleveland guard Ramon Sessions for a 2012 first-round pick, Christian Ayenga for Luke Walton and Jason Kapono as well as acquiring Houston forward Jordan Hill for Derek Fisher.

--Sessions and Hill plan to arrive in Los Angeles on Friday so they can play against Minnesota.

--Ayenga will play with theD-Fendersof the Development League.

--Kupchak on Sessions: “We expect him and are hopeful he will make an immediate contribution.”

--Kupchak said he only spoke to Fisher’s agent, Rob Pelinka, about trading him to Houston. He indicated that the front office constantly weighed the Lakers’ need for point guard and Fisher’s locker-room presence. “ I’m concerned. I’m not sure it will translate into a team that performs any less. I would expect in most circumstances like this and time goes on, with the family and whatever that may be, I don’t want to make it too simple. As each day goes on, it will get easier and easier. But you can’t underestimate Derek’s contribution from a chemistry point of view and on the court he has given to this organization. It can’t be underestimated and you can’t say this team will wake up tomorrow and play as if he was never here. Once again, that’s the tough part about a general manager’s job. Making that decision along with ownership’s decision and support and making a move like that.”

--On whether he was worried how Fisher would have handled coming off the bench: “It crossed our minds, but I know he would’ve been professional. It would’ve been tough to put a player in that position, though ... It didn’t make sense to put that much resources into one position. At most, two players can split the time. It wouldn’t make the job easier since there would be one emotional favorite for a lot of people. It’s a decision that we made knowing it would be tough forMike [Brown].”

--Because the Lakers didn’t give up their core roster of Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum, Kupchak has increased expectations of the team. “If we can get over the emotional toll, which I think we will, I think we will have the potential to be a better team.”

--Kupchak on Gasol: “I have not spoken to Pau but I would expect him to be more relaxed.”

--Kupchak said he worked with executive Jim Buss “directly on these deals” and then Buss would usually discuss moves with his father, owner Jerry Buss.

--Kupchak said it was by design that the Lakers secured Sessions first before trading away a point guard in a separate deal.

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Mitch Kupchak breaks down the Lakers’ trades