November 15, 2012; El Segundo, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak (left) sits next to new head coach Mike D

Today, Kupchak retorted those claims in a phone call with Orange County Register reporter Kevin Ding. Kupchak reiterated past remarks that no player would dictate coaching decisions, saying he “wouldn’t let it go there” in conversations with players at the end of the year.

Kupchak also responded to comments made by Phil Jackson that Dwight Howard has little reason to return to a team that doesn’t feature him, insinuating that D’Antoni struggled to do so last year. Kupchak’s response was one you’d expect from a GM, as he stood strong behind his coach. “Our coach’s job is to win games and to feature the strength of every player on the team,” Kupchak told Kevin Ding. “This is a very tough team to pick one player and say, ‘Let’s feature that one player.’” Jackson’s comments came in an interview on Dan Patrick’s radio show.

Considering it’s not even June yet, this back-and-forth between Kupchak, Howard, and Jackson is a bit surprising. While the rumor mill is a vicious one, especially in the current Twitter-dominated world. However, with the end of the Lakers’ season less than a month old, one has to wonder how far this could go.

What is certain is that the Lakers will likely have changes. This will be a summer full of activity, all of which you can keep track of on The Lake Show Life.

Feb 25, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) reacts during the second half against the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center. The Nuggets won 119-108. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Kobe Bryant continues his mastery of social media, trolling Lakers fans everywhere as he posted Saturday evening that he would have a “surprise announcement” on facebook.

You won’t want to miss Sports Spectacular Livestream Sunday #mambavideo #surpsise #announcement

Naturally, this left the minds of LA fans reeling, wondering if he would announce retirement. Which wasn’t the completely out of the question, as Kobe still has an uphill battle to climb at 34 against an Achilles injury.

Instead, we got this: (via Eric Pincus, LA Times)

“I’d like to officially announce that I’m partnering with the Sports Spectacular to help eradicate homelessness,” said Bryant in a pre-recorded video, aired at the Sports Spectacular 2013 gala at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel.

“You can learn about my past, present and future,” said Bryant of the event, which will be hosted by Jimmy Kimmel. “It’s for an incredible cause.”

Early Monday morning, Bryant took to twitter to deny the growing retirement rumors.

Really?? Me. Retire?? Soon, but not yet Vino still has work to do #35 #OG#kbvff

— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) May 20, 2013

SI.com reports that much of the anxiety surrounding a Bryant retirement came from a tweet by a fake Adrian Wojnarowski account.

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