Lakers: Mitch Kupchak Laughs at Trading No. 1 Pick

Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak laughed off the idea of the team trading the No. 1 overall draft pick

There have been a number of rumors floating around as of late regarding the Los Angeles Lakers, the team being connected to a Paul George trade and the scuttlebutt leading up to the hiring of Luke Walton as the new head coach. However, the most curious rumor has undoubtedly been the word from Colin Cowherd that the Lakers would trade the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft if they were to get it.

While some may see even a bit of logic in that notion, there is apparently no merit the rumor at all—at least if you ask Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak.

On Friday, Kupchak was talking to the media about the hiring of Walton to be the team’s new head coach and was asked about the rumor regarding the No. 1 pick. Apparently it was so ludicrous to the Lakers GM that he couldn’t even stifle a laugh as he said that he had “no idea” what all of that was about:

This makes you wonder how much all of the buzz around the Lakers in recent weeks is based in any kind of fact and how much of it is just conjecture—especially when you consider that the Lakers’ pick would have been at the center of a trade for Paul George. It’s certainly a curious situation regarding these rumors in Los Angeles right now.

However, it would seem almost certain given Kupchak’s reaction that they won’t be trading the No. 1 overall pick if they get it. That would indicate that they are (rightfully) high on either Ben Simmons or Brandon Ingram and would have no quarrels with taking either player with the top pick.

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For the future of the organization and for a successful rebuilding process to be continued, let’s hope that’s indeed the case and that Kupchak keeps laughing at the mere idea of dealing the pick.