.A. Daily News - With free agent signings such as
Vlade Divac and
Aaron McKie, who have combined to play just 251 minutes in a Lakers' uniform, Mitch Kupchak will have to make wiser investments this off-season.
"We have to make some large decisions about this team, about who stays and what we build our team around,"
Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "But we feel comfortable that we have a nucleus and that we can go from there.
"Hopefully, we can find some additional pieces that will make us a little bit better next year."
The
Lakers have been trying to preserve future cap flexibility ever since they dealt
Shaquille O'Neal to the
Heat in an attempt to make a big splash in free agency, as they did when they were able to sign O'Neal from
Orlando.
According to Ross Siller of the L.A. Daily News, they may decide to part ways with
Chris Mihm this summer, who is appearing to be the odd big man out, now that
Kwame Brown has finally come along and also to create playing time for their 2005 Lottery selection,
Andrew Bynum.
