NBA trade news: Kupchak admits ‘flurry’ in trade calls for but Lakers won't deal young players.

Oct 8, 2015; Ontario, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson (6) grabs a loose ball in the first quarter of the game against the Toronto Raptors at Citizens Business Bank Arena. Reuters/Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Mitch Kupchak, the general manager of the Los Angeles Lakers, admitted that they were active in discussing possible trades with other NBA teams in recent weeks. The Hollywood team is currently one of the worst teams in the league in the current season.

"There was a flurry of phone calls a couple of weeks ago, most of which I initiated," the long-time NBA executive told SBNation.com."[We] have to be careful with what we do. Most of the teams that would have interest in our players would have interest in our young players and we covet our young players pretty highly right now. So it would be tough for us to move a young player."

Kupchak is referring to 23-year-old Jordan Clarkson, 21-year-old Julius Randle and 19-year-old D’Angelo Russell. All three have been playing well for the Lakers this year despite the lost season, which will see the team end up in the lottery again like the past two seasons

Russell, who averages 11.7 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists, and Randle, who averages a near double-double of 10.6 points and 9.5 rebounds, were the Lakers lottery picks the past two seasons.



By Justin Gloria.
Full story at IBTimes.