National Basketball Association

Lakers GM contemplates making a deal

Published Feb. 1, 2011 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Though he hasn't picked up the phone yet, Los Angeles Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak says he has contemplated seeking out a trade, according to a report.

"Yes," Kupchak told the Los Angeles Times on Monday. "I may have to look into a trade, but I'm not saying we have" had discussions with any other teams. "We have not been playing up to our level, and I don't know why. Maybe it's complacency. I'm not sure."

The Lakers have won the past two NBA titles, but they also have lost their past two games, to downtrodden Sacramento on Friday and archrival Boston on Sunday in a nationally televised game. LA takes a 33-15 record into its home game Tuesday night against Southwest cellar dweller Houston.

"We do have a lot of talent. And when we added (Matt) Barnes and (Steve) Blake, I thought that we had a better team," the GM told the newspaper. "But right now, we're not playing good basketball. I think we should be playing better basketball."

With an NBA-high, $91 million payroll, the Lakers would struggle to make a trade. But it's still an option Kupchak would consider to make things right for the franchise.