Lakers Coach Mike Brown acknowledged Tuesday having conversations with General Manager Mitch Kupchak about roster changes, including possibly acquiring free-agent guard Gilbert Arenas.
"I asked if he had any thoughts on our games in the past week," Brown said of his conversations with Kupchak. "He told me what he thought about our games. He told me what's the status on anyone that's available out there. He updated me on a few players."
Brown wouldn't reveal Kupchak's answers: "You can ask him."
Brown wouldn't say if Kupchak plans to make any moves, including inviting Arenas for a workout: "I'm sure Mitch is doing what he can to help this team get better."
And Brown refused to publicly advocate that the Lakers need roster changes: "I talked to management, but that's an ongoing thing."
Yet, there's plenty of signs suggesting the Lakers (12-9) need to make changes. The Lakers enter Tuesday's game against the Charlotte Bobcats (3-18) as the seventh-seeded team in the Western Conference. They recently ended a 13-game streak in which they failed to score at least 100 points. They're about to embark on a six-game trip with a 2-7 road record.
Brown acknowledged Metta World Peace's promotion to the starting small forward spot over Matt Barnes reflected Brown's hope in "what a change would do."
Rookie guard Andrew Goudelock has proven to be a pleasant surprise at backup point guard with 11.3 points and 19.3 minutes the last three games. But Brown admitted, "It's tough to put that burden on a rookie."
Instead of lamenting that he doesn't have someone such as Blake Griffin throwing down highlight-reel dunks, Brown toed the company line.
"I just want to win."
And that might involve the Lakers making roster changes. But we don't know what and when that will entail.
--Mark Medina
