He Was a Regular Mr. Clutch on Draft Day

Holy Jerry West!

Sitting at last month’s equivalent of an NBA poker party, the NBA draft, and holding a pair of deuces, the 27th pick in the first round, Mitch Kupchak hit the jackpot. Instead of folding his hand and mailing in his pick, Mitch:

* Acquired an athletic shooting guard, Kareem Rush, who, after his sophomore season in college, was projected to be a lottery pick;

* Unloaded Lindsey Hunter’s salary when he traded the point guard to Toronto in order to acquire the rights to Rush;

* Obtained from Toronto Tracy Murray, a superb three-point shooter who will strengthen the Lakers’ perimeter game;

* Created enough cap room to sign Devean George to a long-term contract.

With each passing day, Mitch sets his own standard of excellence in maintaining and writing new chapters of the rich history and tradition of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Tom Lallas

Los Angeles

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By not signing free-agent center Olden Polynice (picked up last week by Toronto), the Lakers missed an opportunity to supply Shaquille O’Neill with a simpatico teammate. Shaq enjoys riding with the police, and Polynice enjoys impersonating them.

David Macaray

Rowland Heights