Lakers GM Kupchak says he recently made 'flurry' of trade calls

Los Angeles Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said this week that he had looked into possible trades in December, but didn't like what he was hearing back from other teams.

"There was a flurry of phone calls a couple of weeks ago, most of which I initiated," Kupchak told Time Warner Cable's broadcast of the Lakers-Sacramento Kings game on Thursday. "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."

The Lakers don't have much in the way of trade chips, so it's understandable that the only talent on the team's roster that should pique anyone else's interest would include the likes of D'Angelo Russell and Julius Randle.

"I suspect that there will be more activity going forward," Kupchak added. "But I wouldn't suspect a blockbuster deal."

The Lakers have all but admitted they've turned this season over to Kobe Bryant's swan song, apparently even if that comes at the expense of developing said young talent. The team will finish in the lottery, and it would behoove them to be as bad as possible so they do not surrender a top-three protected first-round draft pick to the Philadelphia 76ers.

With Bryant retiring and off the books this coming summer, the Lakers expect to be active on the free-agent market. Swingman and Los Angeles native DeMar DeRozan, likely to opt out of his contract with the Toronto Raptors, could be a target.

- With h/t to Silver Screen and Roll