Los Angeles Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak has said that Kobe Bryant will have no say over whether or not coach Mike D'Antoni stays or goes after this season and who the Lakers would hire in the event that the team does decide to part ways with D'Antoni.
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According to USA Today, Kupchak said that he would not consult with Bryant --who has been critical of D'Antoni and hasn't offered the coach public support --about the team's decision-making process once the season concludes.
Bryant has a knack to get in the front office's ears regarding personnel and has often been publicly critical of the decisions made by team brass. According to the report, Kupchak has said that Bryant has "no choice" but to accept what the front office decides to do next year, even if the team's championship hopes remained dim.
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Regardless of what the perennial All-Star wants, Kupchak won't make decisions based on whether or not Bryant wants D'Antoni back.
"We won't consult with him," Kupchak told USA Today when asked if Bryant would have a say in keeping D'Antoni. "Our decisions going forward -- we're not going to do knee-jerk stuff. We'll let the season end, and take some time."
Kupchak also said that the team may not go all-out this offseason in free agency as it awaits the 2015 offseason to make a big splash, even if it also hinders the team's ability to win a championship. The Lakers are 25-53 this year and riddled with injuries to top stars in a season where they've lost their most games since moving to Los Angeles.
Still, Kupchak is willing to stay patient with his team and D'Antoni for another possible mediocre season in 2015 even if it upsets his superstar.
"He's got no choice. He'll be fine," Kupchak said via USA Today. "When we lose, he'll rant and rave and be upset and be hot and won't talk to anybody, but that's the way it is. You've got to take the good with the bad."
While D'Antoni's job is a hot-button issue in Los Angeles and there have been a lot of rumors about him being fired, Kupchak said no decision has been made and the team may keep D'Antoni for the final year of his contract.
The team may want to give D'Antoni a chance to coach with a healthy roster, something he hasn't been able to do in his first two years on the Lakers sidelines.
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