While there is plenty of reason to be optimistic about the Lakers’ future, it all could be for not if ownership can’t get their stuff together. A timeline resides firmly above the organization’s head, and the hope is that it won’t force a move that risks the aforementioned promising future for immediate gains.
Now, before we get to Mitch Kupchak’s comments about this timeline, it’s worth noting that asking a general manager about his owner’s dealings isn’t necessarily fair, as whatever is going on is pretty much completely beyond his control. Jim and Jeanie Buss are his bosses, and as such, it’s not like he can walk into the office and tell them to get their stuff together, as fitting as that message might be.