Mitch Kupchak still optimistic about Shannon Brown negotiations

Aside from Lakers forward Matt Barnes being introduced at a news conference Tuesday (he will wear No. 9), Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak shared two morsels of news regarding other off-season developments.

Kupchak maintained his optimism that he expressed last week that the team would re-sign Shannon Brown, who opted out of a contract that would have paid him $2.15 million next season.

"I do feel good about signing back Shannon Brown right now," Kupchak said. "It’s not going to go on for the whole summer. I would guess in the next week to 10 days we'll have a resolution. That’s my guess."

Kupchak also said he hasn't been told whether Lakers guard Kobe Bryant plans to have surgery to treat his injured right index finger, which initially became fractured and then developed arthritis around the knuckle.
"He continues to see doctors. I've not heard an update regarding a surgery. As the summer goes on, it’s less and less a possibility as you get closer and closer to training camp," Kupchak said.

The Lakers announced last week that Bryant had arthroscopic surgery the previous week on his right knee, an operation that Kupchak said "went well."

Part of the reason why the organization has been mum on details is because Bryant has been treated by medical staff outside of the team.

"Kobe's surgery was done by a physician other than a team physician," Kupchak said. "That just brings you a little bit further away. After 14 years, we've come to trust Kobe and his medical decisions. We're very in the loop with the type of surgery he had as well as the results of the surgery.

We don't worry about Kobe with rehab. He's rehabbing with one of our people right now. One of the people he's working with is one of our most trusted therapists. That's all I know. The surgery went well. It wasn't a major surgery. He's mobile. He's getting therapy every day. We expect him back in training camp."

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