Gerald Green is the Nets big find this season, an exhilarating athlete and a great story. Plucked from the Lakers' D-League franchise, whose top brass didn't seem much interested in him, Green has done everything the Nets have asked. That doesn't mean the Lakers won't make a run for him, Laker GM Mitch Kupchak hinted Tuesday night.

"I’m happy for the kid," Kupchak said when asked about Laker interest in Green this summer. "I hope he plays well for the rest of the year and based on how things play out, we’ll take it from there."

Green is an unrestricted free agent this summer but the Nets do have his Bird Rights, permitting them to go beyond the exceptions the luxury tax-laden Lakers might offer. More importantly, Green has expressed his gratitude to the Nets for their confidence in him, saying "Next year, I don’t think I’m going anywhere. I’m going to be here and I think we can definitely work something out."

• Green goes from Lakers to D-Fenders to Nets; Could come back to Lakers - Dave McMenamin - ESPN LA