Dwightmare's End: Mitch Kupchak says he will not trade Dwight Howard

Billy King says he's not interested in trading for Dwight Howard and Mitch Kupchak says he's not going to trade him anyway. So there. The GM's of the Nets and Lakers appear to have put an end to the Dwightmare, well at least until the off-season. Here's Kupchak, talking to Steven Marcus of Newsday...

"We will not make a trade. We will not trade Dwight Howard. We have no intention of making a trade. It's unlikely that we'll make any trade with any of our principal players. To make another change at this time of the year being behind the eight-ball like we are, I think that would just make it more difficult. The talent is there. We have to find our way."

Kupchak, whose Lakers play the Nets Tuesday night, said there is plenty of time for the surging purple-and-gold to get back into the playoff race. They're in 10th, but only three and a half games out of eighth.

"I think there's still time, but I wouldn't say there's plenty of time," Kupchak said. But every game, starting with the Nets, is important. The Lakers are 7-16 on the road and play 18 of their remaining 34 games on the road.

• LI native Mitch Kupchak having rough season as Lakers' GM - Steven Marcus - Newsday