Mitch Kupchak: 'It's hard to put into words what Derek ment to Lakers'

Derek Fisher and Kobe Bryant joined the Los Angeles Lakers together in 1996. They've been in the same backcourt for most of the ensuing 16 seasons, winning five NBA titles during their intertwined careers.

General manager Mitch Kupchak said he didn't speak to Bryant before or after trading Fisher to the Rockets, and Bryant canceled a scheduled interview on the Lakers' flagship radio station when news of Fisher's departure broke. Kupchak also didn't speak directly to Fisher, intimating the 37-year-old NBA players' union leader took the news hard.

''It's hard to put into words what he's meant to this organization, on the court and off the court,'' Kupchak said Thursday at the Lakers' training complex. ''It's one of the hardest parts of the job that a general manager has, separating the emotions of a relationship you've had. ... We think Ramon will make an immediate impact. Despite Derek's presence, we felt that we needed more speed and more quickness in the backcourt.' ''I'm concerned, yeah,'' Kupchak said. ''As each day goes on, it will get easier and easier, but you can't underestimate Derek's contribution from a chemistry standpoint. You can't say this team is going to wake up tomorrow and play as if he was never here.''

Fisher's leadership void can be filled from within, Kupchak believes.

''Derek took the more gentle approach,'' Kupchak said. ''Kobe is not going to change. (Coach) Mike (Brown) is going to have to be more of a leader. It certainly could be Pau, and it could be Andrew (Bynum).''

The Lakers acquired Sessions and Christian Eyenga, who is expected to play for Los Angeles' D-League team, from the Cavaliers for veterans Luke Walton and Jason Kapono, clearing the Lakers' logjam of veteran small forwards who hadn't played much for Brown.