Elliot Teaford of the Los Angeles Daily News reports that the Portland Trail Blazers have yet to contact the Los Angeles Lakers to request permission to speak with executive Mitch Kupchak about their open GM position. -------------------------------- The Portland Trail Blazers have not asked for permission to speak to Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak about their opening for the same position, team spokesman John Black said before Game 4 on Saturday night. ... Kupchak has a multi-season contract with the Lakers and publicly, at least, has not expressed any interest in leaving for another job despite persistent rumors that he was unhappy with team executive Jim Buss over offseason cost-cutting moves. The Lakers did not renew the contract of Ronnie Lester, Kupchak's longtime assistant, last summer and trimmed the scouting staff. -------------------------------- ed: text edited, bumped to front page