EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said the team was "as aggressive as we could be" this past offseason, yet the Lakers struck out on marquee free agents, including LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony.

They also lost Pau Gasol, who took less money for a fresh start with the Chicago Bulls, one summer after losing Dwight Howard, who took less money and joined the Houston Rockets.

In terms of building the team going forward, Kupchak, speaking Thursday after the Lakers' shootaround, first mentioned the Feb. 19 trade deadline. Then Kupchak mentioned the June 25 draft, though the Lakers will lose their first-round pick to the Phoenix Suns if it falls outside the top five.

"Our coaches and players have been instructed to win games," Kupchak said when essentially asked about the notion of tanking games to make sure they keep that pick.

Kupchak later added, "A top-five pick is always a good thing."

Once the draft is over, Kupchak said, "We’ll look at the free-agent market and see what our needs are and what’s realistic. We do have an awful lot of financial flexibility."

The Lakers should be in position to sign one max-level free agent, and several big names are available, including Marc Gasol, LaMarcus Aldridge and Goran Dragic. Kevin Love could also opt out of the final year of his contract.

In the meantime, Kupchak said the Lakers will look to develop and evaluate players.

"We want [Lakers coach] Byron [Scott] to establish and maintain a culture that he’s comfortable with," Kupchak said. "And the players have to adhere to that culture, which [is], clearly, play hard, play to win, work before practice, work after practice, work before games, show high character under adverse conditions. That’s what we’re going to look at going forward."