The problem with Andrew Bynum
I’m still on the fence when it comes to Andrew Bynum. On one hand, I watched the man do some serious damage during the first half of the ‘07-08 season, like when he indisputably owned Amare throughout the Lakers/Suns Christmas Day game. At just 20 years old, at 7-foot-1, with actual skills and a growing mean streak, believe me, I see the potential and wouldn’t be surprised at all if Bynum is a future superstar.
Then again, when Bynum went down with the slowest-healing knee injury this side of Bo Kimble in Heaven is a Playground, and every Lakers fan in the world considered it a foregone conclusion that their team would have won a championship had Bynum played against Boston, I started seeing the cracks. Reality tells us that Bynum has only really played one solid half-a-season during his three-year pro career, he’s been injury-prone since high school, and he has yet to show he can still be a beast in that all-important second go-round; when teams now have film on you and start to pick up on your tendencies.
Now healthy and talking All-Star talk, Bynum goes into this season without something that fellow ‘05 draft classmates Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Andrew Bogut and Monta Ellis do have: a long-term, big-money contract.
The Lakers have until Oct. 31 to sign Bynum to an extension, and if they don’t, he’ll become a restricted free agent next summer. Bynum’s agent made it very clear months ago that he’s looking for a max deal (in the $80-million-plus range), and as of today says the negotiation process has been “disappointing” between the two sides.
“I just don’t get it,” agent David Lee told the L.A. Times. “I do not understand certain things that happen. Andrew has taken everything the Lakers have thrown at him, including criticism. He doesn’t do anything to respond other than go on the court. He just goes on with his business.”
Again, I get where Lee is coming from, and I see the legs on which he’s placing his pro-max extension argument. At the same time, I wouldn’t blame the Lakers at all if they simply want to see if Bynum can make it through one full season healthy and playing at a high level before breaking out the fancy checkbook for him. And although Lee made some implicit tough talk (”It has to get done by the 31st. Otherwise there are, of course, consequences under the collective bargaining agreement.”), the Lakers are the ones holding the chips here — they can do whatever they want and they still won’t necessarily lose Bynum next summer; he can sign an offer sheet from another team, but if it’s assumed that the Lakers will match any reasonable pitch, his options will be limited.
If you were running the Lakers, would you take a wait-and-see approach with Bynum, or get him inked to a big extension ASAP?
Source: Los Angeles Times
October 16th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
deegee says:
Don’t re-up. Make him earn out.
October 16th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
QuEsT??? says:
id wait it out, lets see what he can do in one full year. maybe he gets injured maybe he doesnt. i just hope he doesnt turn out into those stro show kind of players, that never realize their potential. but he is still 20 so there is a lotttt of timee
October 16th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
Dave says:
Lakers should wait the season before giving a maximum contract extension … they’ve nothing to gain and plenty to lose
The only way Bynum should get an extension now, is if he gives a discount.
October 16th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
Big Sia says:
Definetly wait. Who the fuck knows how the knee’s gonna hold up after 82 + a lenghty post season (i assume).
If he beasts it this year, then you match whatever any team throws at him next summer.
October 16th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
Big Sia says:
and if he’s shit… u just saved yourself a lot of coin
October 16th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
Icecuber says:
Doesn’t deserve it yet. Make him play with a chip on his shoulder.
October 16th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
D.H. says:
you gotta wait it out. If Bynum can’t make it happen this year, when he’s gotta chow his stuff to get that coin, then what makes anyone think he’ll do it once he’s gettin paid.
October 16th, 2008 at 7:39 pm
Big Shot BOB says:
Yeah definitely wait. The kid hasn’t done anything but play decent for half a season if that. Plus there’s talk he might not be playing well next to Pau.
October 16th, 2008 at 8:07 pm
yallallreadyknow says:
what is this bums agent talking about? dude had a good 5 week stretch; i’d hardly call that half a season.
if there was ever a player that was OVERhyped last year it was andrew bynum. he still barely managed to put up better numbers than andrew bogut.
and his production will DECREASE with a full season of pau gasol. so this bum shouldnt be thinking anywhere near an $80 million contract
October 16th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
Brandon Hoffman says:
Given Andrew’s injury history, and the questions that continue today regarding his work ethic, the Lakers should wait until after the season to re-sign him.
I honestly don’t understand why teams sign draft picks to extensions before they become restricted free agents.
There’s nothing wrong with letting the market determine a player’s value. Sure, teams can save a little money if they extend players before they become a restricted free agent, but they’re essentially bidding against themselves.
October 16th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Yoooo says:
Out of ALL the arguments you can’t question his work ethic. Dude has made great improvement every year on his game and physique. The boy works hard you can’t question that.
The best argument about giving him a Max deal is durability. Cuz there definitely have been worse players with salaries close to this one. By all accounts I think he’s well on his way to a better career than Juwan Howard. And Howard was a serviceable player
October 16th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
Ian says:
this has to be the most overrated player in the league right now
MAX DEAL gtfoh with that shit.
October 16th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
Ian says:
yoooo
u cant use juwan howard as an excuse the contract was a mistake doesnt mean u have to do it again and juwan was a young star that avged 18 8 4 for alot of seasons at least.
October 16th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
dillinger says:
The big problem here is that the kid’s jackass of an agent wants the team to pay up based on his potential. So let me get this straight. Bynum played okay for half a season after Kobe called him out earlier for being a chump. But he didn’t even put up the same numbers as someone who earns 80 million like Dwight Howard. So that means he deserves the money? Screw that. His agent is an idiot.
October 16th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
Jah says:
CP3, Deron, Monta and the rest of the ‘05 Draftees have put up big numbers and wins for their teams.
Andrew Bynum has not done what they have done up to this point.
Although he is a talented basketball player and I wish him well on his career, I would not sign him to the maximum contract extension AT THIS POINT.
If I were LA Lakers management, I would meet with him and try to come to some understanding as to “why” they will wait until closer to the date.
I still get goosebumps about the following starting lineup possibility:
PG - Derek Fisher
SG - Kobe Bryant
SF - Lamar Odom
PF - Pau Gasol
C - Andrew Bynum
Whoo!
October 16th, 2008 at 10:01 pm
George W Kush Sr says:
They dont lose nothing if they wait.
They could lose $80 if they pull the trigger now.
The decision to make is pretty clear, just dont ask Isaah Thomas
October 16th, 2008 at 10:01 pm
George W Kush Sr says:
… $80 Million, i’m sure the Lakers could give a fuck about $80.
October 16th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
Three Stacks says:
The Lakers aren’t stupid, they’re not gonna give him a long term contract right now, not when he’s coming off injury.
The worst case scenario of not giving him an extension now is, Bynum plays outta his mind this season and another team offers him a max deal, which the Lakers match, but the Lakers probably would have to give him one anyway if he has a good year.
Best case scenario is he signs an affordable contract, like Josh Smith this year, and the Lakers match that. This is what I’m hoping happens.
As long as Bynum doesn’t end up w/ a one year tender next yr, I’m happy.
October 16th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
Three Stacks says:
It’s funny how almost EVERYONE wants Bynum to fail, it’s like they’re afraid he’s gonna be good.
October 16th, 2008 at 11:14 pm
Ian says:
george w
thats all fine and beautiful if this were baseball but in basketball there is cap space and u cant afford to add 80mil to the books just to take a chance.
October 17th, 2008 at 1:39 am
T-Bone says:
wait and see
their option to match any offer seals the decision
October 17th, 2008 at 9:10 am
Coop says:
Have to agree with my man Ian; Bynum is chatting ‘max’ because he plays for the Lakers. Like I always say, stuff him in a Bucks uniform and see how much publicity he gets then.
Sure, he has potential, and I bet loads of GMs would actually give him that 80mil but some GMs pay Jim McIlvaine instead of Shawn Kemp when Kemp was arguably the best player in the game.
Make him earn his money like he should. 15 points and 12 rebounds as a MINIMUM.
October 17th, 2008 at 9:33 am
RENO says:
I wouldn’t even give my mom some money unless I knew it was really worth it. LMAO!!!! LOVE YOU MA!
BYNUM = OVERRATED! (IMO)
October 17th, 2008 at 9:54 am
karizmatic says:
I like Bynum I think he’s going to be nice, but he’s not worth a max deal right now. The Lakers have the advantage here, unless Bynum is planning on going to Europe and even in that case the Lakers should just sit back see how he does this season and match any offer that comes his way in the off season. Like you said if teams know the Lakers are going to match, Bynum’s options are limited, on the other hand if they don’t like how things are going they could roll him in a deal with Odom before all-star break. Who do you think they could fetch with that? Go Lakers!!!
October 17th, 2008 at 11:06 am
Coop says:
The main point here is that ALL the teams with money next year will be in the Bron/Wade/Bosh sweepstakes. Any no-one is going to fuck around with a Restricted guy. Portland has Oden so they won’t be interested. He’ll either sign then (and the Lakers will still hold nearly all the cards) or he’ll have to wait yet another year for max money. Doing that leaves his fragile body open to yet more injuries. LA should stand fast.
October 17th, 2008 at 11:49 am
Sweet English says:
80 Mil?
FFUUUCKK that ish. Austin you hit the nail on the head. Hes played one solid half season and he wants a max?? Don’t get me wrong im sure hell be a solid centre all season but why sign a recovering injury-oholic to a max deal??
October 17th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
George W Kush Sr says:
to Ian
Read what i wrote man, you’re saying exactly what i’m saying. Bynum’s not worth a $80 mill chance, especially since they dont lose anything by just waiting it out till next year.