The most crafty player in L.A.
Andrew Bynum (photo. Jeff Forney)
Blown out in Houston. Twenty-pieced in Denver. Temporarily shut down in Orlando. Even when the Lakers looked their absolute worst in the ‘09 playoffs, there was one man associated with the team who still had reason to celebrate.
David Lee (not the New York Knick) is the agent for both Andrew Bynum and Trevor Ariza. Throughout the postseason, Lee watched as Ariza, an unrestricted free agent come July 1, made his job easier and his percentages more lucrative with every clutch steal, timely three-pointer, and defensive stop against the likes of Carmelo and Hedo.
But that’s not why Lee ran away with the Dime’s unofficial NBA Agent of the Year title for ‘08-09. Way back at the beginning of the season, Lee was the guy who convinced the Lakers to give Bynum a four-year, $58 million contract extension that kicks in next season. In other words, Lee made it possible for a starting center who averaged eight points, 4.7 rebounds and basically spent the last two months in foul trouble to get a $10 million raise over the summer.
Think back to October/November. After ‘05 NBA Draft classmates Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Andrew Bogut, Monta Ellis and Andris Biedrins signed big-money deals, Bynum was looking for his piece. Working in AB’s favor was the first half of his ‘07-08 campaign, where he looked like one of the better centers in the League and a future star for the Lakers. Working against him was the second half of that season and the playoffs, which he missed with a knee injury. In the offseason where his next contract was up for debate, Bynum had question marks surrounding his health and his realistic potential, which he’d only really shown for a couple months’ worth of games. At the time, nobody knew for sure whether Bynum was better than Brook Lopez, nevermind Bogut or Biedrins.
Lee made a lot of noise publicly that his client was worth a monster deal, and although you could tell the Lakers wanted to play it safe and see what Bynum would do in ‘08-09 before making a big investment in him, they eventually gave in and committed to the $58 million — even though the only risks of not extending Bynum were that: (1) as an ‘09 restricted free agent he could’ve been signed to an offer sheet that L.A. couldn’t/wouldn’t match, or (2) he’d be insulted by the Lakers not showing faith in him and start drama that could tank a championship-caliber team.
Now imagine if the Lakers had held their ground, and this season played out exactly the way it did on the court. While his regular season numbers were good (14.3 ppg, 8.0 rpg), Bynum would also have another significant knee injury on his medical report, he’d be coming off an undeniably awful playoff performance, the Lakers would have learned how much free agents Ariza and Lamar Odom mean to them, and Bynum would be entering the market in a bad economy for the NBA. With all that, there’s NO WAY he gets anywhere near $55-60 million. There would be some competition — we are still talking about a 21-year-old seven footer, after all — but it’d be much closer to Brendan Haywood money ($6M) than Zach Randolph money ($16M).
As it stands, though, the Lakers are locked in with a player we’ve all seen they don’t necessarily need to win a championship — who until further notice, is looking like another Erick Dampier who fell off after getting a big deal — while two of the players they do need (Ariza and Odom) may have just played themselves out of L.A.’s price range.
June 16th, 2009 at 10:50 am
Sweet English says:
Funny how a guy will take his own money over an entire cities hopes of winning another chip. He’d rather take a couple Milli more a year (which, lets be honest, when your earning 10 million a year isnt really much of a struggle) than give his team a chance at going all the way again.
I hope Kobe leads the way and agrees lower pay over the summer to give L.A another chance at a chip. Not only can he set an example to upcomers on the court, but in the front office too. Bynum, Theres getting yours, and theres straight disrespect for your hometown.
Stay Classy L.A
June 16th, 2009 at 10:51 am
Sweet English says:
P.S First.
P.S.S WHERE ARE THE FREE T-SHIRTS, I CAME FOR THE FREE T-SHIRTS!
June 16th, 2009 at 11:04 am
No Deal says:
Biedrins was drafted in ‘04
June 16th, 2009 at 11:19 am
Joey says:
If u think kobe’s taking less money, the u r crazy. Dont blame Bynum, Blame the dumb ass lakers! What’s wrong with making a bunch of money on a great team!
June 16th, 2009 at 11:33 am
DvDJ Steve says:
Bynum will be a beast next year. Trust… The Buss fam has enough jack to keep everyone intact. Lets be honest, it took us 6 years to get back to the top. You think a couple million here or there is gonna stop us from staying there. Do the right thing Jerry Buss, signed LO and Ariza!!!!!!!!
June 16th, 2009 at 11:33 am
E$ says:
lol @ Bynum having a agent….I know that phone never rings
June 16th, 2009 at 11:50 am
nowwhatyo says:
if phil jackson retires, then the lakers should let odom walk, and then trade bynum to OKC for their #3 pick and jeff green. green is similar to lamar odom. they can draft either thabeet or rubio, and have money to sign a free agent, pay kobe, pay ariza, and set themselves up nicely for the future with younger players.
June 16th, 2009 at 12:06 pm
dmitry of jersey says:
this is foolish. would anyone all that surprised if Bynum comes back as a beast next season? he was not playing 100% these playoffs.
also, LAL absolutely needed to sign bynum last year bc no one knew at that point that KG would be out for the playoffs.
and lastly, if keeping bynum pacified with the extension meant the lakers got the chemistry they need to be champions, then that extension is worth it. it’s not every day you win the ‘chip, even if you’re a Lakers fan. Just ask anyone who followed the celtics from the end of the Bird era to 2008.
June 16th, 2009 at 12:08 pm
Dennis Castro says:
Good piece AB. If they wanted a big man who would foul Dwight when needed, grab boards, and block some shots, Mbenga could have provided almost the same skill set in the Finals, since Bynum was non-existent.
Granted he went up against Yao, Nene, and Dwight consecutively, 2 of the top 3 C’s in the league, should be taken into consideration. But I’m not sold on him, and definitely not sold on him for > $10M per. He showed no flashes at all this postseason.
If they let him walk or didn’t extend him, they could have used that money to re-sign Odom, who publicly said he’ll take less to stay in LA, and Ariza, and would have probably been able to address the PG situation.
June 16th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
Dennis Castro says:
Well, Yao for a portion of it, but even with Yao out, he couldn’t put together a good game.
June 16th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
E$ says:
Chuck Hayes was bodying him up, come on. You have to be a 100% to hold on to the ball?? Get the pacifier out of his mouth…..If you belive Bynum could stop KG, pass that good stuff to the left homie
June 16th, 2009 at 12:38 pm
Celts Fan says:
the kid’s 23, hasn’t been healthy, and had tough match-ups. give it time, bigs develop slowly. He’s shown enough that I wouldn’t give up on him yet… He’s still got a bright future if he can stay healthy.
June 16th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
doc says:
When Drew averaging 18 and 12 next year all will be forgotten.
June 16th, 2009 at 12:47 pm
PJ310 says:
Please, lay off of AB. Anyone who watches the Lakers knows he wasnt 100%. First off, Odom is not going to be making the 13 mill that he’s making now, so they can take some of that money and put it towards Trevor and still sign LO for about 9-10 mill a year, at the most they are gonna spend a couple extra mill, but what is that to a team who is destined to be in the Finals for the next 3-4 years?
Bynum still has way more post moves than Dwight Howard, he just needs to stay healthy.
June 16th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
Celts Fan says:
@PJ310 – My 10 year old cousin has more post moves than Dwight Howard.
June 16th, 2009 at 1:18 pm
Patrick says:
The Lakers won. They are on the hook for a lot of money to a 21 yo athletic 7 footer who has shown when he puts it together he can put up huge numbers. So waht if he didn’t do it this year. They won the championship. They don’t get two trophies for having all of their players have career playoffs.
June 16th, 2009 at 1:18 pm
LakeShow84 says:
*SIGHS*
No more Kobe bashing so now we have to go back to Bynum bashing?? And for the record Bynum has never gotten hurt by HIMSELF.. He landed awkwardly on Odoms foot and the other time Kobe went crashing into his knee..
It aint like he jumped or landed wrong by himself.. 2 freak accidents.. kid is 21 and is expected to be a top 5 center off top.. give him one year of health before you jump on him Dime..
Like Doc said.. next year all will be forgotten when hes lookin beastly.. you dont think he sees Rhianna trying to cozy up Shard?? Nothing motivates a youngster like Pu$$y.. not even millions.. he’ll want the recognition of playing a bigger role in the next chip..
June 16th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
E$ says:
More post moves than Dwight Howard – LMAO! That says it all. Kareem will never get a coaching job if Bynum keeps looking like hot garbage. It didn’t help when he got back on his feet he ran to the Playboy mansion & was parading around with that girl on his shoulders. Keep home alive lakers, he will get 18pts / 10rbs as longs Memphis, Clippers, Oklahoma city are on the schedule
June 16th, 2009 at 1:30 pm
E$ says:
Let’s talk about the other disappearing act that is: Sasha Boo-that-Bitch aka David Carr
June 16th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
smoove chips says:
Ifs,ifs ,ifs…if bynum was playing up to the potential he showed we’d have swept the post season without even trying.
Somebody should tell that muthaflacka it’s a mortal sin to have gifts you don’t exploit.
If he can somehow get his shyt together like Ariza did there’s one word I want the world to learn to spell.
DYNASTY !
June 16th, 2009 at 1:56 pm
smoove chips says:
PS;
what lee did is what I wish my mechanic,doctor, waiter,or bartender would do.
Handle yo business.
June 16th, 2009 at 3:37 pm
Kermit the Washington says:
Still too early…I could see this article being written sometime during next season if he plays like he did in the playoffs this year. But seriously, he ain’t back to 100% yet. Give him an off season to really recover, and if he does recover he’ll be a BEAST.
If he doesn’t recover, then repost this and it will be more timely.
June 16th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
PJ310 says:
E$ I never said Bynum was better than Dwight, all I said is that he has more post moves, if you dont beleive that then you didnt watch the finals.
June 16th, 2009 at 4:44 pm
E$ says:
I had to watch the finals to see that, because they don’t use all there moves in the playoffs. GTFOH!
June 16th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
PJ310 says:
U make no sense, STFU!
June 16th, 2009 at 5:25 pm
smoove chips says:
@ lakeshow 84
“nothing motivates a young playa like pus*y” rofl
too fluckin true!!
Maybe we should move bynums practice sessions with Kareem to the playboy mansion.For every new post move…
we’d be unstoppable
June 16th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
the cynic says:
Bynum just needs to learn how to play defense and the contract won’t look so bad. He will be solid offensively next year; he just has to learn to not be one of the worst defensive centers in the league
June 16th, 2009 at 6:56 pm
nowwhatyo says:
the kid’s confidence is shot! the question is whether he is strong enough mentally to overcome. if not, he’ll be the next kwame.
June 16th, 2009 at 11:52 pm
hansosword says:
Do you think they would have won the chip without bynum though? Yeah, his play was poor by last seasons standards, but still.. His presence let them bring Odom off the bench (which obviously worked well for them), and it was a big body to throw at Dwight. If Pau would have played the 5 the whole series, he would have picked up to many fouls to be effective on the offense. I don’t think they beat Orlando with Mbenga or Mimn(?) in the middle. Is 58 million worth a ring?