OT: No Extension For Bynum?

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ABM

ABM

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http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=10278

Reports out of Los Angeles have the agent for Andrew Bynum set to meet with the Lakers tomorrow to discuss inking the Lakers' center to a maximum extension. The Lakers have basically between now and Halloween to get the deal done, and if they don't work it out Bynum will become the most talked-about player in restricted free agency next summer . . .provided that he's healthy.

The issue here is simple. Bynum's agent, David Lee (not to be confused with the Knicks player), wants to get the most money for his client as soon as possible. It protects Bynum's future against injury, on the one hand, but also provides long-term stability for him personally. Bynum is happy playing for the Lakers and wants to continue to do so, and the Lakers are pleased with what they've seen from him so far.

On the flip side of the argument is, of course the "business" factor. We hear it over and over again. Players and coaches alike constantly refer to the business side of basketball, usually while shrugging and staring at the floor. It's this business side of basketball that is interfering with Bynum's preferred timeline as far as getting a maximum contract extension.

This is a player who missed a significant amount of last season with a knee injury. Knee injuries, by the way, are all too often career-killers, especially with seven-footers. Bynum has been playing fine in preseason and says he is pain-free, and no one wants to think about him suffering further complications. In an ideal world he'd be fine, the knee would never bother him again, and he'd dominate the paint for the next two decades.

And maybe that's what will happen, but the Lakers want to be sure.

If you're the LA Lakers, looking at spending somewhere between $80 and $90 million over the next five seasons, you want to be sure the money is well spent. You want to be sure your player is 100% healthy, and that he'll live up to the hype he created by playing well at times last season. In short, you want to take as much time as you can to make the decision. You want to study the stats, watch workouts, and see a level of consistency from the player. If all goes well, the Lakers can still sign Bynum to a long-term deal next summer. They can even choose to do it right before the season starts. But there's little point in making a big investment like that before getting as many looks as possible at Bynum's knee.

Rest assured, Lakers fans, that Bynum will be in purple and gold for years to come if he is healthy and performing well. If, on the other hand, the unthinkable happens, it's only logical for the team to protect themselves and make the best business decision possible.
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Uh oh Rizzle! Bring on Chris Mihm! HAHAHAHAHAHHAHA!
 
If true, very revealing....they don't have the confidence that he will be a "max money type player". Very interesting indeed....
 
Maybe KP will sign him as a backup for Greg and Pryz.
 
The Lakers are in a tough situation, I don't think they've seen enough from him consistently (ie. more than half of a season) and injury free to warrant a max money contract. If I was Mitch Kupchak I'd be hestitant to make that big of a commitment too.
 
Not too surprised, looks like the Lakers are learning from the Wizards. Let a player coming off a injury prove themselves don't just pay them for the hell of it.
 
Maybe they still hope they can trade him to New Jersey for Jason Kidd ;)
 
Bynum is way overhyped. He's a more polished version of Brendon Haywood.

Three months of solid play does not = $90 million.
 
Kotah said:
Bynum is way overhyped. He's a more polished version of Brendon Haywood.

Three months of solid play does not = $90 million.
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I disagree, the guy is good ... max money good? Probably not yet.
 
The Lakers would be stupid to sign him for max money this off-season. He's coming off what could be a career-affecting injury (probably not, but the possibility exists) and he's still not played at a high level for a long period of time.

They still have him under restricted free agency next year. They have no incentive to sign him now. They can let him play out the season, see how he performs, and if he justifies the hype, they can max him out next year (and they have the ability to match all other offers). They'll be able to offer him more than any other team, so he's a virtual lock to sign next year if they are willing to max him out.

If he has a poor season, then the Lakers are in a tough situation about extending him next off-season...but at least they won't be committed to a potential albatross of a contract.

The Lakers are doing the smart thing, and it says little about Bynum's potential except that the Lakers would like to take one more no-risk look at him first.
 
Kotah said:
Bynum is way overhyped. He's a more polished version of Brendon Haywood.
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I don't agree at all. I think Bynum has the potential to be a multiple-time All-Star center. I don't think he's at the level of "Hall of Fame potential" like Oden, but he's a very, very good big man talent.
 
Minstrel said:
I don't agree at all. I think Bynum has the potential to be a multiple-time All-Star center. I don't think he's at the level of "Hall of Fame potential" like Oden, but he's a very, very good big man talent.
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Idk about that, the hall of fame lets in too many players for my liking and Bynum being on such a stacked team might sneak in if he has say 2 rings and career averages of 18 points and 12 rebounds, hes in a big market and doesn't seem to put anyone in the media off.
 
Minstrel said:
The Lakers would be stupid to sign him for max money this off-season. He's coming off what could be a career-affecting injury (probably not, but the possibility exists) and he's still not played at a high level for a long period of time.

They still have him under restricted free agency next year. They have no incentive to sign him now. They can let him play out the season, see how he performs, and if he justifies the hype, they can max him out next year (and they have the ability to match all other offers). They'll be able to offer him more than any other team, so he's a virtual lock to sign next year if they are willing to max him out.

If he has a poor season, then the Lakers are in a tough situation about extending him next off-season...but at least they won't be committed to a potential albatross of a contract.

The Lakers are doing the smart thing, and it says little about Bynum's potential except that the Lakers would like to take one more no-risk look at him first.
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^Hey, look at that! The voice of reason! Somebody gets it.

This has NOTHING to do with the Lakers questioning Bynum's ability and has EVERYTHING to do with the Lakers being smart and not taking unnecessary risks. You guys know how much I like Bynum and I would be pissed if he signed max money before the season started. :crazy:
 
Minstrel said:
The Lakers would be stupid to sign him for max money this off-season. He's coming off what could be a career-affecting injury (probably not, but the possibility exists) and he's still not played at a high level for a long period of time.

They still have him under restricted free agency next year. They have no incentive to sign him now. They can let him play out the season, see how he performs, and if he justifies the hype, they can max him out next year (and they have the ability to match all other offers). They'll be able to offer him more than any other team, so he's a virtual lock to sign next year if they are willing to max him out.

If he has a poor season, then the Lakers are in a tough situation about extending him next off-season...but at least they won't be committed to a potential albatross of a contract.

The Lakers are doing the smart thing, and it says little about Bynum's potential except that the Lakers would like to take one more no-risk look at him first.
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Except that they run the risk of Bynum deciding to accept the qualifying offer money for the next year and becoming a true free agent the next season. Remember when Zach strong armed Patternash with that tactic and the Blazers caved? I'd suspect that a few GMs around the league saw how well that worked out for the Blazers.
 
e_blazer said:
Except that they run the risk of Bynum deciding to accept the qualifying offer money for the next year and becoming a true free agent the next season.
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That seems incredibly unlikely to me. The Lakers can offer Bynum more money than any other team can on the open market. He's already suffered one major injury, and he's going to risk playing one more season on the qualifying offer?

It's within the realm of possibility, but I think the chances are extremely remote. Financial security and the highest bidder and a winning situation and a big market are all combined by the Lakers. He's going to say "Thanks but not thanks" to that in a fit of pique? Maybe he's that stupid, but I would bet against it.
 
Nikolokolus said:
The Lakers are in a tough situation, I don't think they've seen enough from him consistently (ie. more than half of a season) and injury free to warrant a max money contract. If I was Mitch Kupchak I'd be hestitant to make that big of a commitment too.
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Hmmm, Blazers have been there (although not a max contract). Darius Miles anyone? :tsktsk:

Gramps...
 
Unfortunately, Nash is not running the Lakers. As others have said: LA should risk that Bynum will be upset, become a max-money guy, and walk a few years down the road... it's a lesser risk than signing him now before he's come close to earning that kind of contract.

On the other hand, I don't blame Bynum and Lee for asking for it. I would expect both sides to keep cool heads about it, although obviously I hope they do not.

Ed O.
 
I hope Bynum gets the max deal- even if he gets it next year, it'll be a poor business risk by the Lakers. I think the Lakers are smart enough not to max him out now, but will be dumb enough to do it next season after only having seen 1.5 good seasons. The more money the Lakers spend, the better.

BTW, I still think it's in Kobe's best interest to sign with us next year.
 
That's the elephant in the room, imo. He can get his max money, come to a team poised to win ring after ring, and play SF.

Of course, there be a lot of miles on them thar legs. And Wookee's waiting to strangle me just for saying it.
 
BrianFromWA said:
That's the elephant in the room, imo. He can get his max money, come to a team poised to win ring after ring, and play SF.

Of course, there be a lot of miles on them thar legs. And Wookee's waiting to strangle me just for saying it.
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Not just Wook. There would be a line of Blazer fans like that line of people in "Airplane" telling that woman to get ahold of herself. I'll be the one dressed like a nun with a .38.
 
He'll get his $$$$$$$ next summer I'm sure.
 
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