by Craig Kwasniewski
The Lakers and Andrew Bynum have agreed to a four-year contract extension worth about $58 million. According to the LA Times:
Bynum, who will make $2.8 million this season, will earn close to $42 million over the first three years of his contract extension. The fourth year will be a team option for about $16 million.
Here are my initial thoughts on the deal:
The Lakers blinked. Instead of forcing Bynum to earn his extension this season, the Lakers out bid nobody and signed the extension. The Lakers held all the cards: Bynum was coming of knee surgery, has yet to prove he can play a full 82-games as a starter and the Lakers can match any offer for Bynum as he was a restricted free agent. A rule of thumb in the NBA, players PLAY for contracts (Barron Davis played a full 82-games in a contact year... need I say any more?). Have him go a full 82 and earn that contract extension!
My season tickets for 2009-10 just doubled. The Lakers are way over the cap.... someone's gotta pay for it. So either tickets or concessions or both skyrocket, which makes total sense in a economic crises.
What about Kobe’s extension after this year? Kobe can opt out of his contract after this season and renegotiate a better deal. Is there any money left for the best closer in the NBA? It's a longshot but will he actually pursue a reverse-Beckham deal in Europe?
Does that mean Odom will be traded? Again, another money question, but what happens this summer with Lamar Odom as a free agent? There's no way the Lakers are offering double figure millions for an inconsistent sixth man. So what kind of $$ will he seek? And will the Lakers ship him off near the trading deadline to avoid any contract squabbles this summer? Their fast start and VERY deep roster makes Odom expendable, but it's hard to lose such a versatile player despite the fact that he's CLEARLY the 4th best player on the team who's earning All-Star pay.
The Lakers have a track record of overpaying players (Walton, Radmanovic, Mihm… and now Bynum) who are injury-prone. Again, why offer up the extension when we're not even sure about the knee? The guy just turned 21 and already he's had two knee surgeries!
In the end, I’m not a big fan of the deal. Besides displaying upside for 2 ½ seasons, what the hell has he done? 35-games last season does not a $14 mil. per season make!
middle the powerhouses left off is not ideal (yes it is safe to say he would not pick up where he and some sort of chemistry would have to be re-established.) of the playoffs season. Some contribution from bynum especially against of the But that is not the same as saying he will not be back for the east if we were to get to the finals
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