The Los Angeles have picked up the $16.1 million option on Andrew Bynum's contract. The announcement came Monday after general manager Mitch Kupchak said he was bringing back the Lakers' All-Star.
In 2012, Bynum enjoyed his best season in the pros. He averaged just under 18 points, 1.9 blocks and 12.8 rebounds a game. He was the third rebounder and the sixth best blocker in the NBA. Proving that at 25-years old, he is a competitor.
Not counting last season, when Bynum was injured, he has shown steady improvement year after year.
The biggest question Bynum has faced in his young career is; can he stay healthy? This year he played in 60 games out of the 66 in the shortened season. Four of those absences were due to suspension.
This season he made his first All-Star apperance and started for the Western Conference.
Health is not the only question with the young center. At times he has proven that he lacks focus.
This season he enraged new head coach, Mike Brown, when he took a three-pointer for no reason. Maybe Bynum felt inspired and wanted to show off his inner most Steve Novak impression, but at the end of the day he has to remember that he is a center and centers do not shoot threes.
If Bynum could be kept focused, then the Lakers have a future star that, with the proper pieces, can lead them to a championship.
Despite Kobe Bryant's stupendous performance year after year, the fact is that he is getting old and probably only has three or four years maximum left in him. Andrew Bynum provides the Lakers with a face for their franchise.
For the past two seasons, the Lakers have been a player or two away from moving deeper into the playoffs. They added Ramon Sessions, who can guard younger and quicker point guards, but they really need to add another offensive-minded player.
Back in the days when Shaquille O'Neal ruled the NBA courts, the belief was that a team needed a big man to win. Now teams are developing players that are not your prototypica restricted players that do one thing well.
Oklahoma City Thunder's, Serge Ibaka, can guard a big man but on the offense presents a problem since he can shoot the 17-footer. Then the Boston Celtics have Rajon Rondo. He is fast and can quickly cut to the inside, but during the playoffs has shown that he has an improved outside shot.
These combinations of talents have given the Lakers problems as of late. With Kobe coming back this season and Bynum returning for sure, the Lakers know they have to stable pieces that can get the job done for the team.
Having Bynum there can also help the Lakers attract possible free agents since they know they have a trusty big man that can get them rebounds and create offense by rejecting shots down low.
