With the recent signings of Antawn Jamison and Jordan Hill to go along with the acquisition of Steve Nash, the Los Angeles Lakers have made some considerable improvements to the starting lineup and second unit.
Unfortunately, as the Dwight Howard trade saga continues, All-Star center Andrew Bynum has had to take the backseat in the Lakers' long-term plans.
Bynum's agent, David Lee, recently had a meeting with Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak about what was thought to be the beginning talks of a long-term contract extension between the team and his client. Reportedly, Kupchak and Lee did have a conversation, but not about a potential extension for Bynum according to Lee via Ben Bolch of the Los Angeles Times:
"I think Mitch's comment was that we had 'a cordial and productive' conversation. It was cordial and it was productive, but it had nothing to do with an extension."
The Lakers are obviously trying to land Howard before the start of next season, thus making Bynum the most likely player to be heading out of L.A.
With the possibility of being traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Houston Rockets or Orlando Magic, Bynum stands to make considerably more money signing with the Lakers or the team that acquires him as an unrestricted free agent after next season.
If Bynum were to ink a deal with the Lakers at some point between now and the end of next season, he will be eligible to sign an extension for the amount of $57 million over three years. If he waits, Bynum can sign a new contract for five years up to as much as $101.9 million.
The decision to wait for a deal next season benefits Bynum because he will be making almost $45 million more than signing a deal this summer or during the 2012-13 NBA season.
As always since the Dwightmare begun, the outcome to this situation remains to be unseen.
