Lakers Giving Bynum Reason to Leave?
If the Lakers arrive at a future point where they definitely don’t plan on trading (Andrew) Bynum, then they could work the hard sell on how he should lock that extension up in case he suffers another knee injury. Along those lines, Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak mentioned last month the “risks” vs. the “bird in hand.”
But rest assured that Bynum has been looking forward to flexing his full free-agent power for quite some time.
If you revisit Bynum’s specific season-ending comments on how he would “entertain” the Lakers on the topic of the extension while “I’m not reaching out,” it’s clear that he understands he can dictate to the Lakers a few things – and maybe even arrange for a handicapped-quality parking space next to the head coach’s prime spot at the Lakers’ El Segundo training facility.
Bynum was clear back in May about his desire to stick with the Lakers, though, saying about a possible lack of extension: “I can assure you I’m not waiting because I want to go somewhere. That’s for sure.”
This was clear, too:
After emerging as an All-Star and avoiding significant knee injury in the lockout-compressed schedule, Bynum also said: “I don’t expect to hear my name out there as a possible trade.”
Oops.
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