<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">This summer Bynum could be offered an extension, for as much as five years and worth up to $80 million. That's somewhat of an issue for Jackson because of Bynum's youth; he doesn't turn 20 until October. "He's not even going to be mature," Jackson said. "There's not even going to be maturity in his body, let alone mentally at the time that we have to make some big decisions. He's got to show a certain sense of responsibility." As is his way, Bynum shrugged off Jackson's talk about his work ethic. "I guess they are trying to instill that in me," he said, "because they wouldn't let me go anywhere over the summer." </div> Link What do you guys think about this? Personally, I have mixed feelings. It would be nice to lock him up early, to prevent him from leaving in free agency, but on the other hand, the kid's only 19 years old. Like Phil said, he's not even going to be mature. I'm not sure if locking Baby Bynum for 5 years, for 80 million dollars will be a good thing. What if he gets the money and starts slacking off?
This is a precarious position for the Lakers. Obviously, Bynum is very advanced for his age. Assuming that he continues to mature at his current pace, and given his age and talent level it's reasonable to consider, $80 million sounds like a bargain to have the piece of mind that you've locked up one of the league's truly gifted young bigs. Then again, what if he gets hurt? What if he stops progressing? Keep in mind that he's not yet 20 - remember Eddy Curry's first few years? Plus, the Lakers don't have a lot of wiggle room under the cap as it is. If they lock up Bynum to a deal as large as that one, it will commit them to a future of Kobe, Odom and Bynum, for better or worse. I don't feel right throwing my opinion out there one way or another, because I honestly have not seen that much of Bynum this season. However, if the Lakers weigh those risks and still decide he's worth it, by all means they should sign him to a big, long-term deal. Who'd have thunk that the rebuilding process in LA would only mean enduring one bad season?
I though under new CBA rules, rookie contracts are 4 years long? Year 3 is a team option which the Lakers will obviously pick up and Year 4 is when a team makes their qualifying offer. I think this writer is off by one year on Bynum's extension. By the summer of 2008, the Lakers conveniently have Kwame Brown coming off the books.
If the writer was true the LA Media would be all over his contract options and his future. The current future free agent that worries me is Luke Walton. Have they extended his contract?
<div class="quote_poster">Pablo23 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">If the writer was true the LA Media would be all over his contract options and his future. The current future free agent that worries me is Luke Walton. Have they extended his contract?</div> Nope. =
