Simple Question: If it comes down to keeping Odom or Bynum, who do we keep? I know Odom has been awesome since we acquired Gasol, but Mitch, in past interviews since the trade, hasn't sounded to promising in locking up Odom to an extension once his contract is up. I believe the direct quote was that Odom's contract is not a top priority. Bynum is just too much to give up. He's a 20 year old freak who has shown the ability to be an anchor in the post and be a dominant offensive threat. In reality, Odom has given us a half of season of awesome basketball that we expected from him when we first acquired him. I think he's reached his peak, so I don't think this even a choice.
obviously depends on how Bynum plays next year after his surgery. I expect there to be no draw backs, so I'd say Bynum easily.
No question. It's much more difficult (especially for the Lakers, with the position they're in) to acquire a good big man than to acquire a good SF/PF hybrid. Hell, with the way this draft is looking, the Lakers could have potentially picked up a replacement for him at the end of the 1st round...IF they hadn't traded away their pick.
We'll end up keeping them both. To answer the question, it depends on Bynums ability when he comes back. If he's not the same player as before he got injured within 12 months, I say we choose Odom purely because we'll be wasting Kobe and Gasols peak. We seem to be doing OK without Bynum, I feel with an average C added onto the team, we can take it all the way. We're struggling a bit down low because we don't have a pure big guy right now to clean up the boards and guard the opposing C.
I think the title of the thread should be changed. Taking into account injuries or their potential to affect Bynum's career or chance at playing in the playoffs, I'd take Odom. Odom has missed a few games at times, but he has always been healthy for the playoffs. Some of Drew's health problems concern me and he has not proven that he can be there at the end of the season after taking a pounding the first 82 games. Obviously Drew is a game changer when healthy, but that is not the gist of the issue. Odom has proven more as of this moment, especially with how he compliments Gasol and fills in at PF.
No I mean, of course Bynum has more potential and Value. He would get my vote in an ideal case. But if we include injuries, that's the only way this topic is even debatable. Otherwise it is pointless.
There is nothing to debate here. It's the user's personal opinion on who they think is the better fit for this team and who they would chose if it came down to either Bynum or Odom.
Alright then, it's my personal opinion that the thread title should be more specific. Although it is kind of superfluous, so you make a fair point. I still disagree though.
Lamar's contract doesn't run out until after next season, same with Bynum's, I believe. Let them both play out their contracts next season, and at the end of the day, we'll see what happens. Let's see how well Lamar can continue his play, and ultimately, let's see how well he adjusts getting switched over to small foward. With Bynum, he needs to show us he has the ability to play through a full season relatively healthy. As of now, it's too hard to tell what should happen. But I will give you this much, there is no way in HELL the front office chooses Lamar over Bynum if they had to make such a decision this offseason, even taking into account Bynum's injury.
You can have whatever personal opinion you want Brian, but the Front office will want to keep the roster that has already guaranteed them a championship.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (huevonkiller @ Jun 3 2008, 07:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>You can have whatever personal opinion you want Brian, but the Front office will want to keep the roster that has already guaranteed them a championship.</div> Nothing is guaranteed. And you're wrong. Jim Buss and Mitch Kupchak have already shown their devotion to Bynum. They're not going to let him go, period.
I just don't think they expected this out of Odom. This is like a newfound potential for him this second half of the season. Having that guaranteed at the start of our playoff run the next five years is pretty tempting. That's why I see things differently.
I don't see the difference. Bynum was a first half beast (without Gasol) and Odom was a second half beast (with Gasol). If anything, you could make an impact that Bynum had the larger impact on the team, this year. I'm not saying he is the better player, yet, but you just don't give up potential like Bynum's for someone at his peak, like Odom. The 3 is the easiest position to fill in basketball...a center like Bynum is very rare.
Odom also fills the 4 for us, Bynum's potential doesn't prove how long he'll stay on the court. Essentially, we are risking Kobe's prime and future championship runs, for Bynum. I don't think that risk is necessary, our chemistry is close to perfect right now.
Maybe I should word the question better: You're Mitch Kupchack. You know you can't keep both Bynum and Odom. You have to decide right now whether you keep Odom or Bynum...who would you select?
In my opinion it would have to be Bynum, unless the Lakers staff knew something really bad about his injury.
At the moment, I'd be inclined to keep Bynum. He's young and has tons of potential. Odom has already peaked and probably won't be too much more than a 15/10 type of a guy, which is by no means bad. Personally, I'm thinking that the FO is going to find a way to keep both if they can.
^^ yea, it's not like Odom's bad. He has been playing great this last year and playoffs, he is very versatile, isn`t a chucker, can run the offense, defend SFs or PFs, takes responsibility for losses. It's just because of how valuable centers are, how young Bynum is, and how effective he has shown himself to be against other centers.
