If true, very revealing....they don't have the confidence that he will be a "max money type player". Very interesting indeed....
The Lakers are in a tough situation, I don't think they've seen enough from him consistently (ie. more than half of a season) and injury free to warrant a max money contract. If I was Mitch Kupchak I'd be hestitant to make that big of a commitment too.
Not too surprised, looks like the Lakers are learning from the Wizards. Let a player coming off a injury prove themselves don't just pay them for the hell of it.
Bynum is way overhyped. He's a more polished version of Brendon Haywood. Three months of solid play does not = $90 million.
The Lakers would be stupid to sign him for max money this off-season. He's coming off what could be a career-affecting injury (probably not, but the possibility exists) and he's still not played at a high level for a long period of time. They still have him under restricted free agency next year. They have no incentive to sign him now. They can let him play out the season, see how he performs, and if he justifies the hype, they can max him out next year (and they have the ability to match all other offers). They'll be able to offer him more than any other team, so he's a virtual lock to sign next year if they are willing to max him out. If he has a poor season, then the Lakers are in a tough situation about extending him next off-season...but at least they won't be committed to a potential albatross of a contract. The Lakers are doing the smart thing, and it says little about Bynum's potential except that the Lakers would like to take one more no-risk look at him first.
I don't agree at all. I think Bynum has the potential to be a multiple-time All-Star center. I don't think he's at the level of "Hall of Fame potential" like Oden, but he's a very, very good big man talent.
Idk about that, the hall of fame lets in too many players for my liking and Bynum being on such a stacked team might sneak in if he has say 2 rings and career averages of 18 points and 12 rebounds, hes in a big market and doesn't seem to put anyone in the media off.
^Hey, look at that! The voice of reason! Somebody gets it. This has NOTHING to do with the Lakers questioning Bynum's ability and has EVERYTHING to do with the Lakers being smart and not taking unnecessary risks. You guys know how much I like Bynum and I would be pissed if he signed max money before the season started.
Except that they run the risk of Bynum deciding to accept the qualifying offer money for the next year and becoming a true free agent the next season. Remember when Zach strong armed Patternash with that tactic and the Blazers caved? I'd suspect that a few GMs around the league saw how well that worked out for the Blazers.
That seems incredibly unlikely to me. The Lakers can offer Bynum more money than any other team can on the open market. He's already suffered one major injury, and he's going to risk playing one more season on the qualifying offer? It's within the realm of possibility, but I think the chances are extremely remote. Financial security and the highest bidder and a winning situation and a big market are all combined by the Lakers. He's going to say "Thanks but not thanks" to that in a fit of pique? Maybe he's that stupid, but I would bet against it.
Unfortunately, Nash is not running the Lakers. As others have said: LA should risk that Bynum will be upset, become a max-money guy, and walk a few years down the road... it's a lesser risk than signing him now before he's come close to earning that kind of contract. On the other hand, I don't blame Bynum and Lee for asking for it. I would expect both sides to keep cool heads about it, although obviously I hope they do not. Ed O.
