After another early exit in the NBA playoffs, the Los Angeles Lakers franchise was put under the microscope for the second straight season with trade rumors and free agent speculation running rampant once again.
One of the big-name players in Los Angeles that was thought to be potentially on the trading block once again heading into the NBA offseason was All-Star center Andrew Bynum. Despite having a breakout season with career-high numbers across the board, Bynum made some interesting comments after the Game 5 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
After letting it be known that he’d play anywhere when asked about the future, Bynum may have put a target on his back in Los Angeles with the Lakers’ front office not totally convinced of the 24-year-old’s dedication to the franchise moving forward.
Fortunately for the Lakers, the team is in the driver’s seat currently with Bynum’s team option on the table this summer. Los Angeles indicated during the 2011-12 NBA regular season that they were going to exercise the up-and-coming center’s contract option for the 2012-13 season and they have done just that.
Bynum is now under contract with the Lakers for next season and will make $16.1 million next year. Even though the team has kept him on the roster for at least one more season, the trade rumors will ramp up once again with the potential of the team retaining him just to trade him away over the summer.
It is uncertain what the trade market for Bynum is at this point in time, but there’s still a chance that the Lakers can land superstar center Dwight Howard in an even swap with the Orlando Magic.
With the Lakers only committing to a one-year deal with Bynum and not signing him to a contract extension, there may be a move in the works.
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