Agent says Lakers' Bynum wants maximum contract extension
12:01 AM PDT on Tuesday, July 1, 2008
By BRODERICK TURNER
The Press-Enterprise
While the Lakers were making an announcement about their intentions to keep restricted free agents Sasha Vujacic and Ronny Turiaf, Andrew Bynum's agent announced his client's intentions.
Bynum can get a contract extension this summer from the Lakers. When his agent was told that Bynum suggested he would be willing to take less than the maximum of five years, $80 million, David Lee said they would be seeking the maximum.
"He was talking as a 20-year-old," Lee said in a telephone interview Monday. "He had not consulted with his representatives. I think the Lakers know how we feel about this."
The Lakers extended qualifying offers to Vujacic and Turiaf on Monday, which allows the team to establish a right of first refusal.
If Vujacic, whose offer was for about $2.6 million, and Turiaf, whose offer was for about $1.3 million, sign an offer sheet with another team, the Lakers can match the offer and retain them.
Both Vujacic and Turiaf are seeking long-term deals and hope their agents can come to an agreement with the Lakers.
The free-agent shopping period started at 9:01 p.m. Monday; players can't sign contracts until July 9. Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said recently he would begin negotiations Monday night.
The Lakers could have a potential dilemma with Bynum.
He missed the final 46 regular-season games after he suffered a knee injury. He had arthroscopic surgery May 21 to remove some cartilage debris and smoothing some rough spots on the underside of the knee.
Bynum, a 7-foot, 285-pound center, has said he should be ready to start training by the second or third week of July.
"The ball is in their court," Lee said. "They've got a decision to make. The question is whether they believe in him the way I believe in him. It's their decision to make if they want him there for the future."
Bynum averaged career highs in points (13.1) and rebounds (10.2) last season. But he has played in just 163 games in three seasons.
"I don't think the Lakers have anything to worry about with Andrew's physical condition," Lee said. "The only thing is he wants to stay in the purple and gold. It's in their court."
http://www.pe.com/sports/basketball/...1.4713233.html
that kid is delusional...one good month and he demands the max. who knows how good he will be after his knee injury. i know height and youth is at a premium in the nba...but damn.
interesting
" ing ship his ass out!"
-Mitch
he must have seen lakerfan's posts about him on this site!
Eat up that cap, youngin!
It seems some of you fail at reading comprehensionWhen his agent was told that Bynum suggested he would be willing to take less than the maximum of five years, $80 million, David Lee said they would be seeking the maximum.
"He was talking as a 20-year-old," Lee said in a telephone interview Monday. "He had not consulted with his representatives. I think the Lakers know how we feel about this.". This is nothing more than his agent trying to get as much money for his client as possible, which is kinda what agents are paid to do. If Bynum stays healthy and plays well next season he will get a max contract from the Lakers.
LOL, I love it when the Lakers are screwed.
Sign him for a lot of money you have no flexiblity in the future if he turns out to be perennially injured or just not as good as people want him to be, or both.
Let him walk, and they risk letting another contender getting him, and him turn out to be a great C who makes mincemeat out of Gasol, Turiaf, and Odom every time he faces the Lakers.
This just means Odom is gone unless he re-signs for a lot less next off-season.
Averaging 13 and 10 makes you deserving of a max contract? This guy is ing delusional.
Read the article.
wow...this is a hard dilema.
Bynum is not worth max money. Even if he has a good year, he's not worth MAX money. He would have to have an amazing year, without any major injuries, before even mentioning a deal like that.
Sam Bowie for the max?
I'm gonna go make some sweet mula with Uncle Ricoooooooooooooo---
Calm down laker fan,
its not like u need shaq to win a championship...o wait u do
The way LakerFans see him and talk about him...they should believe he deserves the Max.
Yeah you just need Ginobili hurt again. Hey where were you guys the last few years when you lost Shaq and we were winning the championships.......OH THATS RIGHT........Fishing.
That's what they get, now it's time for Uncle Rico to throw the football right ova that mountain.The way LakerFans see him and talk about him...they should believe he deserves the Max.
LMAO hey Spur Addict being on cyber space have you ever come across anything on time travel?
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