Bynum Signs 4 Year Extension

Published by lakers-fan.com on October 31st, 2008 | Tagged lakers

Andrew Bynum and his agent were finally able to reach an agreement with the Lakers, signing a 3 year contract for $57.4 million. The contract will pay the young center around $42 million through three years, with an option for a fourth year. Both sides seemed to be far apart, with Bynum’s agent asking for the maximum, around $17 million a year, while the Lakers wanted to agree on a yearly salary of around $11 million. They met each other half way at $14 million and only had until tonight to make a deal.

This extension is no doubt a good move for the Lakers, having Bynum locked in for four more years. He has yet to prove himself at full capacity after a season ending knee surgery last January, but comes back stronger than ever and claims to be 100 percent. With Bynum anchoring the defense in the middle, the Lakers defensive rebounding, blocked shots, points allowed per game all should improve. The Lakers should rank within the top five in defense this league.

Signing Bynum for the extension is a good move, not allowing other teams next summer to bid on his services, which might force the Lakers into paying more than they want to. If an agreement had not been reached by this evening, Bynum would have been a restricted free agent next summer, allowing other teams to offer him a deal, but allowing the Lakers to match any offer.

Let’s hope Bynum lives up to the money and figures in to be the missing defensive link in the playoffs the Lakers needed so badly in the Finals.  I’m betting $57.4 million he will be worth it.

- Garrett Lynn