The Lakers are locking up their promising, 21-year-old big man, according to the Los Angeles Times:
The Lakers and Andrew Bynum have agreed in principle on a four-year contract extension worth about $58 million, keeping their center of the future in the fold through the 2012-13 season, according to sources familiar with the negotiations who would not speak publicly.
Bynum, who will make $2.8 million this season, will earn close to $42 million over the first three years of his contract extension. The fourth year will be a team option for about $16 million.
...
Both sides appeared to be far apart earlier in the week, with Bynum's agent asking close to an average of $17 million a year on a five-year deal and the Lakers countering with an average of $11 million a year over five years.
But the sides came to terms on an average salary of $14.5 million a year and four years.
If an agreement had not been reached [by Friday], Bynum would have become a restricted free agent next July, though the Lakers would have retained the right to match any offer he received from an NBA team next summer.
• Lakers, Andrew Bynum agree to four-year deal (Los Angeles Times)
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We should of locked up bynum for 5 years, as he will not come as cheap after his 4th year has come and gone. however i am very glad we've locked up the next center in the great line and tradition of laker centers!
camp.athlete
Minneapolis , MN
Total Comments (27)
Couldn't agree with you more. This works for both parties cause no way they let him walk in 4yrs (barring injury) and he mos def gets the money he asks for then.
AO7
Total Comments (402)
Good job Jerry B etc!!! now lock up Kobe after the season and let the champagne pour!
88 "Lakers…
Total Comments (2390)
So i guess Lakers ticket prices are gonna go up more now.
Seems that we aren't planning to resign Odom
and we gotta get creative and get rid of Luke Walton's contract.
Michael Discontent
Orange County, CA
Total Comments (17)
Good move by the Lakers. There are many different factors that can occur in four years. Kobe may be gone. Lebron, DWade, or another big name may be available. Plus he may not pan out. Good deal for both parties. The Lakers will definitely be able to afford him should he become a star.
jfrancais
Fresno , CA
Total Comments (34)
Good deal now we gotta get something for Odom cause he disappears too much durin crunch time. Especially during the finals where he played like he had to get back early to check in for work-release. Yeah they had to lock up Bynum cause let's face it at the 4 or 5 Gasol is as soft as they come. You need a banger in there so Andrew is their choice which is a wise move. Artest would have been the perfect compliment but now that's spilled milk.
metro
Seattle , WA
Total Comments (2707)
Lakers look scary good. They get to the NBA Finals with Pau Gasol only being there half the year, and now get a healthy and motivated Bynum, a young and improving Farmar, and the best bench in the NBA? Pour the champagne is right, this team is loaded and should only get better over the next 4 to 5 years.
cstopp
El Dorado Hills, CA
Total Comments (1)
they should wait since they can mathc any offer. He hasnt done a full year yet without getting hurt. They woudl be fools to give money for potential and not productivity. Nay body remember Chris Webber?
Nanumanu
Total Comments (72)
In todays NBA they look good but they wouldnt even be able to stay on the courth with the mid 80s Lakers, Sixers, or Celtics.
B.I.S.P.
Birmingham, AL
Total Comments (653)
I'll take KOBE, PAU, and ANDREW over any of those 1980's scrubs who couldn't play any defense!! Far superior athletes, far superior defensive mentality in today's NBA...That's the honest truth...
Saber808
Total Comments (7)
Well.. That is a big risk of money considering his knee!!!
ZipZoom
Total Comments (1)
Teams in the 1980's wouldn't have been able to score more than 80 points a game with today's man/help defenses...That's just what I believe in personally...I'll even take Artest, Mcgrady, and Yao over any trio from the 80's!
Saber808
Total Comments (7)
Ridiculous money for a kid who has never played more than 28 minutes a game and was hurt most of last season. "Next great center??" The NBA is going to collapse on itself one of these days. As the economy shrinks the number of people willing to pay $100 to be in the same building as Jack Nicholson is going to fall. NBA television ratings continue to drop, as more and more of us get sick of watching a bunch of overpaid thugs posture and pose for 48 minutes. I'll take a good college game any day over the NBA.
mishagothe
Littleton, CO
Total Comments (433)
What a joke. Let me guess,,,your still in high school and you never even saw those 80s teams play because to feel that way you have to be in your own dream world. The Lakers had 3 hall of famers and the Celtics had 4 Hall of famers where this Laker team has only 1 who has any chance of sniffing the Hall.
Lou Dobbs 11
Total Comments (8744)
The teams of the 80's played a way better team game and would school today's best teams.
jfrancais
Fresno , CA
Total Comments (34)
LMFAO. Bird, Parrish, and McHale---Worthy, Jabbar, Magic---Moses Malone, Dr J, Bobby Jones,,,,any of those trios are better than any trio in the entire league right now, much less the ridiculous trio you brought up with the Rockets. You need to get your head out of your arse quick before you suffocate.
Beavers
Total Comments (829)
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