Andrew Bynum happy to stay with the Los Angeles Lakers – NBA Update
Los Angeles Lakers centre Andrew Bynum recently revealed in an interview that he is flattered to be linked with so many NBA franchises, but said he doesn’t want to leave the Los Angeles Lakers. Bynum has been named in various trade
rumours as many teams have shown an interest in his services this summer, including the Minnesota Timberwolves, but the centre doesn’t want to move.
Pleased at where he is at the moment, Bynum acknowledged that it was nice to be a wanted man and all but said that he regards the Los Angeles Lakers as one of the best NBA franchises and wants to stay there for the long term.
“It’s good to know everybody wants me; that means I’ll be in this game for some time. I like L.A., and don’t want to go anywhere else. It’d be good to stay in one place your whole career, and the Lakers are the most storied franchise
in the league, everyone knows who the Lakers are, and I appreciate the Lakers’ love.”
The most realistic trade rumour regarding Andrew Bynum was the one that linked him with the Orlando Magic. The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly chasing Orlando Magic super star Dwight Howard and it was rumoured earlier in the
offseason that the Magic could consider a trade if it involved Bynum and a number of other Los Angeles players.
Since then the lockout has started barring teams from talking to NBA players. Coupled with the fact that Howard has repeatedly pleaded his allegiance to the Magic and said he would stay at the club for at least another year, the
trade talk has visibly cooled down.
Even if it hadn’t been so, the Lakers management didn’t like the idea of parting with Bynum in the first place. Jerry Buss, who is the son of Lakers owner Jim Buss and the de-facto decision maker in the Lakers front office, is
a huge fan of Bynum.
Buss consider Bynum the biggest part of Lakers future and has stood by the hot young star through a lot of tough times. He even angered Kobe Bryant because of his unflinching support for Andrew. When Kobe wanted Bynum traded and
was even threatening to leave the franchise, Buss rejected the request and hung on to his young centre.
The arrival of Pau Gasol solved a lot of problems and eased the tension, with the Lakers being successful on the court since then. However, tension between Kobe and Bynum reportedly flared up again towards the end of last season
and is considered the main reason for Bynum being repeatedly linked with a departure from Los Angeles.
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