Andrew Bynum has much to prove at the Los Angeles Lakers next NBA season (Part 3)
Fitness Problems
The third thing, that’ll add more pressure on Andrew Bynum come next NBA season is his fitness concerns. Bynum has not played a full season even once so far in his career. In fact, in the 2008-09 seasons, he played 50 games for the first time in his pro-career. In 2009-10, he was able to raise that number to 65 but was back to 54 last time around.
Bynum has endured injuries on many occasions in his career. Bynum first injured his kneecap back in 2007-08 season that put him on the sidelines for the rest of the regular and postseason. Later, early in 2009, he endured an injury on his right knee. Although, he was able to make a comeback in the playoffs to become a part of the Lakers championship run, but in 2010 playoffs, he again torn meniscus and strained Achilles tendon.
All this points to the fact that Bynum is injury prone and that risk will become even higher if NBA has a short season, during which teams have to play more games in less time. For that, fitness needs to be at the highest level and if he collapses once again in the next season, the Lakers might just start looking for another option.
The Dwight Howard factor
Bynum last signed a three year extension deal with the Lakers, which has now entered its final year. The way Lakers owner Jim Buss had backed him so far, it seems that the franchise will exercise their fourth year option on Bynum, notwithstanding the 16 million dollars that go with it.
This is partly because, at present, there is nobody good enough on the bench to replace him. Theo Ratliff is there, but the Lakers didn’t have much faith in him last season and only gave him 10 games during the entire 2010-11 season.
However, the Dwight Howard angle can change it all.
The Lakers thirst for the Orlando Magic big is well documented and with the Superman h**l bent on joining the championship contender, the Lakers might just be the answer.
The trade will give Orlando a suitable replacement on the back court and the Lakers, the next superstar to carry the franchise through the next decade of glory.
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