Lakers Exercise Andrew Bynum's Contract Option For Next Season

Andrew Bynum Earns Extension, But Will He Play It Out With Lakers?

Andrew Bynum was already being paid pretty handsomely under his current contract, but it should come as no surprise that the Los Angeles Lakers picked up their team option for the 2012-13 season. The young center, who made $14.9 million last season, is now under contract for $16.1 million next year.

Now that the Lakers have locked Bynum up for another season, however, the question has shifted to whether he'll play that season in Los Angeles. Los Angeles Times reporter Mike Bresnahan wrote on Monday that there's a chance Bynum might be moved to the trade block considering he's one of the team's few attractive assets.

How long he's with the Lakers beyond that becomes the question. Bynum, 24, will be in the last season of a four-year, $57.2-million contract. Negotiations on an extension had not begun, though that could happen soon. If he doesn't re-sign with the Lakers, he will be an unrestricted free agent after next season.

Either way, Bynum remains one of the Lakers' two tradable assets.

It might seem futile to discuss a trade so soon after a contract extension is announced, but that's the reality of today's NBA -- especially when it comes to players who can soon turn into unrestricted free agents. If the Lakers don't believe they'll re-sign Bynum, it's better to get whatever assets he's worth while they still have that opportunity.

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Andrew Bynum Leaves Lakers Return Up In The Air

The Los Angeles Lakers were eliminated earlier than expected in the second round of the NBA Playoffs and, as is customary, TNT's Craig Sager headed to the locker room Monday night for some exit interviews with the players.

Interviews conducted just minutes after a heart-breaking loss often lead to players not quite thinking clearly, and that's what we'll blame for the answer Lakers center Andrew Bynum gave when Sager asked if he expects to sign a long-term contract.

"I'm not sure," he said. "It really doesn't matter to me. I'll play anywhere. I think for the most part I had a pretty decent season and then an OK postseason. Obviously this last game was the worst game I've probably played. It sucks, obviously, we're going fishing. My focus is next year and coming back stronger, adding things to my game."

The video and quotes, courtesy of CBS Sports' Eye on Basketball blog, are going to be interesting to Lakers fans, considering there have been numerous reports over the years that Bynum is all but untradeable -- showing a loyalty that might not go both ways.

Bynum decided to give a more PR-friendly answer to Sager's next question, however, being a bit more definitive.

"I definitely want to stay," he said. "You kind of asked an open-ended question. Obviously things are going to be different come next year. I'm going to be ready."

It will be interesting to see what happens this offseason as Bynum's $16.1 team option might not look all that appeasing when considering Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol are already being paid nearly $47 million for the 2012-13 season.

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