Orlando Magic general manager Otis Smith is doing everything he can to retain the services of Dwight Howard. He becomes a free agent in 2012 and Smith’s latest blockbuster deal that brought in Gilbert Arenas isn’t producing results fast enough to extend Howard’s career in Orlando.
Anything short of a title may send Howard packing for the sands bordering the Pacific Ocean.
Then there’s Andrew Bynum. Although he’s signed with the Lakers through the 2013 season, his days in a purple and gold uniform might be numbered. Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak won’t rule out a possible trade scenario and fans are ready to let him go in exchange for the likes of Carmelo Anthony.
There may only be one person in charge of helping Bynum extend his days in Laker Land and that’s Bynum himself.
Not that it wouldn’t be fascinating to see Anthony’s name on the Staples’ Center marquee next to Kobe Bryant’s and Pau Gasol’s, but take a step back from the aesthetics of it all and realize that what the Lakers really need, Anthony can’t give them.
Bryant is still a prolific scorer, regardless of how many shots he takes. Gasol is still the Lakers best bet for efficient offensive, that is, when he’s aggressively looking for his shots. Lamar Odom is a spark off the bench and can produce in the double-digits on a nightly basis.
The Lakers don’t need another scorer. The Lakers need blocked shots, defensive rebounds, second-shot opportunities and a presence in the middle to ward off unwanted players trying to cause havoc in the paint.
“We’re about him getting the position, blocking shots, being active, challenging people coming into the lane,” Jackson said. “Those type of things.”
If Bynum could do all that, there wouldn’t be so many Lakers fans bolting for the ESPN trade machine.
Next: Bynum’s performances on defense haven’t exactly been stellar
Against the Spurs, Bynum had 10 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 blocked shots in 29 minutes of play. That’s not terrible considering he sat out the previous night with a bone bruise, and could’ve possibly still been feeling the effects of the injury. Just one problem. He was nowhere to be found in the final seconds when the game was ultimately decided. Instead of being on the court, he had a front row seat on the bench to watch Lamar Odom forget to box-out Antonio McDyess who had the last second, buzzer-beating tip-in for San Antonio.
What good is your starting center if the coach doesn’t feel confident to leave him in the game during crunch time situations?
“I wasn’t, and I’m sure he wasn’t, happy with the game he played on [Thursday night against San Antonio]. He wasn’t active enough. He got some shots blocked. Some things happened that weren’t positive for him out there, but he said he was ok [physically]. That was the best part.”
Bynum missed the first 24 games of the season while he recovered from off-season surgery in his knee. Any day now, he’ll get his conditioning back. At least that’s what the Lakers coaching staff keeps telling us.
Bynum’s defensive numbers have been okay, definitely nothing to merit an invitation to All-Star weekend or anything, but there’s definitely room for improvement and it all starts by doing something as simple as running the floor. You can’t defend shots if you’re the last guy to cross the half-court line fast enough towards the other team’s basket.
“Drew, historically he’s been good at running, post-sprinting,” Jackson said. “He hasn’t done much of that lately, and that’s an important part we have to get back.”
Next: Getting back on defense is just one area of improvement for Bynum
Bynum understands his role on the team. Whether he chooses to accept it or not is subject to debate. He realizes that in order to help the team succeed he has to think defense first and offense second. Running is only part of the solution.
“That’s something they always want out of me,” Bynum said. “I need to get there. It will allow me to get more touches.”
At least against San Antonio, Bynum had to guard Tim Duncan most of the night. Take comfort in knowing that if he in fact did struggle, it was against one of the best players in his position. It was a different story against New Orleans on Saturday night and Sacramento a little over a week ago when Bynum struggled to play consistent defense. The injury depleted front line of the Hornets sent third and fourth-string centers Aaron Gray and DJ Mbenga out on the floor. Both had career-high nights.
Bynum is still only 23 years old and injuries have been his Achilles heel for the majority of his 5-year career in the league. Once he gets his stride on defense, Jackson should keep him on the floor for extended minutes. Then perhaps Bynum will finally realize all that potential Kupchak saw in him all along, the potential we’ve only yet to see in glimpses too few and far between.
“You keep waiting for him to take that next step, and we haven’t even mentioned him (and) the All-Star team,” TNT analyst Charles Barkley said on the air during Thursday’s televised game. “You think about his potential and people talking about him becoming a great player. You have to wonder if he’s as good as he’s going to get. By this point, he should be an All-Star every year.”
It all starts on the D-E-F-E-N-S-E.