One of the biggest questions surrounding this potential trade to acquire Howard is All-Star center Andrew Bynum and his stance on being traded or signing a long-term extension with another team. With Bynum on a fishing trip with his agent, David Lee, in Alaska during this Howard trade fiasco throughout the NBA off-season, the up-and-comer hasn’t been able to comment on the trade talks.
Since returning from Alaska, Bynum has remained tight-lipped about the situation with no teams in a potential trade asking the Lakers for permission to talk to the 24-year-old rising star.
Reportedly, even though no team has contacted Bynum, the All-Star center might be open to a trade according to Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio:
“Details of the Bynum-Lakers talks were kept considerably quieter, but several sources close to Bynum believe he is open to a trade. However, Bynum’s agent, David Lee, has repeatedly stated that he has yet to speak with another team about his client.”
At this point in time, it would be no surprise that Bynum has considered his options and is willing to be traded. There’s no question that if the Lakers finally get the green light from Orlando to make the trade for Howard that they won’t hesitate to trade Bynum to the Magic, Cleveland Cavaliers or Houston Rockets.
Even though Bynum is supposedly open to a trade, the question that teams will ask is whether or not he’s also open to signing a contract extension long-term. Few teams in the league are willing to take on a superstar that will simply leave the team after one season. One-year rentals aren’t all that appealing and would be the main reason a third team or Orlando would pull out of a potential deal for Bynum.
It remains to be seen how this all pans out for the Lakers and Magic, but hopefully for the sake of the fans and players involved there will be a resolution in the near future.