Forget Bynum, give me Pau

[milesfides]

I've had it with this kid.

Not only with his ridiculous sense of entitlement off the court.
His classless acts on the court.
Pouting on the floor.
Not playing hard.
Not playing hard every game in the playoffs.
Holding the defense hostage when he doesn't get the ball enough.
Not passing the ball when he gets it. Hypocritically talking about moving the ball.
Not joining team huddles.
Delaying surgery so he could have a good time in the summer.
Playing like he doesn't care.
Saying on multiple occasions that he'll play for other teams.

Guys like Kenny Smith said it plainly, he wouldn't want to play with Andrew Bynum. Barkley said Bynum isn't going to get better. Magic said he should be the first player to get traded.

Ball knows ball.

On the other hand, I respect Pau Gasol. Yeah, he's soft. He was soft in Memphis. He was soft in L.A. But he sometimes plays tough. I respect that. He's finesse. He's skilled. He steps up when he's called out. He's not a punk. He's not a bitch.

He had to play out of position, he sacrifices his game for Bynum to get more touches.
But when Bynum disappears, the soft Gasol steps up and plays hard and aggressive.
I respect that 10 times more than a big, strong guy plays soft because he's mentally weak.

Nah, give me Pau. Put him next to an Ibaka or a Kendrick Perkins or a Faried or a Chandler or any other big man who knows his role and plays hard every night.

And the biggest reason? While Bynum talked about "It doesn't matter, I'll play anywhere," after a game when he puts up 10 points and 4 rebounds and 0 blocks in the most important game of the season, Pau grinds out 14 points 16 rebounds and 3 blocks, and talked about how he wanted to stay a Laker.

When baited about the yelling between him and Kobe, Pau stayed classy and said their relationship was great. Kobe didn't take the bait either in his interview, praised Gasol for playing aggressive. Also, Pau said this: much of the miscommunication was because the Lakers needed more of that 2-man game between him and Kobe.

We forgot what got us the last 2 championships. Bynum had little to do with it.

It was driven by the genius of Kobe and Pau, and guys like Fish and Artest and Odom fulfilling their roles.

I hope Mitch does his damnedest to let this kid play elsewhere, and get some men on this team. Some ballers who don't punk out. Who deserve to be in purple and gold.

Mitch said the window was still open. Kobe said they weren't fading into the darkness. Pau repped purple and gold.

Bynum, after his stinker that doomed the Lakers' season? "I'll play anywhere."

Ok, ship his ass out.

[Speedlot]

I agreed. Pau played hard, even though he sucked. Bynum, goes "I'll play anywhere, doesn't matter" in today's post game interview.

pfft. Bynum Didn't do anything for our 3 finals anyway.

[RocketPower23]

I don't so much like the narrative of Bynum not being "a championship level player", but I agree. I prefer Pau; his skillset is being way under-utilized as the third bannana. Him and Kobe have great chemistry that I don't think Drew can replicate. IMO we can get good value for Bynum and get younger and keep some of our key guys. Sign LO in the offseason if he's got his head screwed back on too.

[B-Scott]

Replace Bynum with Deron Williams which gives lakers a superstar point guard. Put Gasol back in the post at center and get a defensive power forward who can board

Could have done that last year.....Kept Lamar and offer Bynum for Chris Paul

Stern would have accepted that

[kobeaki]

once again...FOR MILESFIDES

[tugs]

why did Bynum say that again?

agree 100% miles. much of the decline in Gasol's performance can be attributed to Bynum. yeah they somehow complement one another with Pau's passing, his mid range game benefiting Bynum but let's be real here. Pau settled for mid range jumpers and face up moves because Bynum was clogging the lane. he found ways to be effective on the court by getting offensive rebounds, put backs, etc. he had effort.

I have no doubt with Bynum's talent. he's up there with the top C's no doubt. but the immaturity is just amazing. yeah he's 24 but so as Durant and Rose. one led his team and pummeled the 5 time champ of the last decade and the other one is an MVP. James was immature but he's not at this level where Bynum is at now and is finally figuring out how he should play after 9 years. Bynum could be pulling off a Lebron later in his career but the Lakers need something now.

I agree that the Lakers need players who know their roles and not demand anything and take a back seat to Kobe and Pau (yes, I believe even at their age they are still the main guys, just look at Boston with Pierce and Garnett). trade Bynum for Okafor or Landry and get back Ariza. play Pau at the 5 spot.

[bballcool34]

Also, since Bynum has more value because of his age, it's probably the splash the Lakers need to contend again.

[miggs]

The right time for a trade may be on draft day. I think Bynum would net us the highest possible draft pick. Wonder how high of a pick we could get? Maybe a combination of young guys who could fill out the bench?

[LAFan24]

I think we should trade Bynum, seeing as his value as grown tremendously this season. Would it be possible to somehow trade Bynum + filler for Derron w. + filler?

[kobeaki]

I think we should trade Bynum, seeing as his value as grown tremendously this season. Would it be possible to somehow trade Bynum + filler for Derron w. + filler?

yeah, seriously...that would be great...deron is like a rich mans (billionaires) derek fisher...

after these playoffs i really cannot support bynum anymore...and i am team pau...so yeah...

[kobeaki]

why did Bynum say that again?

agree 100% miles. much of the decline in Gasol's performance can be attributed to Bynum. yeah they somehow complement one another with Pau's passing, his mid range game benefiting Bynum but let's be real here. Pau settled for mid range jumpers and face up moves because Bynum was clogging the lane. he found ways to be effective on the court by getting offensive rebounds, put backs, etc. he had effort.

I have no doubt with Bynum's talent. he's up there with the top C's no doubt. but the immaturity is just amazing. yeah he's 24 but so as Durant and Rose. one led his team and pummeled the 5 time champ of the last decade and the other one is an MVP. James was immature but he's not at this level where Bynum is at now and is finally figuring out how he should play after 9 years. Bynum could be pulling off a Lebron later in his career but the Lakers need something now.

I agree that the Lakers need players who know their roles and not demand anything and take a back seat to Kobe and Pau (yes, I believe even at their age they are still the main guys, just look at Boston with Pierce and Garnett). trade Bynum for Okafor or Landry and get back Ariza. play Pau at the 5 spot.

well said..pau isnt done, his unselfishness just makes him feel soft, weak....garnett is a couple of years older, and still produces pau can too, and he should be the number 2 , or 1b...pau is what got us to three finals, straight up...

sadly, a guy like jimshortbuss , who loves him some drew , and is gunning to prove himself to the world isnt going to let go and admit defeat...or ya know maybe he'll impress me for once

[carlquincy]

The one thing I am pissed off with Bynum is his mentality.

1st game of the playoffs, he had a fantastic triple double (10 blocks). During the post game, he said something in tune of "Note to self, when I play defense, our team is better." And that game is his best defensive effort throughout the playoffs.

Anyway, the experiment of Bynum & Gasol has failed. We need a real PF with speed that can play PnR defense, someone like Taj Gibson. Oh, some shooters would be good as well. Hopefully next year, we are not the bottom 10 in 3 point shooting again.

[Jajwanda]

Miles I wuv you.

One thing about Pau that's never mentioned. I haven't seen a single year where the guy could honestly say I'm going to in and work on my weight training so that I can play C. Every year he has to tow the line between being a PF and a C.

I don't see Dwight winning a title in the next two years. I don't see Bynum doing it, so who is there to fear anymore?

[Asianiac_24]

I've been saying it all along, that if a trade like Bynum for Dwight comes up, we HAVE to take it and run. Hell, any trade that makes us better as a contending team right now, we have to take it. We aren't going to win anything after Kobe retires, so why not go all in right now? Bynum's not even making a huge impact right now, we were much better with Odom and Pau as our FC. One of Pau or Bynum has to go, and with Bynum's huge trade value, we should definitely look to trade Bynum.

[crimsonkb24]

I wan't neither one, not giving up both Bynum and Pau for Dwight was a mistake for the long term, wouldn't have mattered much in this series though.

[Asianiac_24]

Sad thing is though, with Jim Buss as the head of the Lakers, we'd probably see Kobe go before Bynum.

[Jajwanda]

I don't know about that. I think this dude may have really pissed off him too.

[Stebo_SSK]

Why not get rid of both? Bynum and Pau for Howard and get Ersan Ilyansova in FA.

[ALL HAIL]

It's not that deep with me.

I'm not emotionally attached to either Bynum or Gasol.

I think both players would improve with the other player traded.

Bynum has done some questionable things on and off the court, but that stuff doesn't scare me much.

I hate that he's inconsistent on the court but as I said, I think he gets better if he's the only center and he gets his touches.

All that being said, I REALLY DON"T CARE WHO GOES.

I've been saying for all of four years now that one needs to be traded and whoever has the greater value should be the one traded.

My head was chopped off when I suggested trading Pau after the second ring, but is was never personal.

Pau just had much greater value at the time and could land us the better package.

Now, however, Bynum is the guy with the value across the league and he should be the one.

I agree with everyone that he should be traded but not for the same reasons.

It wasn't personal when I wanted Pau traded over the years and it's not personal wiht Bynum now.

If Gasol could net us the best young ball-handler/bigman combo then I'd be calling for him to be traded instead ... but Gasol won't and Bynum will:

Bynum/Blake for Wall/Nene
Bynum/Blake for Curry/Bogut
Bynum'/Blake for Irving/Varajeo
Bynum/Blake for Turner/Brand

Any deal structured like this (young ballhandler/bigman combo) would do just fine.

[Jetset]

Why not get rid of both? Bynum and Pau for Howard and get Ersan Ilyansova in FA.

I'm with you, I hope we get both of them. But I think we could get Howard for Bynum straight up.