I'd rather he stay healthy in the long run. We're still a formidable team without him and if he can return healthy next season and fit in seamlessly, woe is the league.
I think if he's 90-100% healthy they'll give him a shot. Anything less and it'd be wiser to just keep him healthy for the future and not aggravate it. I think they've got an even better chance to win next year considering the team will be intact next year and maybe even improved not only because Bynum and Ariza return.
I think the Lakers have to be the favorite for next year. They might be getting Gasols bro. I still think the Celtics are the team to beat this year.
Gasol's bro is property of Memphis right now, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Grizz trade with Lakers for their 2nd rounder again for Marc.
you can be drafted and still play in europe...the blazers have the best player in europe right now in rudy fernandez....he would probably be a top 5 pick this year..
Grizzlies still have his draft rights. He was a 2nd round pick. Teams are following the Spurs example by drafting Euro and Asian players with low picks then stashing them away while they develop all at no cost for the team.
I dont know that Bynum would be much help at this point anyway. He could mess up chemistry and the rotation they have going. I suppose if he was just coming off the bench for a few minutes to give Pau a breather it'd work, but he wasnt coming back to start anyway, so it isnt a big loss imo.
You are correct, he was part of the deal for Pau. I believe the trade was Marc Gasol, Javaris Crittenton, two first rounders for Pau Gasol. EDIT: To clarify the trade, here it is: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pau_Gasol#2007-08_Season
The Lakers have been fortunate that they haven't faced a team with a real back to the basket center so far. But they're going to have a hard time defending Tyson Chandler or Tim Duncan without Bynum around.
the reason they didn´t face a "real" back to the basket center is, there are no more "real" centers in this league, bynum is one of them, yao the other the rest is not elite status, gasol had good scoring games against the hornets, chandler is 30 pounds lighter than gasol, the real question though is who will guard kobe bryant...
I disagree, there are plenty of quality traditional centers in the league. Dwight Howard, Tim Duncan, Yao, Bogut, Shaq, Chandler (even if he's a little lighter than a traditional center, he certainly plays like one), Ilgauskas, etc. And yes, the Hornets would have a serious problem guarding Kobe Bryant; more than most teams, since Morris Peterson and Peja Stojakovic couldn't guard Kobe in a phone booth, and Kobe could post up Chris Paul until the cows come home. I didn't mean to imply that Bynum's absence would cost the Lakers a series against them or the Spurs, just that they've been fortunate that his absence hasn't been a big problem so far.