Does Andrew Bynum's Latest News Make Case for Carmelo Anthony Trade?

I have tried to be patient with Los Angeles Lakers center Andrew Bynum in the face of his numerous injuries, because his potential has always intrigued me, but that patience may be wearing thin.

It was recently announced that Bynum would likely be out of the Lakers' lineup until at least November due to his latest knee injury, and the timing can't possibly be worse.

The Lakers definitely need Bynum if they hope to successfully defend their NBA championship, and to make matters worse, Bynum could possibly start the season on time if he would have had surgery sooner.

All I could think of was Shaquille O'Neal when it was announced that Bynum chose to forgo surgery for personal reasons, and that memory does not sit well on the brain.

O'Neal's decision to postpone surgery was one of the factors that led to his demise in Los Angeles, and it was one of the instances Kobe Bryant pointed to when questioning the big man's desire.

How do you think Bryant feels about Bynum?

I can understand Bynum wanting to enjoy a little of the summer after a grueling regular season and playoff run, but doesn't his team's concerns come before a trip to the World Cup?

Would it have made more sense for Bynum to have the surgery and miss the World Cup, because his main loyalties lie with the Lakers' franchise, rather than a sport he doesn't even play?

Maybe Bryant's love for soccer induced Bynum's decision, but it's hard to believe that considering how much more Bryant loves to win on the basketball court.

A good start will be critical for the Lakers, but more importantly Bynum needs to begin the season healthy because he is notorious for regressing after an injury.

Bynum always seems to take a step back in his development after returning from injury, and he never appears to be in the proper physical condition when he does return.

The Lakers have so far been pretty quiet as to their thoughts about Bynum's latest setback, but has the time come for the team to explore other options?

I know most fans who read my work are probably tired of the talk concerning a potential deal for Carmelo Anthony, but I'm more tired of dealing with injury after damning injury from Bynum.

There is no doubt in my mind that Bynum has the potential to be a great NBA center, but I'm much less certain if he will ever be healthy enough to realize that potential.

Maybe what has seemed like a cursed existence with the Lakers could take on a different look with a change of scenery.

Why not the Rocky Mountains?

Many people have adamantly expressed their dislike for a deal that brings Anthony to Los Angeles, and there have been numerous examples given as to why it would equal disaster.

Some feel Bryant and Anthony would never be able to coexist, while others feel he would disrupt the Lakers' chemistry.

It's hard for me to see Bryant taking a back seat to anyone at this point of his career, but he is old enough to realize that a player like Anthony could keep his championship window open a little longer.

Besides, if the Lakers were to deal for Anthony it would come with the understanding that the team still belongs to Bryant, and the potential to lead the franchise into the future could be enough for Anthony.

Chemistry would not be a major problem because Anthony is an intelligent player, and the triangle offense is a perfect compliment to Anthony's skill set.

Anthony moves very fluidly without the ball, and he has the ability to get his shot from any area of the floor, which are good attributes to have when playing within the confines of the Lakers' offense.

The most mentioned deal-breaker would be what the Lakers are forced to give up for Anthony, and whether or not the deal could be done at all with concerns to the salary cap.

I understand this reasoning, but to accept it one must first believe that the salary cap would actually be a deterrent to a team like the Lakers.

On a recent segment of ESPN's Pardon the Interruption, columnist Bill Simmons mentioned that the Lakers were already $20 million over the cap anyway, and a deal for Anthony could be worked out.

Simmons went on to say that he would be surprised if the Lakers didn't at least think about dealing injury-prone Bynum and forward Ron Artest in exchange for Anthony.

The NBA salary cap is only a hindrance to teams who are afraid to pay the luxury tax, and Jerry Buss has shown that he is not afraid to spend money if it makes his team better.

Anthony may or may not be on the Lakers' radar, but whether or not Bynum can ever play an injury free season should be.

Tony Kornheiser and Simmons weighed in on how many games Bynum would likely play this season, and I'm not surprised that said less than 50.

With the latest news concerning Bynum's November return, Kornheiser and Simmons are already on the right track with their prediction.

Would the Lakers be willing to deal Bynum in an attempt to prevent it from coming true?