Lakers Rumors: What the Future Holds for Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol
If any team has been active in the trade market leading up to the NBA trade deadline, it is the Los Angeles Lakers. Their two big men, Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol, have been the center of these talks, and what the future holds for both is still up in the air.
Bynum has stated that he is sure he will be a Laker for a long period of time, and that appears to be the case now that Dwight Howard is staying with the Orlando Magic for another year.
Meanwhile, Pau Gasol’s status as a Laker is still in question.
The Chicago Bulls have emerged as the most discussed possible trade partner for the Lakers if they want to ship out Gasol for young talent. However, that deal now seems unlikely.
It appears, for now, that both Gasol and Bynum will be in Los Angeles for a while, at least until the offseason.
These two have been the pillars upon which Kobe Bryant built his last two championship runs. If the Lakers have any championship future left with the current squad of players, they must once again build upon these two men.
Bryant might be the guy who drives the Lakers’ metaphorical car, but Bynum and Gasol are the axles upon which that car rests.
It all makes sense when you look at the stats. Together, Gasol and Bynum are averaging 34.4 points and 23.3 rebounds per game. Each shoots over 50 percent from the field and has a player efficiency rating over 20.
What makes it so interesting is how they do it together, yet hve such different styles.
Gasol is a skilled big man, who doesn’t seem as big when you see the moves he can make. He has the most complete offensive skill-set of any post man in the NBA, and is also a tremendous passer for his size, averaging 3.4 assists per game.
Bynum is a young, athletic freak of nature. At nearly 7’1” and weighing a slender 285 pounds, the center uses his athleticism and increasing skill set to dominate the paint. A baby-faced man-child, he’s just 24 years old, and he’s already playing in his seventh NBA season.
Together, these two make up the best front-court duo in the NBA, and probably one of the best in NBA history. They make it impossible for teams inside the paint, as no one can match their size and athleticism.
That’s their future, assuming both are still with this team.
Bynum will continue to improve, becoming one of the best big men in the league and possibly joining the all-time greats if he can win more championships.
Gasol is older, and his skills will diminish more quickly. However, he is the type of player that will contribute on a team long after his prime in whatever role he can. Hopefully, that will be for the Lakers.
These two aren’t going anywhere. They’ll continue their careers on the same path: Playing for the Lakers and dominating the NBA.
