To me, the first question is…can they?
Honestly, I thought this trade rumor was well behind us after Andrew Bynum suffered yet another knee injury. Yet, here are two Los Angeles Times writers arguing about whether or not the Lakers should trade him for Chris Bosh.
T.J. Simers takes a few shots at Bill Plaschke…
It’s been several days since I have had the chance to remind everyone how clueless Plaschke can be, and since this was a wasted game, I certainly don’t want to waste such an opportunity.
Plaschke continues to make the case that the Lakers have to unload Andrew Bynum, insisting they replace him with free agent Chris Bosh. And by Sunday, I believe.
Plaschke maintains that the Lakers will never be able to depend on Bynum’s body, and while he’s presently got that right, it doesn’t speak to what we’ve learned about the young man.
The kid has been determined, tough and tough-minded as he has pushed himself, obviously the kind of competitor a team needs to win a championship.
That last sentence summarizes Simers’ argument — since Bynum has played through a knee injury, and since he has potential, the Lakers should forgo Chris Bosh in order to keep him.
I don’t think that the ball is in the Lakers’ court. While the Bynum-for-Bosh swap made a lot of sense earlier in the season, it doesn’t make much sense for the Raptors now, unless they are willing to risk the two years and $28.6 million remaining on Bynum’s contract even though he has missed an average of 32 games over the last three seasons. A team option for the third year does make the trade a bit more palatable, but it all depends on what other sign-and-trade deals are out there for Bosh. In other words, is a gimpy Bynum the best Toronto can do?
He is just 22 years old and could very well bounce back from the knee problems that have plagued him over the past three years. But how common is it for a seven footer to suffer major injuries in his first few years and then suddenly become durable? While it’s true that he’d be a good fit alongside Andrea Bargnani, who is more of a power forward than a center, it’s not going to do the Raptors much good to trade for a guy who can’t seem to stay healthy.
As for the Lakers, of course they should do this deal. Chris Bosh is a 26-year-old who will be a top 15 player in the league for the next five to six years. This coincides nicely with the remainder of Kobe’s prime, and he’d give the Lakers a fighting chance when Kobe finally hangs ’em up. He’d be a better fit than Bynum alongside Pau Gasol, who is arguably the league’s best post player, at least offensively. Bosh’s ability to hit long jumpers would create more space for Gasol and Kobe to do their thing.
I just don’t think the Lakers are going to be the ones that have to make the decision. That’s Bryan Colangelo’s call now.
Photo from fOTOGLIF
