Andrew Bynum's Halo handle: "AndrewBynumXT"
For those looking to challenge the lad to an online showdown (although bring your A-game, as he gave out the moniker to those who "want to get beat.")
This and other useful information can be ascertained from the audio of Andrew Bynum's news conference late this morning. I'm in transit, so I basically have time to post the first half of the copy and run, but I wanted to get you all the sound ASAP.
Andrew Bynum, Part I: Download bynum_part_1.mp3
Bynum said he's feeling great after the surgery and rehab ("Everything's ready to go. 100%."), that he's been cleared to do "pick whatever basketball activity" and is seriously itching to get back on the court. Drew pictures himself and Pau Gasol meshing well (a "twin tower effect," as he put it) and is hoping to pick up where he left off before getting hurt, which was playing well enough to make Kobe Bryant picture a title. As far as his potential extension goes, Bynum said he'd prefer to get it out of the way before the season starts, but if that's not the case, so be it. As he noted, "If I handle my business on the court, the business off the court will be handled." Besides, as he put it, "I'm gonna be out there either way, so it doesn't really matter."
What immediately caught my attention is how much older Bynum looks. I don't know if it's because I haven't seen him in a while or because he's kind of "growing into himself," but at any rate, he's looking less "Socks-like" these days.
In other Lakers related news, Coby Karl and Sasha Vujacic were on the court doing some shooting and I was told by another writer that Jordan Farmar had been there.
Part II to come in the next couple hours or so.
AK
Haha, is that you Fatty? or that's the beast of LakerTom. Fatty strikes again.
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | September 05, 2008 at 08:24 PM
This is good news Lakers people.
Andrew the 'Beast' Bynum is back.
Posted by: Fatty | September 05, 2008 at 08:31 PM
What have you done for me lately Dept.
Shaq's relevant eff stats (per) for 2007-08 season
NBA Ranking 71. - (16.77) 15th for NBA centers
After trade: Suns went from 1st place to 6th seed in playoffs. Then were embarrassingly eliminated in the FIRST ROUND in only 5 games
Cost to team: Only $40 million for two more years.
Historically, the worst trade in NBA history. An All Star in his prime for an aging, overweight, and often injured player with a $60 million dollar price tag.
As they say at "Whatta Burger" Whatta a Bargain!
Posted by: Fatty | September 05, 2008 at 10:44 PM
I have been coming to this site for years and just read and didn't reply too much. But today I do want to talk about this shaq issue that's going on. Now I understand why people like him enough to forgive him for all the problems he caused because after all we did win 3 championship while he was still here. Personally, I lost all respect for him as a player when he refused to have the surgery on his toe during off season because he believed if he got hurt on his JOB then he should get it fixed during work as well. Since that day lots of us start losing respect for him. Could you imagine Kobe (or anyone else in the league) saying that and getting away with it. Pippen sat down for one play and that play became more famous than anything else he ever did. Shaq missed about 1/3 of the season on purpose and team struggled. Is that how PROFESSIONALS act? The reason most of us who don't like him continue to bash him should be just as understanding as it is for us to understand why some of you can't ever get mad at him.
Posted by: Bittu | September 06, 2008 at 12:57 AM
Great News about Bynum and hopefully Kobe will get his finger surgery soon(just found out he plans to announce a date on his website). Hope things go smoothly for Kobe.
Great Coverage AK & Bk.
Just a comment on the guy who keeps bring up the topic of Shaq, no one in this site is remotely interested about Shaq you are the one who brought up the topic, no one was blogging anything about him until you posted that so called ESPN ranking. . . . . the truth is no one here is afraid of Shaq anymore bec. he allowed himself to become fat which led to him becoming Injury Prone which led to the demise of the Miami Heat in 2007-08, the only reason that Kerr traded for him was bec. he was still hopping that Shaq would shape up and become a factor again, but so far as seen in his perfomace in last season's playoff, he has become a shadow of his former self. Oh he can still dunk and get some rebounds but to dominate?????, Tim Duncan can still dominate, Shaq can dominate at eating, at making alot of Noise, at being an annoying irritant, at basketball?? at best he has become a big body with an above average post game with a very very big salary. Wake up or stop smoking whatever you are smoking, No one wants to talk about Shaq here, maybe if you went to the Suns blog they are interested of talking about him. Here no one is interested or care about Shaq.
Go Bynum, Go Pao, Go Lakers' Twin Towers.
Posted by: Frankie | September 06, 2008 at 12:59 AM
Watching the Bynum video, was encouraging. He seems very mature and confident. I would say that he has potential leadership skills. Remember his aggressiveness before, on that you tube video when he got peeved when Sasha couldn't make the entry pass. I think this player is starting to get his act together, while there is another center, who occupies space in Phoenix, who is having his game and personal life unravel. Let me ask you people this. Wasn't it nice to actually watch or listen to an interview and actually understand what the inteviewee was saying. He was precise, had the answers right as the questions ended, and he was clearly understandable. No playing games with the media, and thus disrespecting the fans. I believe that this player is willing to receive the torch when Kobe passes it on, not to say that Kobe will be done, but perhaps, Kobe will use the freedom of less pressure to lurk the baselines and attack. Granted he has many endorsements back, and his credibility has been reinstated, after the Colorado debacle, and everything else internal to the team (which according to PJ should always stay internal....unless he leaks it, and we know he does, for reasons....), looks like all is forgiven for Kobe's temporary loss of control last summer...but then, that's all part of what I believe we need, dissapate the media and fan pressure on him, We may not have 4 Hall of Famers this year, but we may have 5+ players who can play at all-star level, but we have seen, with some, not consistently. John Lennon "Power to the People".....right on!!!!!
Posted by: humanomaly | September 06, 2008 at 01:17 AM
Hey Blitz....
Kobe-Shaq years???? Don't remember them....from this day forth.... (we don't have to rehash trash....)
The Sun rises in the East, and sets in the West.
"You know, in all this excitement, I can't remember whether I fired 5 or 6 bullets..." .....well, Lakers are loaded, and not like ex-KU players... proof positive that program is needed. They just got their timing mixed up...go to class, clean up act....well they maybe went to class, but....
Perhaps, even if PJ and staff don't focus on defense as in previous years, maybe players can sneak in their own work....seems we got some players that can read the writing on the wall......
Posted by: humanomaly | September 06, 2008 at 01:30 AM
Are we launching the 63 win wagon yet?
Posted by: Mob Wagoneer | September 06, 2008 at 10:06 AM
Since AK/BK haven't posted the second half yet, Lakers.com has the video of the entire press conference. Maybe this can be embedded in.
http://tinyurl.com/6d5l7a
Posted by: ATL Laker Fan | September 05, 2008 at 05:09 PM
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I have seen the interview thanks ATL Laker fan and want to point out while I am coherant (pain killers for back and shoulder makes me groggy) and able to post.
The one thing not mentioned about the interview was what LakerTom and I have been preaching a long time.
Sign AB preferably to near max money or lose him to FA or pay a lot more to keep him. Go back and listen to what he said in regards to if he is signed or not. If he is signed then that is something he will not have to focus on. Now the important words! If they don't then the ball is in my court. I'll translaate for you. Then negotiations are in my court and I will be a free agent and choose who I sign with and for how much. Now do you all want to let AB sniff free agency? I think not.
Posted by: JustaLakerFan | September 07, 2008 at 11:07 PM
KL,
KG and Allen weren't free agents when they went to Boston they were traded. In trades you have to take back as much money as you're giving (I think you can go about 15% over that though).
And no, Lebron wouldn't be signing in LA because Lebron isn't going to be playing for just 5.6 million (or whatever the midlevel would be worth at that time). There is no situation in which you can show legitimate evidence where a superstar took considerably less money to play for a certain team outside of the Malone and Payton examples, unless you're a cynic and everyone who doesn't sign with LA is saying F-U to Kobe.
I mean tell me the last superstar to sign with the Spurs for less money or the Nets or the Suns? You can't because there aren't any which shows the inherent flaws in your logic
And when was Kobe comparing himself to Jordan? The media has always been the driving force behind next Jordan comparisons. At least he's not running around in the No. 23 and calling himself the King like Lebron. Tell me, do you hate Lebron for essentially comparing himself to MJ every time he steps onto the court?
As for Shaq, I think (and thought at the time) trading him was the right move. Instead of being a championship contender we'd likely be a lottery team. And like you said, both Shaq and Kobe could have done things differently, but in the end keeping the younger guy who works on his game and stays in shape.
Posted by: Xodus | September 05, 2008 at 06:20 PM
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Excellant point Xodus and I might add that Magic Johnson returned money from his contract (then legal to do so) to have Jamal Wilkes signed.
Only Lakers have done that except for Gilbert Arenas accepting a smaller big new contract. So mainly Lakers have had players take less money to play for the purple and gold.
The rest is right on too.
Posted by: JustaLakerFan | September 07, 2008 at 11:13 PM