Andrama Bynum

Bynum.

The name alone either makes Laker fans want to puke, jump for joy, or give a blank stare at the wall because they just don’t know. He’s one of the better young bigs in the NBA, showing flashes of utter dominance on the offensive end and a knack for swatting and altering shots around the rim. A center with that type of potential doesn’t grow on trees. His combination of size and strength is rare, and therefore, sought after by NBA teams. You’d think the Lakers would have no issues having this potential young phenom on their squad.

Enter the mind of Kobe Bean Bryant, perhaps the only player in the league who would have a problem with this situation. Bryant has made it abundantly clear that winning now is the number one priority. While Bynum is already a productive center at the tender age of 20, he’s still light-years away from being a capable option on a championship caliber team. By not trading him for proven talent to build around Bryant, it’s evident that the Lakers front office believes he will one day be the player that we need him to be now.

Thus the drama is born. Do you part ways with that type of talent for an attempt to win now? Would a trade of Jermaine O’Neal, which would cost the Lakers other vital piece, and an entry into the second round even be enough to convince Kobe that this is the best path to a title?

There are millions of questions that can be asked, none-of-which are possible to answer. My advice to everyone is to sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride. No matter what happens this season, one thing is for certain; it’s going to action-packed and full of drama. That seems to be the ongoing theme for this franchise, and isn’t that one of the reasons why we love it?