He would show glimpses of his tremendous potential and look like a dominant center for stretches, and then completely disappear on the court, showcase his immaturity or suffer another injury.
The seven-footer was a source of both pride and frustration for Los Angeles fans, but finally, last season, his play on the court matched his physical gifts.
Fully healthy for the first time in years, Bynum cut down on foul trouble and was able to stay on the court and make a major impact for the Lakers.
He averaged 18.7 points, 11.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.9 blocks per game while shooting 55.8 percent from the field last season, numbers that easily cemented him as a top three center in this league.
He became the Western Conference's starting All-Star center and appears poised to fill that role for a long time to come.
However, despite his breakout campaign, there is still talk of the Lakers dealing Andrew Bynum this offseason. With Dwight Howard's tenure in Orlando likely over and the Nets possessing little cap space, L.A. has again emerged as a potential landing spot for the three-time Defensive Player of the Year, but while Howard is undoubtedly a great player, the team simply must roll the dice with Bynum.
He's been in the league for seven years, so it's easy to forget that Bynum is still only 24. Sure, he has dealt with more than his share of injuries, but his performance last season and in the playoffs proves that his knee troubles have not slowed down his game or reduced his effectiveness.
As a scorer, Bynum is actually much more polished than Dwight Howard. He has a solid set of low-post moves and can score with his back to the basket easily. He does not rely merely on overpowering his opponent, and has even shown that he can hit a mid-range shot when necessary.
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Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
