Andrew Bynum versus 2015 draft 7-Footers

MrClutch44

We're all excited about getting the #2 overall pick in 2015 - no doubt about it and hope it will change the fortune of the team....BUT honestly...are Towns or Okafor really franchise changing players?

I don't think any LGer would confuse either of these two with a David Robinson, Hakeem, Duncan, Ewing...or for that matter even Anthony Davis!

I know this might bea taboo comment here with some...but I think these two, especially Okafor, may be no better than Andrew Bynum - and Bynum was a #10 pick (2005)! To be fair to AB, he had a couple of great years when he was healthy and was motivated for a big contract, 18/11 in 2011, BUT even then he was not a player that changed the fortunes of a team alone. He was not a franchise center. And I don't think Towns or Okafor are either -- there is nothing in their game from college which suggests they will be either.

Thus...perhaps we should look a little deeper at our roster, as some here have suggested, and trade our #2 pick (sell high now!) and pick up high quality players who can complement the 2-3 max players we'll signing over the next couple of years. Because quite honestly, I don't think Towns or Okafor are the Lakers answer to a return to the banner days.

dmills · Star Player Joined: 18 Aug 2005 Posts: 3711

I'm going to say this with all sincerity. If Andrew Bynum were able to stay healthy and remained on the trajectory that he was on during the championship runs, he'd be hands down the best center in the league today. And it probably wouldn't be close.
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Kava · Star Player Joined: 10 Mar 2010 Posts: 2173

Expectations tempered.

Thank you

Mike@LG · Posted: Thu May 21, 2015 1:47 pm Post subject:

Timeout.

So, Bynum at 19 with very limited skills and some athletic abilities (Lakers really transformed him)

vs.

Karl Towns at 19 with proven two-way ability

OR

Okafor at 19 with proven elite post play ability and defensive tools

Not comparable.
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ringfinger · Retired Number Joined: 08 Oct 2013 Posts: 29418

Ok I guess? I dunno what to do with this.

Megaton · Retired Number Joined: 18 Feb 2015 Posts: 25648

Towns or Okafor>Bynum.

Bynum was a one time all star. Okafor or Towns have the potential to be multiple time all star superstars.

Bynum somehow has gotten REALLY overrated here for the past couple days. Seriously.
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silkwilkes · Posted: Thu May 21, 2015 1:51 pm Post subject:

Brynum was a kid who had knee problems in HS and had medical questions. What's more, people considered him a completely raw player since he didn't start playing bball until later... as I remember it, Jim Buss forced Mitch and PJ's hand to draft Bynum. They wanted someone else.

Towns and Okafor are far far more established than Bynum was.

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E_Wulf420 · Posted: Thu May 21, 2015 1:59 pm Post subject:

Andrew Bynum was the reason the Lakers were doing good that 07-08 year(Besides Kobe of course) I think they still make the finals without Pau.
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kikanga · Posted: Thu May 21, 2015 2:01 pm Post subject:

Injuries are the only reason I think Towns and Okafor have a higher ceiling that Bynum.

But i wouldn't be surprised if a big later in the draft outperforms Towns or Okafor, especially in the short term (next couple years).

Happened in the 2013 draft when Centers Len and Noel went #5 and #6 while Dieng and Gobert went 21 and 27.
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Wino · Posted: Thu May 21, 2015 2:08 pm Post subject:

hype · Posted: Thu May 21, 2015 2:09 pm Post subject:

I dont think people realize how special of a player bynum was turning into.. He could absolutely change games and do it both offensively and defensively.. Injuries and then his attitude on top of that killed any chance for a great career though.. He would have been far and away the best center for awhile if not for the injuries.. He was a factor in the championships as well, I dont get people that say the contrary? He allowed pau to not have to guard dwight all game long and worry about getting in foul trouble for one which was HUGE.. He wont be remembered as much since he was always hampered by something but he was an absolute beast when he could be...

I dont see either of these 2 bigs ever having bynums ceiling when he was at his best but I believe both will end up having better overall careers.

Wino · Posted: Thu May 21, 2015 2:10 pm Post subject:

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