L.A. picks up Andrew Bynum option

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LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Lakers have exercised their $16.1 million option on Andrew Bynum's contract, the team announced Monday.

General manager Mitch Kupchak confirmed last month the Lakers would exercise the option.

Bynum, 24, was named an All-Star for the first time in his seven-year career last season, putting up career bests in points (18.7) and rebounds (11.8) per game, while also being named to the All-NBA second team.

The Lakers had to pick up Bynum's option by June 30 or else the 7-footer would have become a free agent.

It was an expected move by the organization as Bynum became a vital part of the team's success while accomplishing impressive individual feats such as hauling in 30 rebounds against the San Antonio Spurs and registering a triple-double that included 10 blocks in the Lakers' playoff opener against the Denver Nuggets.

For all of Bynum's on-court feats, he also had his share of head-scratching moments, from blowing off a meeting with general manager Mitch Kupchak to launching an ill-advised 3-pointer and only vowing to shoot more of them after head coach Mike Brown benched him for it.

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Despite all of that, the Lakers decided Bynum is someone who can continue to anchor the team.

"I think it's pretty obvious how I feel about Andrew Bynum," Lakers vice president of player personnel Jim Buss told the "Mason & Ireland Show" on 710 ESPN last week. "He's an incredible All-Star center, and you can build the future around him."

A source close to Bynum said that the All-Star center and the team have "not yet engaged" in any discussions about a long-term contract extension, but that Bynum's camp "anticipated" those talks to occur sometime this offseason.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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Dave McMenamin

ESPNLosAngeles.com

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Dave McMenamin spent five seasons as a staff writer for NBA.com in New York and Los Angeles before joining ESPNLosAngeles.com to cover the Lakers and the NBA.