There’s love all over Laker town.  Andrew Bynum finally gets the extension he is looking for, with both sides compromising.  Andrew Bynum will receive about $42 million over the first three years of the new contract.  The fourth year will be a team option for about $16 million.

I guess everybody’s happy.  Well, maybe not the Celtics and the rest of the league.

I wrote how greed can cloud contract negotiations but now I realized, maybe both sides were just giving/requesting offers at high/low starting points so they can meet in the middle.  I forgot how these guys (player agent and team management) are pros when it comes to negotiations like these. Ah well, all’s well that ends well.

Both sides benefit from this deal.  Andrew Bynum, obviously, will have financial security while the Lakers are legally tied to him for only three years.  In case Andrew Bynum re-injures his knee (or some other major injury), the Lakers “suffer” for only three years at the most.  Moreover, after three years, and Andrew Bynum proves he can be healthy (and he’s obviously improving skillswise), the max deal is a no-brainer.

I like what Andrew Bynum’s brother, Corey Thomas said:

At the end of the day, Andrew told his agent, “I want to get a deal done. I want to be a Laker.” I believe he’s a max basketball player and his agent thinks so too. But the way Kobe [Bryant] has led this team the past two years, why would Andrew want to go anywhere else?

There’s something very, very special about this team and I think he felt, “Hey, why fight over five or six million dollars when you could have five championship rings?”

You’re right on target there, Corey.

I also learned something today. Kurt, of Forum Blue and Gold, writes, “Traditionally teams future (or existing) young stars are signed to an extension by the Oct. 31 deadline, it’s a sign of respect from the organization.”

Andre Bynum said:

This has been a fantastic week for me so far: turning 21, winning our first two games of the season, and now getting this new contract signed. This gives me and my family financial security, and more importantly, cements my future with the Lakers, which in my opinion is the best organization in all of professional sports. I couldn’t be happier.

The Los Angeles Lakers, the best organization in all of professional sports, I won’t argue with that.