artest, bynum, odom…who’s the most valuable to the lakers?

Its easily Bynum. The Lakers won the year before without Artest, and Lakers are capable of winning any series despite Odom’s usual “disapperance” and inconsistency.

I don’t think its easily Bynum because he’s always hurt anyway. I would go with Odom because he makes all the subtle plays that win games. Just look at the National Team. Odom don’t put up the stats are the highlights but like Battier he bring all the intangibles to a team that enables them to win. Not to mention he can play dam near every position on the floor effectively.

I cant believe these 2 guys above me are saying Bynum isnt the clear “most valuable”. Bynum is a legitimate top 6-7 (just barely outside the top 5) Center in the NBA right now, your telling me hes not the most “expendable” out of these 3 players?

Well well well..Look at LL Perez with the Trick question..lol

They won a ring without Artest..
They won with Bynum being out with an injury..
And they won with Odom,who has been up & down…

Artest defense on Durant & Carmelo
Odom’s versatile game and his ball handling eases some pressure off Kobe..

BUT i think Bynum is the most important..

If he stays healthy he could become the 2nd best center in the league…

They won with Odom, Bynum has been hurt most of the last two years, and Artest was only there a year tho Perez made a great point that they do need somebody to fill in for his or Arizas perimeter defense…That’s Odom…When Bynum was out guess who filled in and won them games?…Odom…Even with Slam’s top 50 current NBA players Odom is on the list and Bynum isn’t. Odom is the glue to that team, the false safe who only produces when the teams needs him too…In fact Slam sums everything up perfectly as to why Odom is the 3rd most important player on the Lakers…Heres the link

http://www.slamonline.com/online/nba/slamonline-top-50/2010/09/top-50-lamar-odom-no-48/

Another thing that can’t be ignored is that during the playoffs Odom averaged 10, 9, 2 assists and a block. Bynum averaged 9, 7, 0.5 assists, 1.5 blocks. That doesn’t even include all the other intangibles that Odom brings to the table like versatility, perimeter and low post defense, ball movement, and clutch shooting.

Besides the fact that Odom is a bigger playoff producer which is overrides whatever rank you think Bynum is as a center, Bynum can play only one position. It’s just simple math to figure out that it’s easier to replace one position then it is to replace somebody that has started in his career at 4 different positions.

For next year its easily Bynum, he size at Center spot lets Gasol play PF and not have to defend Centers which keeps him out of foul trouble. In the past I would say Odom but to win this year its Bynum, no way can Odom guard Yao Ming, Shaq or Dwight Howard he just doesn’t have the size.
When Gasol was at C and Odom at the PF spot the Lakers got blown out by the Celtics in 08.
Odom isn’t really a SF or C, he doesn’t really have a great perimeter shot but he handles the ball well and defends.
Bynum doesn’t get many fg attempts with the Lakers but he does well in his limited role.
Strange that Bynum and Odom both averaged less mins in the playoffs compared to the regular season.
Gasol stole the show as usual, Artest he’s not even in the conversation that lucky shot against the Suns was a fluke.
His mins will decrease with Barnes signing on and the Lakers wisely resigned Brown.
Artest had a weak showing in the playoffs outside of a few games, I’d like to see him defend Mello or Lebron in a series its doubtful he could slow them down much. Its not the same as covering Durant who was in his 1st playoff series.

Bynum is clearly the most valuable asset among those mentioned. We all know how difficult it is to find a quality big man in the draft or free agency or in the league period. Bynum is a 22 year old 7foot Center with skills. Yes he has been injured, but did I mention he is only 22? Bynum could have came out of college with this year’s Draft Class, im sure he would have been a top 2 pick at worst. So despite his recent injuries, u cant teach youth, height, and upside and Bynum has all three.

I think it is Odom, even when Odom does not play well stat wise his versatily and his ability to come off the bench and play any role is a very valuable asset to the Lakers. Bynum is good but the way the Lakers play, you could replace him with a lot of Centers and they would still be effective because as of now Bynum’s role is limited in the Lakers offense.

The Lakers have Pau Gasol therefore negating their need for Bynum. When it comes down to it they barely use him to win games or championships. Bynum is enigmatic to say the least. You are right that he is 7 foot, wit size agility and offensive skills. But what the Lakers need from him to win is defense and rebounding. It’s not as hard to find a defensive center who rebounds and blocks shots. The Lakers would win just as many game with Tyson Chandler.

In the future is Bynum can put it together and stay healthy then he may be the most valuable. But right now for the Lakers tp 3peat Odom is most valuable to the Lakers attempt at another 3peat then Bynum. He’s been in the league 5 years now people it dont matter how old you are if you been in the league 5 years its time to put together some full season.

run proves him the most valuable. Odom and Bynum were seemingly ineffective.

run proves him the most valuable. Odom and Bynum were seemingly ineffective.

Odom was very inconsistent the whole season.Bynum was hurt.Artest made a game-winning shot,made clinch 3’s,and lockdown Pierce in game 7

kobe, lmao. im surprised that didnt happen sooner. i think its definately bynum. followed by odom followed by artest. bynum is that seven foot center that bothers everyones shot in the lane and then gasol picks up the rebound. bynum all day.

It does matter how old you are if you are a big man coming out of high school. First of all big men usally take longer to develop than any other position and secondly if you are coming out of high school it may take even longer. D Howard has been in the league 6 six years and still has no offensive game to speak of. Its not all about years, its also about how you fit into the scheme of the team offense. You may be the first option or not an option. Bynum has not been given a big role as far as 1st or 2nd option yet. So we dont know what he really has in the tank. Look at Blatche, he was barely averaging 7pg and then when he became the focal point, he was putting up 20pg a nite. Now who honestly knew Blatche could score over 20 a nite? Plus big men because of their size are more prone to injury, Bynum has shown he can be dominant in strecthes when healthy. Injury is out of anyones control. Yet look at the big men who have came out of High School most of them have had dramistic struggles at some point. Tyson Chandler, Eddy Curry, Desanga Diop, Robert Swift, Kendrick Perkins, Jermaine Oneal, Kwame Brown. Howard is the only one to really transition easily to the league, and he is doing his off strictly athleticism. Of course you have Garnett, but thats far and few. Bynum will find himself it he can stay healthy, maybe on another team.

id say odom is the hardest to replace in the past 2 title runs. he does everything and the lakers showed they can iwn without bynum although i hope they dont have to prove that again. this year bynum might be the most important of the three though

Wow I respect you guys’ opinions but how do you not say Bynum?  Lakers’ players said that if they had Bynum in 2008 they would have won the championship and just last year you saw how valuable his length was on both sides of the ball against the Celtics.  If Bynum is out if the Lakers make the finals depending if they face the celtics or heat I give them no shot, but with Bynum the Lakers are nearly unstoppable

Because the lakers have won without bynum. It’s easy to say they would have won in 08 with him but mo one knows for sure. The players also said they would have won with a healthy ariza

Phil Jackson

 Yeah Players will make any excuse as to why they didn’t win and Bynum didn’t have a huge impact on the finals, and Pau Gasol should of won MVP.