Bynum's development has taken at least two full years before seeing significant improvement. All that I can tell you is that from countless arguments with different Laker fans, I was never under the impression that they were ever as "critical" of Bynum as we were of Frye. If you remember, during those two playoff series against Phoenix, Bynum was essentially a non-factor.
2 full seasons for Bynum. People here were already giving up on Frye during his second year. Now, I'm not going to insult people's intelligence and blindly defend Channing Frye no matter what, but don't forget that in the 2005 draft, Frye was getting noticeable attention.
By the time it was our turn to draft at 8, Jay Bilas had listed Frye as the best player available. Mike and the Mad Dog loved the pick. We drafted a four year college player who wound up making the All-Rookie First team.
Trust me, looking back, I would have loved to have drafted Bynum. But I don't think it's reasonable to stand here today and act like everyone completely pushed for Bynum for the #8 pick.
Funny how you mention Francisco Garcia (whom I really respect as an NBA player) as a starter, but out of 213 career games, I only see 34 starts. I'm definitely not knocking on his contributions to the Kings though.
It's easy to harp on Isiah because he's had little success, but it's not unreasonable to believe that Isiah's drafts have been decent to say the least.
Where has Frye's development taken place? Frye hit the rookie wall at mid way point of his rookie season. Frye was only good in the NBA for half a rookie season, Bynum has been tremendous all year. Their performance alone shows its a bad pick.
And any smart GM would give 2 years of development to have a Bynum.
Frye showed no potential. He was a 6"10 jumpshooter who was bad at everything else. When his jump shots didn't fall in, he was argueably the worst player on this team.
Bynum in the other hand showed flashes of greatness, which gave Laker fans a lot of hope, and is the reason why the Lakers invested so much stock into Bynum. Lakers wouldn't even give away Bynum in the KG or Jermaine O'Neal, deal. Now because of their smart GM and knowing their personnel, they'll have an all star center for the next 10 years.
Frye was getting attention because Isiah promised Frye he will be drafted at 8. Frye isn't even a top 15 player from that draft, so it really was really a terrible pick overall.
Fuck Jay Bilas.
Mike and the Mad Dog don't know anything about basketball.
Frye was a four year college player, and Bynum was the youngest player to ever play in the NBA.
Why even compare rookie years? its pointless. Bynum only played 40 games in like 7 minutes. We're not using equal environments here.
What you need to understand is that when Bynum finally got a taste of the NBA in 2006-07, he was the superior player that year.
21 minutes
7.8 ppg
6 rebounds
1.6 blocks
58% FG
Frye did
26 minutes
9.1 points
43% FG
5.5 rebounds
.6 blocks
1.39 turnovers
Bynum has the much more efficient season(5 less minutes compared to Frye, but more efficiency, superior shooting, blocks and rebounding in less turnover/touches) where Frye was shown to be a total fraud and BUST.
This season, its no comparison either. Bynum has always been the superior talent, now he has the skills and confidence to utilize his talent as a great starter in the NBA. All Frye is now is an 8th man on a non playoff team.
Stop sucking Frye, please. He was never top 8 material, not even in college. He was soft in the NCAA and is softer in the NBA. His rebounding/defensive skills are limited as Curry, and all he has is a jump shot and a very inconsistent unreliable post game.
Garcia is a starter, capable starter, sorta to the Raja Bell/Bruce Bowen role. He'll never make an all star team, ever; but he'll be in this league because he's a 6"7 guy who can play and defend PG/SG/SF with NBA 3pt range and a shitload of agility and skills. If we would of drafted Bynum and Garcia, we would of been set at SG/PF....
If Isiah never traded all that value for Curry, we would of had Aldridge also.
Imagine
Marbury(penetrator)
Garcia(shooter)
Ariza(slasher)
Aldridge(skilled big man)
Bynum(beast)
6th man
Joakim Noah(andersonvarejao clone)
Little blunders by Isiah have led to the disaster that is the New York Knicks.
As the Lakers looked to change the lineup (especially after a recent Kobe Bryant trade demand) many teams made offers for Bynum, including the New Jersey Nets and the Indiana Pacers. But Mitch Kupchak, General Manager of the Lakers, put to rest rumors of the team trading Bynum by commenting "we're not going to trade Andrew."[8] Recently, the Lakers exercised a fourth year contract option on him.[9]
