Andrew Bynum $16.1 Million Player Option Picked Up By Lakers

Andrew Bynum doesn't appear to be going anywhere. At least not yet.

The Lakers have officially picked up Andrew Bynum's $16.1-million option, The Times has learned.

— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) June 4, 2012

The Lakers have picked up the $16.1 million player option on Bynum, ensuring that he'll stay under contract with the Lakers through the 2012-13 season. Bynum made $14.9 million this past season. Bynum is by far the second best center in the league and should ensure Los Angeles remains a playoff contender for the foreseeable future as long as he's a Laker.

The next step for the Lakers will be securing Bynum to a contract extension that'll make him a Laker for a much longer period of time. With Kobe Bryant not getting any younger and Pau Gasol being potentially shopped, this franchise will soon be Bynum's, and the Lakers have to make a decision about whether they want Bynum to become the face of their franchise.

Talk about Bynum returning to the Lakers over at Silver Screen and Roll.

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