The Fan Hub

The Lakers have exercised their $16.1 million team option on center Andrew Bynum according to sources. There is rampant speculation that after another early exit from the postseason the Lakers brass are likely to break up their big three of Bynum, Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol and if Jim Buss has his way, move out from their massive luxury tax exposure in the process. Financially the Lakers are one of few teams that will be in luxury tax with their payroll north of $83 million, which under the new CBA is far more costly. The new agreement requires tax paying teams to pay $1 for every $1 their team salary exceeds the tax watermark of $70 million.

While the Lakers are still heavy favorites to land Dwight Howard, other teams that could be find themselves in the running for Bynum are the Brooklyn Nets, and possibly the Portland Trailblazers. While a Howard-Bynum swap continues to be the most logical of swaps, the Lakers could work a sign and trade with Brooklyn for Deron Williams as the Nets not only have Williams, but are well under the salary and could absorb at least one of the Lakers bad contracts, namely Metta World Peace whose on the books for $7.2 million.

— Dave Jacober