The stir that the Cavaliers created today with their announcement of an indefinite suspension for Andrew Bynum has prompted plenty of rumors, and since our original story is getting lengthy, we’ll split off the latest on the one-time All-Star center into a new post. Here’s what we know:
- The Heat would likely have interest in Bynum if they can clear a roster spot for him, writes Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com. Miami and the Clippers are Bynum’s preferred destinations, and both have been keeping an eye on big men who could become available.
Earlier updates:
- Trading Bynum may be a difficult task, as Sam Amico was told (Twitter Link) by an NBA executive: “Trading for him won’t magically make the issues just go away. He doesn’t love the game.”
- A source close to the Cavaliers tells HoopsWorld’s Alex Kennedy that Bynum was exhibiting the same “reckless behavior” in Cleveland that he did when he was a member of the Lakers (Twitter link). The big man has shown frequent disrespect to his coaches, Kennedy’s source said.
- The Lakers don’t seem likely to bring Bynum back, according to Eric Pincus of the Los Angeles Times.
- The Mavs met with Bynum when he was a free agent this summer, but they’re probably not interested in him now, writes Dwain Price of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
- If the Cavs can’t find a trade partner, it’s not clear whether they’ll keep Bynum beyond January 7th, when the guaranteed portion of his contract jumps from $6MM to his full $12.25MM salary, according to Jeff Zillgitt and Sam Amick of USA Today. The Clippers would be interested in Bynum if he were to become a free agent because they know they need to address their weakness at backup center, according to Zillgitt and Amick.
- Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio hears there’s no interest from other teams in trading for Bynum and that the Cavs will indeed wind up releasing him before his contract becomes fully guaranteed (Twitter links).
- Bud Shaw of The Plain Dealer takes Bynum to task for his apparent lack of commitment and raises the idea that the Cavs could trade him closer to the deadline if they decide to keep him beyond January 7th.
- Bynum probably won’t end up with the Warriors, since the organization loves its team chemistry and already has three backup centers with guaranteed contracts (Twitter links).
- Bynum might be a disruptive presence in the Cavs locker room, but if there were such problems when he was with the Sixers, no one has said anything about it, writes Bob Cooney of the Philadelphia Daily News.
to be honest, I agree with Bynum. Based on the stuff he said earlier in the year, he is more injured than I think any of us thought (with him speaking of retirement), but he still should be getting more touches when on the court. Kyrie Irving dominates the ball and is taking way too many shots, and he is only shooting 40%. The whole reason people like me thought that Bynum would be great for them, is b/c of the inside-outside capabilities of this team. However, we arent seeing that from them, and we’ve seen Irving and Jarret Jack not playing to what at least I thought they would do. They should have been running a lot more offense through Bynum in the post.
in his last 5 gthe tames Bynum took 55 shots and made only 20 of them. Kyrie is the only one to take more in that time I believe. The team was working him back slowly. He seemed uninterested many times in the games I have been to. No matter the talent, a team needs team players not whiners or those uninterested.
11 FGA per game in a small stretch as an increase in touches isnt nearly enough for a guy like him to get into a good enough rhythm. He needs to be getting the ball in the post much more, and then that opens up the floor for Irving and Waiters or shooters. Bynum should be getting at least 15 shots per game. This team really disappoints me as a basketball fan b/c they have the talent to be much better than they’ve shown. They arent going anywhere with Kyrie Irving taking a ton of shots and shooting 40% compared to the 46 and 47% he shot his first two years. Its not just him that has been disappointing either, as Jarret Jack is also in that category for me. Mike Brown was supposed to come in and help with their defensive inefficiencies, and that hasnt changed either.
lkjl
he’s a bum. everyone in Philly coddled him and didn’t hold him accountable for anything. and cleveland’s surprised? they deserve the turmoil for giving this oaf 6 mil guaranteed after he made close to 17 without stepping on the court