JULY 18TH: Bynum has officially signed his contract, the team announced. For cap-related reasons, the Cavs had delayed finalizing the deal while they considered claiming Mike Miller off waivers, but with Miller now a free agent, that appears to have cleared the way for Bynum to officially join the Cavs.
JULY 10TH, 7:01pm: Bynum's deal is for $12MM this season, only $6MM of which is guaranteed, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports. It also includes a $12.5MM team option for 2014/15.
6:52pm: Andrew Bynum has decided to sign with the Cavaliers, as Chris Broussard of ESPN.com hears (Twitter link). Bynum and agent David Lee just got off the phone with Cleveland to inform the club of the center's intentions, tweets Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio. The Cavs, who reportedly offered a partially guaranteed two-year, $24MM deal, were growing increasingly unsure of their ability to land the oft-injured center, Amico wrote earlier today, but it looks like their fears were unfounded.
Only $6MM was guaranteed in the team's offer to Bynum, but it still appeared to be the most guaranteed money any team was willing to give him as his field of suitors narrowed to the Cavs, Mavericks and Hawks. The Sixers weren't ruling out a return, but they seemed a longshot.
The Cavs will bank on a return to health for the 2012 All-Star who missed the entire 2012/13 season. The Sixers acquired Bynum last summer as part of the blockbuster Dwight Howard deal, but he never suited up for Philadelphia, felled by a pair of balky knees that also caused him to miss significant time during his seven years with the Lakers.
Cleveland could wind up with a marquee player on the cheap, as Bynum appeared headed toward a maximum-salary contract, or something close to it, before he missed last season. The deal adds to a crowded frontcourt that includes Anderson Varejao, Tristan Thompson and No. 1 pick Anthony Bennett, and it could signal a trade is forthcoming, though that's just my speculation.
Bynum will reunite with Cavs coach Mike Brown, who coached him during his final season with the Lakers. Brown's presence was a factor in Bynum decision, Amico tweets, as the big man feels the team simply wanted him more than any other club.
mavs strike outs twice with the top 2 centers
They’re getting too old like the Lakers.
Even with Bynum you dont need a trade really. You have Bynum, Tristan and probably Clark as the starters. Varejao and his energy off the bench with Zeller and Bennett (who can apparently play some SF). You also have Gee in the mix but he could also play a little guard plus Karasev. So they are a little forward heavy. to make a trade I would offer Gee or even Kevin jones to the Kings for Fredette who can shoot outside. We would have a pretty solid lineup, even stronger if Andy and Bynum stay healthy.