Mobile Menu
HEADLINES

Andrew Bynum

Andrew Bynum Still Seeking More Than Minimum

January 29th, 2014 at 11:04am CST by Chuck Myron

Teams around the NBA are unwilling to give Andrew Bynum more than the minimum salary, as the client of agent David Lee continues to demand, in part because of questions about his desire to play, according to Marc Stein of ESPN.com (Twitter links). Most of the teams linked to Bynum since the Bulls waived him January 7th have backed away from the center who made the All-Star Game two years ago, including the Heat and the Clippers, the pair of clubs Bynum reportedly has the most interest in playing for.

Of his preferred destinations, the Heat have the most to offer, since they still have their $3.183MM taxpayer’s exception available. The Clippers are limited to the minimum. Bynum has reportedly viewed the Celtics as a fallback option, but they’d be hard-pressed to offer much more than the minimum, since doing so would push them over the tax line. In any case, midseason signings for greater than the minimum are rare, even for teams with money to burn.

Questions regarding Bynum’s commitment to the game have dogged the center as he’s battled through an array of knee injuries. He didn’t play at all last season with the Sixers, and while he showed occasional glimpses of his one-time stellar level of play with the Cavs this year, Bynum admitted that he remained physically limited, and he said that the thought of retirement continued to cross his mind.

The 26-year-old averaged 8.4 points and 5.3 rebounds in 20.0 minutes per game for Cleveland this season. The Cavs sent him home in the days leading up to January 7th as they attempted to trade him before his contract, which was partially guaranteed for $6MM, would become fully guaranteed for $12.25MM. Cleveland sent him to the Bulls on the eve of that deadline, and Chicago promptly cut Bynum loose to avoid paying his full salary.

Retweet 0 Share 0 Send via email0

Odds & Ends: Embiid, Bynum, Kings, Petro

January 17th, 2014 at 4:19pm CST by Chuck Myron

Many talent evaluators around the NBA wish the talented but raw Joel Embiid would stay in school for another year, according to Chad Ford of ESPN.com, who debates the freshman Kansas center with fellow ESPN.com scribe Kevin Pelton for an Insider-only piece. NBA teams usually want to see intriguing collegians enter the draft, so the stance on Embiid is an unusual one, as Ford explains. The 19-year-old is the No. 1 prospect on Ford’s Big Board. Here’s more from the Association:

  • Bob Kravitz of the Indianapolis Star doesn’t get the sense that the Pacers will sign Bynum just to keep him away from the Heat, but Kravitz believes Indiana should take a low-risk flier on the big man regardless of where he might otherwise end up.
  • An Eastern Conference scout didn’t think the trade that brought in Rudy Gay would go as well as it has for the Kings, telling Marc Stein of ESPN.com that the move has made the team “relevant again.”
  • Johan Petro announced via Twitter that he’s left the Guangsha Lions of China, so it appears he’s free to sign with any team (translation via Sportando’s Emiliano Carchia). The 27-year-old center spent each of the past eight seasons in the NBA.
  • The Bulls had next season in mind when they signed D.J. Augustin, but it’s unclear whether the team or the point guard will want to continue their relationship beyond 2013/14, as Sam Smith of Bulls.com writes in his latest mailbag column.
  • Former 11th overall pick Jerome Moiso has retired, reports L’Equipe (translation via Carchia). Moiso spent five seasons in the NBA after the Celtics drafted him in 2000. He finished last season with Piratas de Quebradillas in Puerto Rico.
  • Louisiana-Lafayette point guard Elfrid Payton is a fast riser in the eyes of many NBA teams, tweets Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times. Ford has the 6’4″ junior at No. 54 in his ESPN.com rankings, while Payton is No. 64 for Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress.
Retweet 0 Share 0 Send via email0

Heat Rumors: Bynum, Additions, Temple

January 16th, 2014 at 10:31am CST by Chuck Myron

Yesterday was an eventful day for the Heat, who saved on salary and their projected luxury bill with their swap of Joel Anthony for Toney Douglas, and welcomed Greg Oden back for an eight-minute stint that was his first official NBA action in more than four years. The day ended with the thud of a blowout loss to the Wizards, resulting in Miami’s first three-game losing streak since the 2011/12 season. Here’s more from South Beach:

  • In spite of speculation that yesterday’s trade would lead the Heat to sign Andrew Bynum, team president Pat Riley told reporters yesterday that nothing’s going on between Bynum and the club, Bleacher Report’s Ethan Skolnick tweets.
  • Riley also said that he’d be meeting with others in the front office and looking for pieces to add to the club, Skolnick notes via Twitter.
  • The Heat’s next priority should be finding an energetic wing player who can defend well, as Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel opines in his latest mailbag column.
  • Miami tried to bring back 2012 training camp invitee Garrett Temple when he was a free agent this summer, tweets J. Michael of CSNWashington.com. The point guard re-signed with the Wizards instead, and the Heat’s decision to cut him two years ago still serves as motivation, Temple says.
Retweet 0 Share 0 Send via email0

Nuggets Rumors: Miller, Gallinari, Draft

January 15th, 2014 at 9:59am CST by Chuck Myron

Denver is perhaps the NBA’s streakiest team, having won seven in a row at one point and five in a row at another, with an eight-game losing skid in between. So far, it’s all more or less evened out, as Denver has a 19-18 record. Monday’s loss to the Jazz snapped their five-game win streak, perhaps signaling another string of defeats is on its way. Here’s the latest from the Rocky Mountains:

  • The Nuggets have no interest in acquiring J.R. Smith, be it in a trade for Andre Miller or otherwise, as Chris Mannix of SI.com reported earlier this morning, and it doesn’t look like there will be a Miller trade involving the Mavericks, either. In reference to the veteran point guard, Mavericks president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson told the BaD Radio program on 1310 The Ticket in Dallas that he’s satisfied with his backcourt and won’t be “looking to mess around with that” (transcription via the Dallas Morning News). Nelson also said the notion of Andrew Bynum joining the Mavs is “a long to long-long-long shot.”
  • Danilo Gallinari says the thought of missing the entire season has crossed his mind, but it’s still possible that he’ll return this year from his torn left ACL, as he tells Massimo Lopes Pegna of La Gazzetta dello Sport (translation via Sportando’s Emiliano Carchia). That’s a change from his comments two months ago, when it appeared likely that he would come back at some point in 2013/14.
  • Gallinari also told Pegna that the Nuggets are scouting Italian draft prospect Alessandro Gentile, who could be a second-round pick (translation via Carchia). The swingman is No. 69 in the DraftExpress prospect rankings, but No. 127 at ESPN.com.
Retweet 0 Share 0 Send via email0

Poll: Where Will Andrew Bynum Sign?

January 14th, 2014 at 8:18pm CST by Cray Allred

Last Tuesday, Andrew Bynum was released by the Bulls on the other side of the trade that sent Luol Deng to the Cavs. While there has been buzz around many potential suitors, he still remains unsigned days after clearing waivers. The 26-year-old 7-footer had worked his way back to playing 20 MPG after losing all of last season to chronic knee injuries. The big man was reportedly prepared to be choosy with where he signed, wanting the best combination of playing status, contending opportunity, and salary available.

However, in recent days Bynum’s choices have been dwindling. Interest from the Heat and Clippers has waned. The Mavericks, who pursued Bynum as a free agent last summer before winding up with Samuel Dalembert, now seems to be a possibility with the latest comments from owner Mark Cuban. Dallas could only offer the minimum salary exception. The Heat and Clippers are contenders that could benefit from frontcourt depth, but are also already in the luxury tax, so a Bynum signing would cost them more than his contract figure. The Clippers have gotten improved play from DeAndre Jordan this year, and the Heat already have two reclamation projects on their roster in Michael Beasley and Greg Oden. The Pacers were linked to the situation, but their presumed motivation of keeping him away from the Heat would disappear if the Heat have truly moved on. The Knicks and Nets are also tax teams, but are more desperate to establish playoff position after rocky starts to the season and a rash of injuries to their frontcourt starters. The Nets are reportedly staying away from the situation, but the Knicks have shown interest.

The short-lived stint with the Cavs was considered Bynum’s shot at proving he could stay motivated and perform at a high level in order to cash in later on a more rewarding contract. Since he didn’t make it through round one of the non-guaranteed contract window, it’s possible that there aren’t any successful franchises willing to let their team become another proving ground for him. It doesn’t make sense for most teams further down the standings to take that risk, since the short-term benefit of a half-season of solid Bynum production would worsen their odds in the vaunted upcoming draft, without any guarantee of the long-term services of Bynum should he play well.

Where do you think he ends up? If and when he’s signed, where will it be?

Retweet 0 Share 0 Send via email0

Southwest Notes: Gordon, Grizzlies, Bynum

January 13th, 2014 at 12:39pm CST by Chuck Myron

Two reports on Friday indicated New Orleans was shopping Eric Gordon, but the Pelicans were quick to tell the shooting guard and Nakia Hogan of The Times-Picayune that they aren’t pursuing any such deals. Gordon doesn’t appear concerned with the chatter, and even though his field goal attempts and scoring average are down for the third straight season, he’s been uncharacteristically healthy this year, having played in all but three games. Backcourt mate Jrue Holiday is sidelined indefinitely with a stress fracture in his right leg, so I’d be surprised if a Gordon trade happens anytime soon. Here’s more from the Southwest Division:

  • James Johnson‘s improved conditioning and maturity has turned him into an asset for the Grizzlies just a month after he signed a minimum-salary deal with the team, as Chris Herrington of the Memphis Commercial Appeal examines. One Western Conference scout tells Herrington that he laments that his team passed on the former 16th overall pick while he languished in free agency.
  • Tim McMahon of ESPNDallas.com weighs the chances that Andrew Bynum could be a fit for the Mavericks, pointing to owner Mark Cuban’s comments about Samuel Dalembert and the state of the team’s centers. “Depends on which Sam we have,” Cuban said. “If we have the Sam of [Friday] night, we’re good. If we have the Sam that isn’t as on key as he was [Friday] night, it’s different. Again, we’re always being opportunistic. Wherever we can improve our team, we will.” 
  • USA Today’s Sam Amick looks at the way NBA teams are connecting with the coaches of their D-League affiliates, noting that Nevada Smith, who beat out 34 other candidates for the head job at Rockets affiliate Rio Grande Valley, has become the “darling” of the D-League coaching circle.
Retweet 0 Share 0 Send via email0

Andrew Bynum Rumors: Monday

January 13th, 2014 at 8:42am CST by Chuck Myron

At this time a week ago, Andrew Bynum was still a member of the Cavaliers, though it was clear he’d never play another game for that team. Since then, he’s been traded and released, and since he cleared waivers, there’s been plenty of chatter about his free agency. His next step won’t come quite as quickly as his previous few have, as a couple of weekend reports demonstrate. Here are the latest details:

  • The Heat aren’t expected to pursue Bynum, a source tells Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports, who includes the tidbit in this morning’s power rankings. The team’s full roster and Greg Oden‘s presence are the reasons why, the source said.

Earlier updates:

  • The Knicks are among the teams with interest in Bynum, but most clubs are taking a cautious approach with the former All-Star, and the race for his services is more marathon than sprint, according to Marc Stein of ESPN.com. New York, like many of the teams in the running for Bynum, can offer only the minimum salary, and he’s seeking more than that, Stein says.
  • The Clippers, at one point considered co-favorites with the Heat to sign Bynum, are leaning against doing so, Stein writes in the same piece, adding that the Thunder are similarly disinterested.
  • Count Portland out, too, as Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com reports the Trail Blazers haven’t inquired about the client of agent David Lee. Portland is wary of Bynum’s health as well as how he might affect a seamless locker room culture. Plus, the team already has 15 fully guaranteed contracts, as Haynes points out.
Retweet 0 Share 0 Send via email0

Eastern Notes: Bynum, Pacers, Heat

January 12th, 2014 at 8:18pm CST by Cray Allred

A quick look at the Eastern Conference..

  • The Pacers are a team that highly values and thrives with team chemistry, which would lead many to assume they wouldn’t target a player like Andrew Bynum.  But that might not stop them from pursuing the free agent big man:  ESPN’s Marc Stein (via Twitter) confirms Indiana is a potential suitor, backing up The Plain Dealer’s Mary Schmitt Boyer, who first mentioned the possibility yesterday.
  • Stein says (Twitter link) that the Pacers‘ interest in Bynum is likely motivated more by a desire to keep him off of the rival Heat‘s roster than to tinker with the Pacers’ chemistry.
  • Pacers veteran Rasual Butler was among those who managed to keep his job following last week’s contract guarantee deadline, notes Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel. “People had written him off,” Pacers coach Frank Vogel said. “He made up his mind that he wasn’t done yet, that he was going to keep working and keep trying. . . . It’s a good story.“

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Retweet 0 Share 0 Send via email0

Western Notes: Cuban, Fredette, J.R. Smith

January 12th, 2014 at 1:00pm CST by Eddie Scarito

With just 39 days left until the trade deadline, the Mavericks say they are cool on the idea of signing Andrew Bynum, writes Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News. It’s not a financial issue, but rather that the team doesn’t need an upgrade at center in the light of the recent play of Samuel Dalembert. That could change if Dalembert cannot maintain consistent production. Team owner Mark Cuban also says the team will be exploring other deals, but he adds that they are restricted by the financial constraints of the collective bargaining agreement. When asked if that meant the “Bank of Cuban” is open, he said: “It’s always been open. Even on Saturdays and Sundays,” and, “We’re always wide-open. We’ll do the deal that we need to do to accomplish what we need to accomplish.”

Some more notes from around the Western Conference:

Retweet 0 Share 0 Send via email0

Eastern Notes: Drake, Raptors, Cavs, Bynum

January 11th, 2014 at 8:12pm CST by Jonathan Nehring

In September the Raptors and rapper Drake agreed to a partnership in preparation for the Raptors 20th anniversary and the 2016 All-Star game. A product of that partnership was tonight’s game being labeled “Drake Night” featuring among other festivities, Drake announcing Toronto’s starting line up. Prior to the evening, Drake held a press conference in which he disclosed (Twitter Link) to Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun that he has weekly discussions with Raptors GM Masai Ujiri and CEO Tim Leiweke. Whether Drake is the one advising the Raptors to “start from the bottom” and draft Andrew Wiggins next summer is still to be seen.

  • Speaking of Raptors transactions,  Sean Highkin of USA Today describes how Toronto has changed for the better since the Rudy Gay trade. Additionally, Highkin points out the Raptors aren’t the only one doing better as Gay himself has improved since joining the Kings.
  • Tom Moore of the Bucks County Courier Times examined the contract situations for the impact players on the Sixers to preview what next year’s lineup could look like. Moore is of the belief that the current roster, two lottery picks, and $30MM in available free agency money isn’t enough to solve the Sixers missing pieces.
  • Now that the dust has settled from the Cavaliers trade for Luol Deng, Bob Finnan of The News-Herald details what Deng will be seeking in free agency next summer. Finnan believes the Cavaliers won’t be able to keep Deng around if he becomes an unrestricted free agent so Cleveland will have to try their best to extend Deng for the maximum three-years, $49.5MM before June 30th. Deng has already shown by turning down Chicago’s extension offer that he believes his value is above $10MM per year but has repeatedly denied ever asking for a deal near $15MM a year.
  • Finnan also evaluates what Andrew Bynum‘s options may be with his upcoming free agent decision. It looks like the Heat may still be a favorite. The Pacers and Rockets are also being rumored as options according to Mary Schmitt Boyer of The Plain Dealer.
  • Cavaliers GM Chris Grant didn’t rule out the possibility of another trade prior to the deadline but he did tell Boyer of The Plain Dealer that his preference is to not be active and let the guys “settle in and learn”. In relation to settling in, Boyer also believes the Cavs plan to stick long term with both Anthony Bennett and Anderson Varejao.
Retweet 0 Share 0 Send via email0
Load More Posts