Tribe Trade Targets – The southpaw reliever edition
July 19, 2013MLB Rumor: Cubs target Lonnie Chisenhall in Matt Garza talks
July 19, 2013The Cleveland Cavaliers today officially announced the signing of center Andrew Bynum. Contract details were not disclosed, but it is believed to be a two-year deal worth up to $12 million per season with incentives. The second year is still believed to be a team option.
The Cavaliers also waived guard Chris Quinn and forward Kevin Jones today. Jones played in 32 games this past season for the Cavs, averaging 3.0 points and 2.4 rebounds in 10.5 minutes per game. Quinn played in seven games for the Cavs, averaging 1.4 points and 1.3 assists in 11.3 minutes per game. Both have been playing with the Cavaliers in the Las Vegas Summer League. Both players have also suffered concussions this summer. In addition, Grant confirmed the team has renounced the rights to forward Luke Walton.
According to Cavs GM Chris Grant, Bynum has already moved to Cleveland and is working with the training staff. Bynum said his goal is to play every game of the upcoming season. Whether he will be ready at the start of the season remains to be seen.
Bynum was originally selected by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 10th overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft out of St. Joseph H.S. in Metuchen, NJ. In seven seasons, the 7-0, 285-pount center has appeared in 392 games with 300 starts, averaging 11.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.6 blocks in 26.0 minutes per game while shooting .566 from the floor. The 25-year old missed the 2012-13 season with knee injuries. The previous season, 2011-12, Bynum, a two-time NBA Champion, averaged career-highs of 18.7 points and 11.8 rebounds for the Lakers and Head Coach Mike Brown, while being voted as a NBA All-Star starter for the Western Conference.
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22 Comments
Bynum, if healthy, can be comeback player of the year.
Prediction: Andrew Bynum, C, All-Star, Comeback Player of the Year. (With
No Injuries) 19.8 PPG, 12 RPG, 3 BPG.
if Bynum is to be our new Daugherty, then I’ll take that 25yo season:
22pts/11reb — 76 games played
There was clearly no room for Kevin Jones on the roster, with Three Centers, two pure power forwards, and a stretch four on the roster. Quinn is just bad and can be replaced by somebody better for very little money. It’s a good thing when there is no longer room for marginal players.
With those roster moves and the assumed departure of Daniel Gibson I believe we have one roster spot left available. Dellabedova? Taylor? I’d lean towards 3rd string PG being a bigger need since, other than Waiters and Miles, Karasev and Jack can both play SG. Theoretically, Gee could even shift to the other wing.
This. I like this
Right now, we have 13 guys
Irving, Jack
Waiters, Miles, Felix
Gee, Clark, Karasev
Thompson, Bennett
Bynum, Andy, Zeller
and thats with Miles(a situation I don’t fully understand). Would bringing back Gibson for a one year vet minimum deal be a possibility? I don’t see the harm in that. Same goes for Walton. Both would give added depth, experience and chemistry.
I thought the qualifying language Bynum used when describing the situation with Mike Brown in LA was interesting.
What’d he say? I missed the press conference, only got to follow along on Twitter.
“Coach Brown and myself definitely had a great relationship at times, contrary to what people believe,” Bynum said. “My last year under him was my most productive year. He wants to get the ball inside. I’m looking forward to working under him again.”
The “at times” is what I found a bit strange.
Agreed, the “at times” part of the comment is definitely interesting. It doesn’t even imply that he and Mike Brown got along most of the time… more like they got along every once in a while.
Dude. Imagine. If that line is anywhere near the truth and KI stays healthy, we are a top 6 seed and a dangerous match-up.
If Bynum goes 20 & 12 we’re like a 4 seed.
Nice questions, Scott. You broke the ice about his rep, and he looked a little annoyed, but that’s the question to ask.
My takeaways:
– He’s not great with the media. He’s not an engaging guy like Zeller. I wouldn’t parse his words for subtle meaning. I think he wanted to say the things he was expected to say (knee feels good, wants to be here, likes Mike, thinks it’s a playoff team) and get the presser over with.
– Seems sincere about wanting to revive his career.
– He admits that he’s now 305 and plays in the 280s. That’s way too much excess for a guy who’s seriously rehabbing a problematic knee. Certainly all of his orthopedic people told him slim down to keep stress off the knee. Seems probable that this hurt his FA value and says something about his self-discipline.
-Forget the happy talk about Bynum becoming a team leader. He has so much talent that if he can take care of himself that alone will lift the team. Tristan and Jack can lead, Andrew, you just take care of yourself and don’t bother the rest of the class.
Go to the head of the class, Harv.
Oh, no. Always been and shall remain a half-dozing back bench snarker.
Detention!
… is my middle name.
I interpreted it more as acknowledging that they bumped heads a few times, but that it didn’t ruin their relationship or cause them problems working together, and for whatever head bumping that had taken place there are no hard feelings. Bynum strikes me as a little bit immature and frustrating at times, but not a malicious jerk who makes enemies.
Funny you mention that (and I agree)… he did a popcorn interview with the NBA’s Access Cavaliers today, and his very last comment sounds like a shot at Philly’s fans at the very least and possibly LA as well.
http://www.nba.com/cavaliers/audio/bynum-1-1-719?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+cavs_podcast+%28Cleveland+Cavaliers+Podcast%29
Addition fail on my part. I wouldn’t be opposed to offering a vet minimum deal to Gibson. He’s a good example on the defensive end and a hard worker, but at this point they may want to look at younger guys with more upside like Taylor and Dellabedova since we’re talking about end of the bench depth at this point.
There are also a few guys on other teams’ summer league rosters that are a little bit interesting. I’ve been impressed with Vander Blue, for example, (went undrafted out of Marquette this year after an elite 8 appearance) who is currently on the Grizzlies summer league squad. He’s a 6’5″ combo guard. If they decide he can play SG, I might rather have him than Taylor, who has already had a couple of tries to stick with an NBA team.
Might be a little bit of frustration that to LA fans all he ever was to them was “not Shaq.” He never really got a chance to be appreciated in Philly, but that’s not a town known for adoring their athletes.
More likely though, he’s just not a guy who has deeper meanings behind his words, and was just trying to do the “I’m excited to be here” song and dance as best he could. I dunno, I guess we’ll see how it goes.
Philly’s also not known for appreciating the 76ers. They’re a distant fourth behind the Eagles, Phillies, and Flyers. Heck, Bon Jovi’s arena football team may be more beloved by the populace in that city.
Hmmm. Miami, Indiana, Chicago, Brooklyn.
Going to be tough to topple those teams in the regular season standings (barring unforeseen injuries).