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February 1, 2014The Indiana Pacers are planning on signing former Cleveland Cavaliers center Andrew Bynum, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst on Friday night.
Windhorst, the former Plain Dealer star beat writer, later added that the Indianapolis Star was first to report of the Pacers meeting today with Bynum. There is no deal in place yet but talks are serious.
Bynum, 26, was traded to the Chicago Bulls back on Jan. 7 along with a handful of future draft picks for small forward Luol Deng. The Bulls promptly released him and he later cleared waivers.
The two-time All-Star last played for the Cavs on Dec. 26. He was reportedly in Cleveland earlier on Friday, as shared by The Plain Dealer’s Mary Schmitt Boyer. At the time, he was boarding a flight for Indianapolis, was still looking for any NBA work and was not following the Cavaliers drama of the past week.
Although the Bynum signing resulted in Deng, his play for the Cavaliers this season left much to be desired. He shot just 41.9% from the field. The Cavs offense had an abysmal 93.9 offensive rating with him on the court in his 480 minutes.
The Pacers are led by All-Stars Roy Hibbert and Paul George. Ian Mahinmi backs up the center Hibbert and averages 16 minutes per game. Considering Bynum played at a sub-average level in Cleveland, it would be surprising to see him make any substantial difference this season. But crazier things have certainly happened. After all, not many people expected him to play as early as he did this season.
[Related: Know your CBA: Kyrie Irving unlikely to leave Cleveland soon]
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Photo: Scott Sargent/WFNY
6 Comments
I keep telling myself this is just a move by Indiana to possibly block Bynum from landing in Miami. The problem I have now as the deal is official is I was probably going to root for Indiana in the East over Miami but now I’m not. I don’t want to see Bynum be rewarded period.
Bynum will contribute. Larry Bird won’t let him suck.
It’s hard to disagree with you, but if they only pay him like $1.5M I’ll be happy.
He doesn’t deserve another penny as far as I’m concerned let alone a chance at winning another title.
I’d like to believe that Bird perhaps discussed things and between Vogel and David West they won’t let Bynum play his games but the guy is crazy. It’s clear he’s just in it for the $$$$.
larry bird wont let him? please explain how that’s possibe