The Chicago Bulls wasted little time waiving Andrew Bynum shortly after acquiring him (along with three draft picks) from the Cleveland Cavaliers for Luol Deng. So, the question that instantly comes to mind is what team will pick him up?
Despite middling play and his reportedly bad attitude in Cleveland, after Bynum clears waivers he will undoubtedly be a very hot commodity. After all, it’s not often teams get a discounted shot at a skilled 7-footer. And for Bynum, this is another great opportunity to audition for a long-term contract.
Brooklyn Nets
When Brook Lopez went down for the season, a good portion of the Nets’ playoff chances went with him. Given they have no first-round pick in this year’s draft—and potentially none for the next three seasons—as well as a luxury tax bill the size of some countries’ GDPs, the Nets need to make the playoffs this season to even come close to justifying the trade for Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Jason Terry.
Taking a flyer on Bynum would be smart risk. The Nets have started Mirza Teletovic and Andray Blatche at centre in Lopez’s absence. Both are serviceable players but they definitely aren’t starters, and given that both like to do their work outside the paint, they don’t much make up for the loss of Lopez’s interior presence.
Bynum could help fill that hole—even off the bench if Nets coach Jason Kidd didn’t want to start him—especially as the only consistent baskets the Nets are getting in the paint at the moment are coming from Mason Plumlee.
Charlotte Bobcats
Currently seventh in the Eastern Conference and just two games back of the Atlanta Hawks for second in the Southeast Division, the Bobcats should be looking for ways to improve their roster and move up the standings.
Charlotte really needs help in the middle behind Al Jefferson. Veteran big man Brendan Haywood is out until at least late February, leaving the responsibility of the backup centre position in the less-than-capable hands of third-year man Bismack Biyombo—a lottery pick who’s yet to show much of anything other than raw athletic flashes on the defensive end.
If the Cats were to land Bynum, he’d be an immediate upgrade over at that reserve centre position and could help to further improve an already solid Charlotte bench.
Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers don’t really need Bynum, but, like the Cats, they are thin at the five. Ryan Hollins is a serviceable backup centre, but despite passable numbers(9.8 points and 6.9 rebounds per 36 minutes), he’s too skinny to really play the position.
Bynum may not have shown top form this season, but based on talent alone he completely eclipses Hollins.
The Clips’ bench is, once again, very formidable. But a second-unit can always improve, and with the addition of Bynum the Clippers’ roster would be reminiscent of the early 2000s Trailblazers teams that featured two rock-solid players at every position.
Los Angeles Lakers
The Lake Show doesn’t appear to be going much of anywhere. Kobe Bryant’s contract extension offers the club little flexibility to really improve in the twilight of his career, and given that their last draft day triumph was probably—and a little ironically—Bynum back in 2005, the prudent thing to do would be to ride this season out and hope for the future.
That isn’t the Laker way, however. Los Angeles always guns for the playoffs and even though it seems like it’ll be an insurmountable hill to climb this season (they’re five games back of eighth-seeded Dallas in the West), that won’t stop them from trying.
Bringing Bynum back could make sense in that light. Without much competition at the position, he could slot in as the team’s starting centre immediately and play with his old frontcourt-mate, Pau Gasol, while an injured Bryant shoots daggers at him from the bench.
Minnesota Timberwolves
This one doesn’t make much sense for the Timberwolves, but Minnesota would be a great fit for Bynum.
Rick Adelman has always been able to get a lot out of his big men—particularly ones that are exceptionally skilled. Some of his students include Vlade Divac, Chris Webber, Yao Ming and now Kevin Love and Nikola Pekovic—all of whom have been All-Stars with the exception of Pekovic.
Bynum is adept with both hands, with a soft touch, good balance and footwork, and solid passing skills. He would be an incredible reclamation project for Adelman, even though the Minnesota’s depth chart is pretty crowded up front.
New York Knicks
Like the Nets, New York doesn’t have a first-round pick in this year’s draft and desperately wants to make the playoffs. They also have the added pressure of proving to Carmelo Anthony that they can win, as he’s almost sure to opt out of his current contract.
Going out on a limb and at least trying out Bynum certainly won’t hurt the Knicks’ already-dim playoff chances.