So much for the mile high city!
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...letter&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=nba
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...letter&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=nba
seems both the Clipps and Heat have an interest
Clippers interested in Bynum? — The former Lakers big man, troubled by knee injuries and possibly a lack of desire to play at the highest level, was suspended indefinitely by the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday for conduct detrimental to the team. Reports have the Cavs eager to deal Andrew Bynum. The Clippers, in need of frontline support behind center DeAndre Jordan and power forward Blake Griffin, could be one team interested in trying to make it work with the troubled 7-footer who had not long ago put himself in the discussion alongside Dwight Howard as the league’s top center. Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times breaks it down:
The Clippers would have interest in Bynum if he was released by the Cavaliers, according to several NBA executives who were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.
But according to one Eastern Conference executive, the Clippers would have competition for Bynum because the Miami Heat also would have interest in the seven-footer.
The Clippers have the NBA-maximum 15-player roster and would have to waive a player if they were to sign Bynum, who is still only 26.
The Cavaliers signed Bynum to a two-year, $24-million deal over the summer. But only $6 million of Bynum’s $12.2-million contract for this season is guaranteed if he is waived before Jan. 7.
The Eastern Conference executive said it’s possible Bynum will be released by the Cavaliers in early January if they can’t trade him so the team is not on the hook for the last $6 million Bynum would be owed.
Bynum has averaged 8.4 points and 5.3 rebounds in 20.0 minutes in the 24 games he has played with the Cavaliers. He had 18 points and six rebounds in 24 minutes when he started for the Cavaliers against the Clippers on Dec. 7
How about the Raptors in first place in the East with a 13-15 record
And finally someone has the brass cajones to ask the question to which we all know the answer......
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar basically questions Andrew Bynum’s love of basketball
Kurt Helin-Pro Basketball Talk
When the Los Angeles Lakers first drafted Andrew Bynum they brought in Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as his personal coach — people forget Kareem was about as fundamentally sound a center as the game had seen. He seemed a good fit with the very raw Bynum.
Kareem tried to work with Bynum, but they clashed. It was the first of a lot of clashes over the course of Bynum’s young NBA career, one that has seen the highs of an NBA title and the lows of his lost season in Philadelphia.
The Cleveland Cavaliers gambled on Bynum this season and now they want to cut their losses — Bynum has been suspended indefinitely and is being shopped around for a trade. By Jan. 7 Bynum will either be moved or just outright cut in Cleveland.
Sunday Abdul-Jabbar took to Facebook and had these comments about Bynum.
I believe Andrew has always had the potential to help a team when he puts his heart into it. He just doesn’t seem to be consistent with his commitment to the game. That can lead to a lot of frustration for any team that has signed him.
When I worked with Andrew I found him to be bright & hardworking but I think he got bored with the repetitive nature of working on basketball fundamentals day in and day out… but they are the keys to long term success.
In my opinion Andrew is the type of person who walks to the beat of “a different drummer”. So we won’t know the facts until Andrew decides to tell us what actually is the issue and shares his thoughts.
What Kareem says here echoes what you hear out of Cleveland, and out of Bynum’s other NBA stops.
Bynum was suspended just after he with Coach Mike Brown amid Bynum’s minutes and touches dropping. Whatever was said after that meeting Bynum got suspended after it. People around Cleveland saw Bynum as a disruptive force in an already troubled locker room, they didn’t think he was working hard enough to get right.
This has always been the story with Bynum, teammates have long questioned his love of and commitment to the game. He can work hard when motivated — which is often tied to getting his next big contract — but as Kareem notes getting good at basketball is about repetition. Stephen Curry makes 500 jump shots a day in the offseason for a reason. Bynum doesn’t enjoy that kind of detail work on his game, and it shows.
But he will get another chance. He has been up and down with Cleveland this season, Bynum is seen as a backup big man and while he will have to take a healthy pay cut with his next deal there will be a next one. Big men like Bynum are in short supply and some good teams (Heat, Clippers) are the kind that could be interested in him playing a limited reserve role.
OK, not that I am a Pau Gasol fan but rather I am NOT an Andrew Bynum fan
I will revoke my Lakers fan club card if this trade happens...
http://hangtime.blogs.nba.com/2013/12/31/morning-shootaround-dec-31/#lakers
'GENIUS'???
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/genius-reason-why-lakers-may-170128642.html
Wed, Jan 1, 2014, 6:38AM EST - US Markets are closed
The Genius Reason Why The Lakers May Trade For Andrew Bynum Just To Cut Him
Business Insider
By Cork Gaines 18 hours ago
The Los Angeles Lakers have discussed trading Pau Gasol to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Andrew Bynum according to Brian Windhorst and Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.com.
On the surface, the move seems surprising since Gasol is still a productive player and there are reports that Bynum is no longer interested in playing basketball. But the trade would actually be a genius move that would save the Lakers more than $20 million in salary and luxury taxes.
The second-half of Bynum's salary for this season, as well as his salary for the 2014-15 season are only guaranteed if he is still on a roster on January 7. So, if the trade is made before January 7, the Lakers can just cut Bynum and not have to pay the $18.7 million remaining on his contract.
In addition, by trading Gasol, who will be a free agent after the season, the Lakers would no longer be responsible for the nearly $10 million remaining on his contract. The reduction in payroll would also mean the Lakers would save millions in luxury taxes.
The move makes sense for the Lakers because they are unlikely to make the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Cavs want to trade Bynum who has been suspended and is unlikely to play for the team again. In return, the Cavs would get an all-star center and make a run for the playoffs in the weak Eastern Conference where they are just 2.5 games behind the eighth seed despite being just 10-20.
One thing holding up the deal is that the Lakers want other players included in the deal. But at this point it would seem the deal makes too much sense for both sides to not get a deal done.
Happy New Year, Steve.
Let's hope for the best this year for our beloved teams, to all in this thread.
Why not? You can be 10-20 be only 3 games out. The NBA Least.