Should The Clippers Pick Up Andrew Bynum?

As recently reported and confirmed by multiple sources, the Cleveland Cavaliers have suspended their 7-footer center Andrew Bynum indefinitely. The reason the Cavs gave officially was detrimental conduct and the experiment Cleveland decided to attempt seems like it will finally have a short term. Although the Cavs are searching for a team to trade Bynum to, the interest from around the league seems to be low. One of the teams that has reportedly shown some interest is the Los Angeles Clippers.

The 26-year old has appeared in 24 games this season with the Cavaliers uniform, and in 20 minutes per game, he averaged 8.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.2 blocks. He also shot 41.9 percent from the field, which is much lower than his career one, 55.7 percent.

Of course, Bynum is not even close to the player he used to be during the last season he played with the Los Angeles Lakers. After a missed season in 2012-2013, it was uncertain if Bynum would even be able to play basketball on a professional level again. Thankfully, the Cavaliers saw him getting back healthy and providing a small dose of help in the team at center. However, it seems like Bynum doesn’t want to focus on playing the game. A league source stated that he never really liked playing basketball at all.
The Cavaliers will have to decide what to do with Bynum by January 7. That’s when his contract gets guaranteed. The 26-year old centre is in the books for $6 million this season. It might be difficult for the Cavs to find a team to deal with, as some teams might want to try their luck during the summer and sign Bynum as a free-agent.

If the Los Angeles Clippers decided to acquire Bynum, then he could serve as the backup center for DeAndre Jordan. At present, Byron Mullens and Ryan Hollins are the two backups for the Clippers at center. Although Mullens can be considered as a solid backup center, he is not a classic center, a big, strong body who can dominate inside. On the contrary, he is a player who can also work from mid-range. Hollins, on the other hand, has minimal offensive skills.

That’s why the Clippers could find some room for Bynum. Although he is not the All-Star player he once was, Bynum seems like he has some fuel left in his basketball tank. He could provide an upgrade on offence and give vital minutes for Doc Rivers. Especially when the game is on the line, and the Clips’ opponents choose to “hack DeAndre” that’s where Bynum could prove out to be valuable.

Also, within a team that is coached by Doc Rivers, Bynum could find a chance to change his mindset. Of course, that’s easier said than done, but if there is a team that he fits into, then the Clippers are the one.

For now, it doesn’t seem like LA should hurry to make a move. After all, it might not be even a good idea to land Bynum, or if they do, the expectations should be low.By:Chris Michaels.

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