Stop me if you have heard this one before. Prized free agent center Andrew Bynum is nowhere near ready for live action and is likely to miss the entire preseason with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Ugh, that was Cavaliers’ fans stomachs beginning to churn with thoughts off finally making it back to the postseason possibly going up in smoke, with news that the oft injured former Lakers and 76ers big man once again having no specific timetable for a return to the hardwood.
If you remember, Bynum was supposed to be the savior of the franchise prior to last season in Philadelphia, as the rebuilding Sixers were relying heavily on the 2 time NBA Champion to finally solidify their frontcourt, giving them a proven star player around some rising young talent like Evan Turner and Jrue Holiday.
But after a freak bowling accident, Bynum never saw a single minute of action, leading to the official detonation of the 76ers roster, with All Star PG Holiday now traded to the Pelicans and Bynum signing an incentive laden 2 year-$24 million deal in Cleveland. Andrew quickly went from savior to goat as he makes an appearance on the NBA’s 10 Most Hated Villains for the upcoming season.
The hope was that if Bynum could return to some resemblance of his former All Star self, like in Los Angeles, paired with the continued development of a talented young core of Kyrie Irving, Dion Waiters, Tristan Thompson, and new #1 overall pick Anthony Bennett, that Cleveland could make the NBA Playoffs for the first time since Lebron James defected to the Miami Heat.
As a back-up plan, management also hoped that Bynum helping the franchise return to the postseason, could also help entice James, a potential free agent in the Summer of 2014, make a return trip back to the team that originally drafted the 4 time league MVP, in an attempt to win more championships and end his career where it all started in 2003.
But back to Bynum, according to FOX Sports in Ohio:
“Bynum is nowhere near ready and is likely to miss the entire preseason. He could, however, give it a go early in the regular season, if not for the opener Oct. 30 vs. the Brooklyn Nets.”
Cleveland sportswriters are preaching patience, but that’s a lot to ask considering that the still only 25 year old Bynum hasn’t played since the ’11-’12 season, made nearly $17 million for doing nothing last season, and seems more interested in salsa dancing and bowling rather than focusing on getting in playing shape to continue his lucrative career as an NBA player.
Allen Moll has been a lifelong NBA and NCAA College Basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously, and coaches youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Allen has also provided content to Bleacherreport.com, Upperdeckblog.com, Cleveland.com, CSN Philly.com, Buckets Magazine, in addition to being a tenured NBA and NCAA columnist for TheHoopDoctors.com.
