Rejoice and be glad, fine people of Cleveland. Your new center Andrew Bynum is healthy. We think.
Bynum, the Cleveland Cavaliers’ free-agency pride and joy, hasn’t played since 2012 when he was with the Los Angeles Lakers. Largely considered the successor to Dwight Howard’s throne as the best big man in the NBA, Bynum was shipped to the Philadelphia 76ers, where he was supposed to save the franchise en route to a fat contract.
Then, well, Bynum happened. Knee injuries and subsequent setbacks prevented him from playing a second for the Sixers, who, by the way, traded Andre Iguodala and Nikola Vucevic and essentially wound up with nothing. Bynum was supposed to save them, he was supposed to bring them places even Allen Iverson never could, not sit on the sidelines sporting a different haircut every game while also daydreaming about bowling.
Just like Bynum’s season-long absence wasn’t part of the plan, allowing him to walk in free agency wasn’t scripted either. Free from Los Angeles clutches, where an overwhelming Kobe Bryant supposedly cast an impregnable shadow over his development, Bynum was set to earn a nine figure-esque payday. He was going to be the next superstar swimming in more green than most could imagine, making it rain just because he could.
Instead, Philly let him walk. The Sixers were done. Sam Hinkie knew the team needed to distance themselves from this headache-turned-disaster, so they let him leave. And his journey brought him to Cleveland’s door step, where a two-year, partially guaranteed contract worth upwards of $24 million was waiting for him.
It was a low risk move for the Cavs, who can cut ties with him after this season if they see it fit. Should they make the playoffs, great. If not, they were always angling toward the summer of 2014 anyway.
Their immediate future just got more interesting, though. Speaking with Mary Schmitt Boyer of The Plain Dealer, Bynum said he thinks his return to action is on schedule:
“It’s a fluid process,” Bynum said. “I have no idea what the schedule’s going to be for me. But I’m doing everything I can to be ready. I think with the program that has been made up, we have a good chance.
“I’m optimistic I’m where I should be. Obviously, I want to be playing. But I’m taking baby steps, doing what the team and the doctors tell me. I’m doing my part. I come to work every day. I’m moving in the right direction.”
Smell that? It’s my skepticism.
I want to see Bynum back in action just as much as the next fan, but I can’t help remaining cautious. Not cautiously optimistic; just cautious.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oFmuQZslno
We’ve been here before with Bynum. He was supposed to come back in Philly on countless occasions. He was always making progress, but never enough to make that final leap into the lineup. Hopefully it’s different in Cleveland. Hopefully he’s ready for opening night, or something close to it.
But nearly one decade’s worth of a checkered past has taught us to never believe anything he says. When he’s on the court, he’s effective. His defensive abilities and offensive potential are unquestionable. It’s his health, and perception of physical limits that have us confused, now more than ever.
If Bynum can remain (relatively) healthy all season, the Cavs are a playoff team. No bones about it. The question is: are we to believe he’s healthy? Are we to believe he can stay healthy?
No matter what Bynum, the Cavs, his doctors or anyone else ultimately says, we don’t have answers to those questions. In time, maybe. Right now, there’s only hope. And Bynum’s word, which to this point hasn’t meant much at all.
Dan Favale is a firm believer in the three-pointer as well as the notion that defense doesn’t always win championships. His musings can be found at Bleacherreport.com in addition to TheHoopDoctors.com. Follow @danfavale on Twitter for his latest posts and all things NBA.
