The Cleveland Cavaliers took quite a while to get the deal done with center Andrew Bynum as a free agent, but after working out the language and smoothing over the details, the former Los Angeles Lakers center is now officially a member of the team.
Bynum's deal was set last week and now he is in with the Cavaliers officially with a two-year contract worth $24 million and the hang-ups were to make sure that the team was protected in case he can't play, which is what happened with the Sixers after his trade from the Lakers last season. The team introduced him on Friday at the team facility and now he has the chance to make up for missing all of last season with knee injuries for Philly.
Bynum had surgery on both knees in March and he said that he will be cleared to practice before training camp begins this summer. The deal includes numerous performance incentives as well as $6 million in the first year of the deal and there is also a $12 million team option for the second season.
The 25-year-old Bynum previously played for head coach Mike Brown with the Lakers and made an All-Star appearance and now the team has the chance to use the center the way the Sixers wish they could have. Bynum was moved in the Dwight Howard deal and the Cavaliers may not be done dealing, as they reportedly are interested in Mike Miller. Other teams that missed out on Bynum are going after Greg Oden and the favorites for his services include the Heat and the Spurs.