The Brooklyn Nets have picked up the pace since losing Brook Lopez for the season to a broken foot. The team has won three games in a row as a few players have found their stride. However, the Nets are still working out how to get past the Lopez injury and they were finally provided some relief.
Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports reports the Nets have been approved a $5.25 million disabled player exception following the injury to Lopez. The Nets could use the full exception and pay the luxury tax bill which would cost an addition $20 million on top of the $180-million payroll they already have. The team has until March 10 to use the exception on a player via free agency or trade.
If the Nets intend on adding another player, they would have to clear a roster spot to make room since all 15 spots are currently filled. The cost of adding someone will likely be around $16-20 million. For the Nets, it makes no sense to use the money on another body since they have enough to deal with at the moment with their current players. However, Brooklyn is not ready to rule anything out since the team still has championship dreams.
This is where Andrew Bynum comes into play. The center is officially a free agent after being traded from the Cleveland Cavaliers and then released by the Chicago Bulls. The center could be an asset or he could be a waste. Bynum is in this position in the first place after the Cavaliers suspended him for poor conduct. After his motivation was put into question, some teams have soured on the one-time top center. Could the Nets be the team that brings back Bynum to the player he was just two seasons ago?
If the Nets opt not to bring in Bynum as a Lopez replacement, several other teams are interested in the center. ESPN.com is reporting that both the Los Angeles Clippers and Miami Heat have shown interest in Bynum.
The defending champs have been loading up on front-court depth. They signed Michael Beasley and Greg Oden in the offseason as potential big men and could get Bynum to add to the project depth. Bynum did say he wanted to go to a contending team and Miami is certainly just that.
The Clippers are also interested for depth behind DeAndre Jordan. However, Yahoo is reporting the team might have soured on the center thanks to reports regarding his poor team attitude with the Cavaliers.
A team will pick up Bynum soon enough. While the Heat and Clippers remain frontrunners, expect Brooklyn to at least consider using the player exception on him.