The door is not closed on Andrew Bynum's NBA career. The center says he will be playing in the 2013-14 season no matter what after chronic knee injuries kept him from playing in 2012. Bynum has officially completed his rehabilitation from knee surgery and while he intends on being on the basketball court in 2013, it likely will not be with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Bynum's agent, David Lee, told the Associated Press the Bynum will be completely ready for training camps. He has not had an conversations with the Sixers at this point, but he does not expect the team to offer any kind of deal come July 1.
"Philly will do what Philly does. I can't control it. Next week, I have a feeling I'll be meeting with a couple of teams," Lee said.
Philadelphia's new general manager Sam Hinkie remained very non-committal to the idea of Bynum returning to the team and finally wearing a 76ers' jersey. In his introductory press conference, Hinkie only briefly glazed over the Bynum issue.
"I think of Andrew like the thousands of other young men walking around the world that are unrestricted free agents that have potential to play NBA basketball. I am duty bound to consider them and to look at them. All of them. I think the Sixers should have an enormous information advantage about Bynum. My first duty is to get up to speed on that information," Hinkie said.
Bynum was acquired by the 76ers as part of a four-team trade involving Andre Iguodala going to Denver. He was originally used as trade bait to land Dwight Howard in Los Angeles. Lee simply laughed at Hinkie's comments regarding Bynum and comparing him to all the other NBA players out there.
"I read that Same considers Andrew one of 3,000 players trying to make it into the NBA. I assume Sam's going to lunch with 3,000 people," Lee said.
Bynum is just 25 and a former All-Star. The team traded for him thinking he would look like he did while with the Lakers, but knee issues but an end to that. His potential return to the team continued to get delayed and delayed before they eventually ruled him out altogether. It is hard to see Bynum getting a large amount of attention from team. His injury history completely overshadows any production he had on the court. Lee is confident that while Philadelphia is no longer making his client a priority, another team certainly will.
