Now that some of the year's biggest free agents have signed with their respective teams, other players can begin to garner attention. The teams that lost out on Dwight Howard will still be in the hunt for a big man. With few options on the market, players like Andrew Bynum and even Greg Oden are getting serious looks from teams. Bynum is getting the most attention as the Dallas Mavericks and the Cleveland Cavaliers have inquired about the center.
Several questions surround Bynum. After emerging as a star on the Los Angeles Lakers, the center was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers where he did not play a single minute for the team. His health became a major concern as ailing knees left him on the sideline for the entire season. Now reportedly 100 percent healthy and ready to get back into the game, teams are looking at him, but with extreme caution.
ESPN.com reports that Dallas and Cleveland are the two most serious contenders for Bynum. Dallas missed out on Howard and has been actively pursuing a true big man. The question will be how big of a deal does Bynum deserve? Dallas was prepared to offer Howard a max-contract. There is no way that is being given to Bynum, but the team could offer something like a three-year deal just to win him over. With chronic knee issues, anything over a one-year contract feels like a true risk. If Bynum proves to be healthy once again, he could set Dallas up for a strong future.
If Cleveland misses out on Bynum, they could pursue Oden. As with Bynum, Oden has chronic injury problems and has not been seen on a basketball court since 2009. The big man was once touted as the future of the NBA, but proved to be a true draft bust after multiple knee surgeries threatened to end his career.
Oden has been working out in Cleveland and the Cavaliers were interested in him at one point during last season, but never made a move to sign him. Oden played his college basketball in Ohio and a return to the state where his career began could be what he needs to truly get back on track with basketball.
Bynum will get signed first. There is no doubting that some team will pick him up despite his issues last season. Oden is more of an unknown, but has been garnering a lot of attention lately.
