Philadelphia 76ers took risk on Andrew Bynum
by Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY Sports
All during the Dwight Howard saga in the offseason – with the Orlando Magic’s new management in place – the Magic were hammered for not trading Dwight Howard to the Los Angeles Lakers for Andrew Bynum, straight up, one young All-Star center for another.
The Magic still traded Howard to the Lakers, but instead of Bynum, they received players and draft picks in four-team deal. The Philadelphia 76ers ended up with Bynum.
It was a smart move for the Magic. Looking at Bynum, here’s what you see:
Bynum is talented, but has rarely played a full season, his knee problems well documented.
Bynum entered 2012-13 in the final year of a $16.8 million deal and had the Magic acquired him, they would have been in the same place they were last season with Howard – trying to convince Bynum to stay long-term.
Also, had the Magic traded for Bynum, they would not have received young players and future picks in return and would not have been able to unload a couple of burdensome contracts, prohibiting them from achieving their goal of building with salary-cap space.
it’s hard to be sold on Bynum’s maturity or his ability to be the No. 1 guy.
Now, the Magic have been acquitted and their decisions justified.
This isn’t about the Magic though. It’s about the Sixers, Bynum and what happens next. The Sixers took a chance and now have decisions to make that will impact the franchise for years.
“At the time of the trade we had four doctors look at his MRI. We knew it was a calculated risk. We also knew we were getting the second-best center in the league, a franchise type player. We took that risk,” Sixers general manager Tony DiLeo told reporters. “His knees now and the MRIs are not the same. It’s a different type situation. But we are still looking at big picture and long term. We’re hopeful that after this situation heals we can get him back on the court and he’s got a future here.”
Bynum hasn’t played this season, missing every preseason and regular-season game with knee problems. The most recent setback … [For more on Philadelphia 76ers took risk on Andrew Bynum, click here.]
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