On Dec. 3, I wrote an article "Cleveland Cavs Have A Trick Up Their Sleeve Called Andrew Bynum," which praised Bynum's return to health and predicted that his presence would spark a possible playoff run for a young and talented Cleveland Cavs (10-19) squad. We know he is what some might describe as eccentric AKA a "malcontent weirdo,"but he was coming off some solid games and seemed to be finding his role in the offense, providing Kyrie Irving and Co. with a skilled low post presence, who also blocks shots and can board a bit.
The coaches and players sounded optimistic and so did Bynum. It appeared that after his Philly flop, the nine-year, two-time NBA champ was finally settling into a consistent role with the Cavs.
Well apparently, Bynum wasn't getting the job done in the locker room, and wasn't providing the leadership Mike Brown and Cavs ownership wanted. In other words, he was back on his bullsh*t again and on Saturday Bynum was suspended for "conduct detrimental to the team."
The Cavs haven't revealed exactly what that conduct is yet, but reporter Brian Windhorst appeared on ESPN and said Bynum "isn't meshing with the team and he's struggled a bit mentally…figuring out how he's going to play."
Windhorst also said whatever bad relations or difference of philosophy Bynum and Cleveland may have developed is irreparable, and Bynum, who didn't travel with Cleveland for its 103-100 loss to Boston on Saturday, won't be returning to the squad."Cleveland will aggressively look to trade him between now and January 7,"Windhorst said.
If Bynum is not going to be a part of Cleveland's future then cutting ties with him now is a shrewd business move. Some sources say opposing teams aren't interested in trading for Bynum, which seems strange considering he can still ball, he's a big man and if Cleveland trades or waives him in the next nine days, then he's only due $6.6 million of a two-year, $24 million contract he signed with the Cavs before the season began.
According to msn.foxsports.com:
"Both the team and Bynum have labored in getting him good looks at the basket and failed in repeated attempts to run the offense through him."
Playing 17 minutes in Thursday's double-overtime loss to Atlanta and taking just three shots was obviously the boiling point. Seems like Bynum just can't get in a good flow with an organization. Even when he's good-to-go physically, his attitude can be as detrimental as his brittle knees.
First off, what ever made Bynum think Mike Brown should ever make a play that runs through him, is beyond me. To expect Kyrie Irving–in this guard dominated NBA–to give up shots to anybody is like asking Whiz Kalifah and Redman to pass the blunt. Bynum should have experience playing with ball-dominating guards with flu moves and a Hall of Fame ego, as he played with Kobe Bryant and was salty about the same lack of shots in LA.
Looks like Bynum has a case of Allen Iverson Syndrome, where aging superstars overrate their current abilities and have a misconception about how important they still are. Chucking Bynum the deuces is a no-brainer for a Cleveland team that is looking towards the future and re-building a winning culture. The mere appearance of locker room unrest in Cleveland could decimate their already pincushion-thin chances of getting LBJ to return to the crib to put a bow on an all-time great career.
The 21-year-old Irving knows this as much as anybody and spoke like a leader despite reports that it was Bynum who quit on the team. "It's a terrible situation internally with our team but it's something we've got to get over," Irving said. "He's going to be missed, but he has a few things he needs to address for himself before he comes back with the team, and that's where it stays."
Regardless of where he goes, Bynum needs a wake up call. If he doesn't even genuinely like the game anymore then he needs to hang em' up. Nobody needs a baller with broken knees and a busted attitude anyway. Then gain, maybe Dan Gilbert should call James Dolan and the Knicks.
