“The future is no more uncertain than the present.” – Walt Whitman
It is hard to fathom how great Andrew Bynum could have been. Blessed with size and skills that most big men do not possess, he looked to be a sure thing when he burst onto the scene in the NBA right out of high school in 2006.
Drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers and quickly tutored by the legendary Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the sky appeared to be the limit for a young man who continued to improve with his fundamentals and his conditioning.
That however was long ago and after declaring he could no longer benefit from working with Kareem (really Andrew?) and making an All Star appearance as a Laker, he eventually wore out his welcome and took his knee problems with him to Philadelphia.
That move became a disaster quickly, largely due to his health and also in part to his mercurial disposition and the aloofness he displayed toward those around him. He never took the court for meaningful minutes for the 76ers and when his contract expired, the Cleveland Cavaliers thought they too were just the change of scenery the listless center needed to get healthy and be a force for them and promptly signed him.
That too was wishful thinking and after a series of disappointing and selfish decisions on Bynum’s part leading to a suspension, the Cavaliers shipped him to Chicago in a trade earlier this season in a move that was nothing more than a salary dump, with the Bulls releasing him and in the process emphasizing the fact they had no interest in his services.
Perhaps you feel I am painting a rather harsh portrait of Bynum, who like any player, cannot control the injuries he has suffered. I would counter that it’s his actions that have transpired when he was healthy and during his physical rehab that are glaring, and the red flags that accompany him clearly outweigh any hope that he might get healthy both physically and mentally.
Then again, this is professional basketball, and despite remaining as an enigma on his best day, Bynum is still 7 feet tall in a game where the rim is just three feet higher. And considering big men are not grown on farms like trees, he gets yet another chance here in the Circle City.
The Pacers, realizing they need more of a post presence in their second unit, will gladly take the risk for the prorated share of the NBA mid level exemption and Bynum, whether he plays or not, is roughly a million dollars richer as a result of signing yet another contract that many in the league feel he does not deserve.
Give this once gifted player credit, as when asked recently by the local media what he had been doing to keep himself in shape since being traded and released. Bynum responded, “Relaxing around the house.”
Not exactly a textbook response but his honesty is noted. The real question is what do the Pacers feel they know that the numerous teams and coaches associated with this articulate yet confusing young man previously did not comprehend? Probably nothing, but as Larry Bird looks to win a championship right now, he obviously thinks there is no harm bringing in a potential poison to the Pacer locker room.
Bynum will begin practicing with the team but it will probably be at least three weeks before he is able to make his official debut. To date he has not traveled with the team, but that can be normal for a player who is not on the active roster.
In the interim, perhaps he will put his best foot forward, work hard, and give the Pacers what is left in his knees in terms of post play. Chances are he will not have an impact on the floor this season, but the real question is, will he drive those around him crazy as he has done everywhere he has played?
I have always believed in giving people a second chance, but this situation is much past that point. Bynum is too intelligent to not know he is running out of chances in the NBA and needs to show something while he is here this season to have hopes of securing yet another contract with a team not called the Pacers. His proclamation that he wants to win a championship seems lame at best, because his career to date has been about Andrew Bynum and not his teammates.
I will conclude by welcoming him to town and wishing him the best this season, and hopefully he can get in shape and back on the court. Perhaps it will work out for both parties, but more than likely it will only work out for Bynum. That is a trend that the Pacers ignored when they signed him and are gambling will cease. It is now time for him to prove myself and his detractors wrong. Good luck.
Danny Bridges, who promises to not say “I told you so” should this “experiment” fail, can be reached at (317) 578-1780 or at Bridgeshd@aol.com.
Danny Bridges is an award-winning journalist and a longtime sports columnist for the Indianapolis Recorder. He covers college, professional sports and especially all things IndyCar racing. He can be reached at 317-370-8447 or at bridgeshd@aol.com.
