Monday, February 18, 2013
Should Philly end hopes of Bynum return?
By Joe Kaiser
Whether Andrew Bynum plays at all this season more than likely won't affect Philadelphia's chances of making a serious run at a championship, so should the 76ers concede that it's a lost season for their big off-season acquisition?
Bynum, as you know, has yet to appear in a game for the 76ers as he continues to recover from offseason knee surgery. He's also being paid $16.47 million in this, the final year of his current contract, and there is no guarantee that he'll ever suit up for the 76ers.
Columnist Phil Sheridan of the Philadelphia Inquirer writes today that it's time for Philly to cut their losses and move forward without their prized big man.
"Let's cut to the chase and cut our losses here. The Sixers should sit Bynum down, thank him for his tiresome - sorry, tireless - efforts to get on the court, and offer him a plane ticket to the location of his choice. It is time to end the pretense that Bynum is ever going to play center for the Philadelphia 76ers - for a couple of reasons.
"But first: There are two possibilities here. One is that Bynum's knee issues are so serious, he will never be healthy enough to warrant the risk of a long-term contract. The other is that Bynum hasn't exactly done everything necessary to get out on the court and earn the millions of dollars that are appearing in his bank account through the miracle of direct deposit.
"Either way, it's a pass/fail exam that Bynum has failed."
Recently, ESPN Insider Kevin Pelton ranked Bynum the No. 2 center in the 2013 free agent class behind only Dwight Howard. Here's Pelton with more.
Kevin Pelton
Max money on Bynum is a huge risk"One factor the WARP projections can't take into account is durability. If Bynum were healthy, he'd be a clear No. 3 behind Paul and Howard (regardless of position). As it is, someone will surely spend max money on him. That's a risk as big as Bynum's 7-foot, 285-pound frame."
