Andrew Bynum

[soxfan2003]

Frankly I think the Cavaliers are making a large mistake if they target Bynum or any max contract guy right now that truly isn't a clear top 10 player in the game that projects to be for the next 4-5 years.
AV is a good value guy on his current contract and if he is dealt, it really should be for inexpensive draft picks.

If Howard can't be had directly for a reasonable price and a willingness to re-sign which is unlikely, why not rebuild with a couple more strong, inexpensive building blocks from the draft before trying to start to contend and take on big salaries while giving up very valuable draft picks? The top 5 teams in the nba will be difficult to beat for the next 2-3 years so it really is the perfect time to stockpile young talent that can compete with an OKC 3 years from now. And be in position when Wade slows down further and Lebron hits 30.

It frankly doesn't make sense to me. And as an outside observer, I hate to say it but Cleveland would be appearing to be making a similar mistake that they did with Lebron. Instead of trying to be bad for a few years to really increase the odds at another major star, the Cavaliers rush to soon to be competitive and a perennial playoff team. OKC wasn't trading away draft picks for a max contract player.

The Cavaliers already had a stretch of years being very competitive so I don't see the rush when the teams best asset is only 20 years old entering his second year in the nba. The Cavs would be setting themselves up to be the NY Knicks which is kind of middle of the pack without a great chance to contend.

Bynum is a very good player but he is a poor/risky value in the new cba at 20 million a year unless he puts your team in championship contention right away.

I know some Cleveland fans probably don't want him back but it would hardly shock me at all if the Cavs got really good young talent that Lebron comes back once Wade declines. I think Lebron is smart enough to know that 2 titles in Miami plus one in Cleveland would really add a lot to his legacy. And might be better then 2 titles in Miami and 2 in NY/LA.

I don't think Lebron really wanted to leave Cleveland but did simply because of the lack of genuine stars supporting him. Bynum is a very good player but not good enough to stop a proper rebuilding plan imho.

3 young really proven stars on rookie contracts may be enough to attract Lebron or some other top 10 player.

[lukekarts]

@soxfan2003 there are a few things that go against that plan though:

1. Not every team can luck into a trio of WB/KD/JH in three seasons.
2. It requires being bad enough to get top picks, when quite frankly I don't think CLE's current team is bad enough.
3. Bynum is the second best C in the NBA, the opinion is almost unanimous. Hard to turn down that kind of talent.
4. Bynum is what, 25? He'll be peaking right when Miami and LAL potentially fall off a cliff.
5. Being bad for long is not a great way to develop players.

[Realdeal_33]

Bynum is one of the few players that is willing to sign an extension with the cavs and he is already an established Allstar. I don't understand why some of you want to tank and stay in mediocrity to get high draft picks that will eventually leave in free agency. The cavs could potentially have the best pg and the best center in a couple years, the two hardest positions to fill in today's nba.

[Stebo_SSK]

Bynum is one of the few players that is willing to sign an extension with the cavs and he is already an established Allstar. I don't understand why some of you want to tank and stay in mediocrity to get high draft picks that will eventually leave in free agency. The cavs could potentially have the best pg and the best center in a couple years, the two hardest positions to fill in today's nba.

This. While Bynum wont ever be better than Howard barring injury, his acquisition with an up and coming Irving and Dion Waiters(if not traded in deal) gives them a nice young nucleus to compete.

[soxfan2003]

@soxfan2003 there are a few things that go against that plan though:

1. Not every team can luck into a trio of WB/KD/JH in three seasons.
2. It requires being bad enough to get top picks, when quite frankly I don't think CLE's current team is bad enough.
3. Bynum is the second best C in the NBA, the opinion is almost unanimous. Hard to turn down that kind of talent.
4. Bynum is what, 25? He'll be peaking right when Miami and LAL potentially fall off a cliff.
5. Being bad for long is not a great way to develop players.

1) True but as for your comments, only KD was really luck. The other two picks aren't that far off of what you expect in the draft if you are picking high up in the draft and select fairly wisely. And even if it take 4-5 years, rebuilding through the draft is the best way for most nba teams to go.
2) True. And that is why my honest suggestion is for the Cavs to trade AV since he is a good player and he will make it harder for Cleveland to get a few more good top 1-5 picks.
3) Not true at all. Many Laker fans believe Bynum because of his defensive deficiencies is not the second best center in the league. He can't defend the pick and roll. And he shot 42% last year without Kobe. The guy is fairly unproven. I'd rather have a guy like Chandler in a playoff series or frankly KG who is playing center right now. And many laker fans would rather have a healthy Bogut...
4) LA won't fall off of a cliff with Howard for another 6 years. He allows them to be dominant and frankly makes it easier for LA to lure Cleveland's or another teams young talent in the future when Kobe and Gasol's contracts expire.
5) I think OK has proven this to be wrong. Trust me as someone who has watched the Warriors and Celtics a lot during a 15 year rather bleak stretch, the worst place to be is stuck in the middle. I think this trade sets the Cavs up to be stuck in the middle with bleak prospects to become a title contender.

Instead the Cavs should build slowly around Irving. Trade AV who I know Cavs fan understandly like but trade him for a potential lottery pick or a couple of other picks that may be good.

GM's and coaches look good in the short term on trades like this but the fan base IMHO suffers over the long term.

I personally think Orlando is making the best of a very bad situation and its telling that they really don't want Bynum and want to rebuild through the draft themselves.

[Cleveland Fan]

1st I want to say I am not against aquiring Bynum, but if we make a deal it has to be us getting the better of it. If we don't I say we pass at this time. If anything goes wrong we would set our re-build backwards bigtime. I say let this deal go without us unless too good to pass-up. Let the re-build process progress, young players develop, make a few minor moves(AV for pick or young talent), expirings expire. If we aquire another 1st we could possibly have 4 1st next year. I am not saying tank this year just let the cards fall were they fall. Next off-season could be very interesting & everyone says no free agents will come to the Cavs but I say never say never. This process may take awhile but could really be worth the wait.

[tviper]

@soxfan2003 there are a few things that go against that plan though:

1. Not every team can luck into a trio of WB/KD/JH in three seasons.
2. It requires being bad enough to get top picks, when quite frankly I don't think CLE's current team is bad enough.
3. Bynum is the second best C in the NBA, the opinion is almost unanimous. Hard to turn down that kind of talent.
4. Bynum is what, 25? He'll be peaking right when Miami and LAL potentially fall off a cliff.
5. Being bad for long is not a great way to develop players.

1) True but as for your comments, only KD was really luck. The other two picks aren't that far off of what you expect in the draft if you are picking high up in the draft and select fairly wisely. And even if it take 4-5 years, rebuilding through the draft is the best way for most nba teams to go.
2) True. And that is why my honest suggestion is for the Cavs to trade AV since he is a good player and he will make it harder for Cleveland to get a few more good top 1-5 picks.
3) Not true at all. Many Laker fans believe Bynum because of his defensive deficiencies is not the second best center in the league. He can't defend the pick and roll. And he shot 42% last year without Kobe. The guy is fairly unproven. I'd rather have a guy like Chandler in a playoff series or frankly KG who is playing center right now. And many laker fans would rather have a healthy Bogut...
4) LA won't fall off of a cliff with Howard for another 6 years. He allows them to be dominant and frankly makes it easier for LA to lure Cleveland's or another teams young talent in the future when Kobe and Gasol's contracts expire.
5) I think OK has proven this to be wrong. Trust me as someone who has watched the Warriors and Celtics a lot during a 15 year rather bleak stretch, the worst place to be is stuck in the middle. I think this trade sets the Cavs up to be stuck in the middle with bleak prospects to become a title contender.

Instead the Cavs should build slowly around Irving. Trade AV who I know Cavs fan understandly like but trade him for a potential lottery pick or a couple of other picks that may be good.

GM's and coaches look good in the short term on trades like this but the fan base IMHO suffers over the long term.

I personally think Orlando is making the best of a very bad situation and its telling that they really don't want Bynum and want to rebuild through the draft themselves.

Laker fan here. I don't know a single Laker fan that believes this. The majority opinion is that Bynum is second to Howard only. Regarding the speculation in #4, so you believe it is better to not improve your team because someone else might be good and lure your players away? You may want to rethink that.

[Dr. Laker]

Looks like Bynum becomes a Sixer. Typical CAVS luck. I still remember the Miracle in Richfield in 1976 with the CAVS on their way to a title . . . then Chones breaks his ankle in practice before Game 1 of the ECF/

[tidho]

I never wanted him anyway!

It is too bad weren't able to inject ourselvs nto the final deal.

[BossHoggin]

Surprise!

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/22 ... _Procedure

[Dupp]

**** lakers

[Stebo_SSK]

If Bynum takes Philly anywhere past the 1st round Cleveland will look like fools for not making this deal happen. Bynum and Kyrie would have been a great foundation for the next few years. Some of you Cavs fans were so worried about making the Lakers better but overlooking making ur own team better. Not that it was ur call though.

[mcfly1204]

If Bynum takes Philly anywhere past the 1st round Cleveland will look like fools for not making this deal happen. Bynum and Kyrie would have been a great foundation for the next few years. Some of you Cavs fans were so worried about making the Lakers better but overlooking making ur own team better. Not that it was ur call though.

If Bynum does not get Phili past the 1st round, then they will look like fools.

You do not know the exact terms of the proposed Bynum to Cleveland deals, nor do any of us know if Bynum would have been inclined to resign in Cleveland after this season. Things are looking good in Philadelphia as well as Cleveland in my opinion.

[rjgraca]

If Bynum takes Philly anywhere past the 1st round Cleveland will look like fools for not making this deal happen. Bynum and Kyrie would have been a great foundation for the next few years. Some of you Cavs fans were so worried about making the Lakers better but overlooking making ur own team better. Not that it was ur call though.

If Bynum does not get Phili past the 1st round, then they will look like fools.

You do not know the exact terms of the proposed Bynum to Cleveland deals, nor do any of us know if Bynum would have been inclined to resign in Cleveland after this season. Things are looking good in Philadelphia as well as Cleveland in my opinion.

+1

Philly just rolled the dice with Bynum's injury risk and his half-court game where he lumbers down the court... so, yeah, Philly will look dumb if they don't get out of the first round.

Some Laker fans need to be more concerned with their aging roster's potential health next season with Dwight possibly only playing 50% of the games at less than 100%. It will also be interesting to see how Dwight likes playing second banana to Kobe, despite Kobe's media spin to the contrary.

[Dupp]

I hope they implode.

I wasn't under the impression we were the ones that wouldn't pull the trigger in the Bynum deal. Is there anyone that knows exactly what the terms of the trade were and who didn't wanna go through with it?

Bynums pretty good but it's not the end of the world missing out on him.

[LakersSquad]

I hope they implode.

I wasn't under the impression we were the ones that wouldn't pull the trigger in the Bynum deal. Is there anyone that knows exactly what the terms of the trade were and who didn't wanna go through with it?

Bynums pretty good but it's not the end of the world missing out on him.

I don't know who killed that trade but I think Bynum and Kyrie would have been a force. Best young PG and Best young big