Tough question: Andrew Bynum.

[parson]

The knee-jerk thinkers will be in and out of here shortly but I want to address those who like to discuss (and think about) what they DON'T know:

What would we do if Bynum told us he'd sign with us?

Sure, we can just say NO loudly but .... what if?

Is there a way of knowing when (and if) he's healed?
Would we want him if we had to sign him but wait a year?
Would we want him if we had to treat him like Stevenson and never play him in back-to-backs?

I bring this up because we may have to consider it in the offseason.

[Jamaaliver]

The injury question is only one issue with this guy.

He just doesn't seem to care about basketball. he seems like he's just following the check. I question his heart, discipline, dedication. Hell, he reinjured his knee bowling. Whether a doctor specifically tells you to bowl or not after knee surgery, it just seems like a bad idea.

His appearance, demeanor, and general attitude are huge red flags.
His injury situation is a deal breaker.

I'd rather re-sign Josh Smith to a 5 year max contract than sign Bynum to a 4 year contract.

The fact Bynum is doing all this weird, idiotic stuff in a contract year...can you imagine what he'll do once he has his money?

Also, he's not played a full season in the NBA as a starter.

So many red flags. If Phil jackson and Kobe had a hard time motivating him, I have doubts Ferry, Horford and Drew could do it either.

[ATL Boy]

I'd try to convince him to sign a one year contract, no way would I commit 5 years to him without him proving his health

[Jamaaliver]

I'd try to convince him to sign a one year contract, no way would I commit 5 years to him without him proving his health

On a 1-year contract, I'd have to think about it.

But, again, the injury situation is only part of the equation.

The 76ers are seeing this simple truth up close: if you place your franchise's hopes in the hands of Andrew Bynum, you will be sorely disappointed.

[MaceCase]

Throw a 2 year Max deal with an option (be it his or ours) on the 2nd year. The Hawks actually do have to spend 90% of their cap next season so might as well overpay a guy with upside while maintaining future flexibility. Question would be more over whether he fits Danny's "culture change" rather than his knees though.

[azuresou1]

I want no part of Bynum.

[Jamaaliver]

The Hawks actually do have to spend 90% of their cap next season.

This is what concerns me about D Ferry's rebuilding through free agency.
Having to spend most of our money in a somewhat weak free agent year, instead of sitting on it for a year and trying again next summer.

[MaceCase]

That's why I said spend it on a short deal. They are all the rage in the new CBA.

[Geaux_Hawks]

Throw a 2 year Max deal with an option (be it his or ours) on the 2nd year. The Hawks actually do have to spend 90% of their cap next season so might as well overpay a guy with upside while maintaining future flexibility. Question would be more over whether he fits Danny's "culture change" rather than his knees though.

About the best option imo. Bynum is weird fellow also, but what he could bring to the Hawks as a player could outweigh the weirdness. He could wear an old English colonial wig if he wanted to as long as he is helping the team.

[truehawksfan121]

This offseason someone will give Bynum a max contract 4 -5 years. It would be a miskate for the hawks to even consider his name this offseason. It's obviously Bynum doesn't take basketball serious. I don't believe he never had any attention to play with the sixers. He waited until right before training camp to get surgery in his knee when he could have did that earlier and not missed anytime. Bynum has never played a full season and last year was his first year playing 30 plus minutes a game. I know the hawks need star talent to attract fans but he is not worth the risk. Just look at amare. The Knicks are screwed.

[Yungsta404]

injury prone and a **** attitude? NO!

A 4-5 year bynum contract will basically be gilbert arenas part 2 even worst than joe johnson. Its funny that arenas is still being paid 20 million this season and 22 million next season.

[MaceCase]

Precisely why I say keep it short and sweet. Keeps him hungry and the Hawks less liable if God intercedes again. Anything more and you aren't even playing with fire, you're trying to rope swing over an active volcano.

[NeZoRiL]

Avoid Bynum like the black plague. His attitude isn't as bad as it use to be, but his body is regressing rapidly, I doubt he even plays this year and I hope he doesn't. I'm worried about his health. Besides, if we really need a big man, pick up O'Neal, Hawes or Robin Lopez in the off season.

[MaceCase]

O'Neal looks like yet another product of the Phoenix training staff, take that away and he's likely to crumble just as badly then Hawes and Lopez are both signed past this season. This thread isn't a matter of just finding a bigman but rather an impact one. There's just about a half dozen different bigman options that will be available in the summer but none will offer the same impact as a healthy Bynum besides the obvious.

[Strange Clouds]

Avoid Bynum like the black plague. His attitude isn't as bad as it use to be, but his body is regressing rapidly, I doubt he even plays this year and I hope he doesn't. I'm worried about his health. Besides, if we really need a big man, pick up O'Neal, Hawes or Robin Lopez in the off season.

Why?

[parson]

..., but his body is regressing rapidly, I doubt he even plays this year and I hope he doesn't. I'm worried about his health.

Why?

Mace is a big boy and can defend himself but, until he does, I imagine he hopes Bynum doesn't try because it might endanger his health. It kinda reads that way, at least.

[tcorbin]

it's not a tough question. no way i would sign him. I would only sign Bynum to a one year deal. just like Rose, knees don't get better with age.

[theatlfan]

I find this thread pretty funny. I don't think there's a single NBA star that I wouldn't sign to a 1 or 2-year deal especially who'd still be 25 the day the contract would be signed. Any team in the NBA would do that, so why would Bynum come here? You have to sweeten the pot to get him to jump and giving him a chance to rent instead of buy isn't great incentive. If that's all you're willing to offer, then you're passing on him. That's fine, but at least state it without putting something out there that would so obviously be outbid.

As far as what I'd offer, the OP has it right: I have no idea about the situation. The simple truth is that if a doctor that I trust says he A-OK, then I max him; if not or hedges, then I pass. There's only a handful of people in the world with the access and the resources to get the appropriate information for this decision, and simply put, I'm not one of them.

[tcorbin]

I find this thread pretty funny. I don't think there's a single NBA star that I wouldn't sign to a 1 or 2-year deal especially who'd still be 25 the day the contract would be signed. Any team in the NBA would do that, so why would Bynum come here? You have to sweeten the pot to get him to jump and giving him a chance to rent instead of buy isn't great incentive. If that's all you're willing to offer, then you're passing on him. That's fine, but at least state it without putting something out there that would so obviously be outbid.

As far as what I'd offer, the OP has it right: I have no idea about the situation. The simple truth is that if a doctor that I trust says he A-OK, then I max him; if not or hedges, then I pass. There's only a handful of people in the world with the access and the resources to get the appropriate information for this decision, and simply put, I'm not one of them.

it is called having intelligence or being smart, and not being another dumb NBA GM, just throwing money around and ruining franchises.

I don't know why GMs and especially fans would be so dumb. when has a player with bad knees, and then given huge amounts of money every panned out????

[theatlfan]

it is called having intelligence or being smart, and not being another dumb NBA GM, just throwing money around and ruining franchises.

I don't know why GMs and especially fans would be so dumb. when has a player with bad knees, and then given huge amounts of money every panned out????

This is a a lot of what you hear though. Of course we know more about those who didn't ever fully recover because every time we see them we hear about what might have been or the team's cap issues because of the contract. You don't hear as much about the players who do successfully recover from injuries since they simply aren't talked about nearly as much.

To answer your question though - yes. 2 off the top of my head:
- Amar'e Stoudemire had knee issues that caused him to have a highly controversial microfracture surgery. He basically missed the entire '05-'06 season - over the next 5 seasons (or the length of the max contract with Bird Rights) he averaged 35 minutes over 70 games per season while putting up 23 ppg and 9 rbg on 55% shooting.
- Kobe Bryant had has at least 4 separate knee procedures since 2003 which was the reason he was in Colorado when he was hit with the rape allegation. He has led the league in scoring (2x) and won an MVP (1) (amoung several other accolades) since he had his first procedure (which arguably never worked due to the fact that he's had at least 3 more).

I'm sure there have been others who aren't quite as high profile of a player who has successfully recovered - it's just that these 2 in particular were noteworthy because Amar'e's surgery was controversial at the time and Kobe was accused of rape while he was in town for one of his. As I said, you don't hear as much about these player's knee issues (or, at least not during Amar'e's run, I'm sure we'll hear more now...) since you can actually talk about their play.