Former Philadelphia 76ers center Andrew Bynum is apparently attempting a comeback to the NBA, but fans shouldn’t expect much to come from this.
The trade that brought Andrew Bynum from the Los Angeles Lakers to the Philadelphia 76ers in the summer of 2012 may go down as one of the biggest blunders in Sixers franchise history. Bynum never played a single game for the franchise due to persistent injuries. After the trade to Philadelphia, Bynum’s career went on a downward spiral that has had him out of the NBA after the 2013-2014 season.
The trade put the 76ers in a downward spiral that allowed former general manager Sam Hinkie to tank for several seasons. It wasn’t until this past season that the team made the playoffs for the first time since the 2011-2012 season, which was incidentally the season before the Bynum trade. That trade was the catalyst for years of losing that caused many Sixers fans anguish. However, the cause of that anguish is trying to make a return to the NBA.
Charania later tweeted out that the Lakers are allowing Bynum to use their facilities for his workouts. Charania has made it appear as though the team is allowing the center to workout in their facilities due to the fact that he’s an alumni who helped them win two championships.
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For those who are curious of Bynum’s abilities after a few years off, there’s a video on Instagram of Bynum working out recently. While he shows flashes of the dominant player he once was, the Sixers nor any other team should think they will get the player that won two championships with Kobe Bryant.
His injury history and his age should be enough to scare off most NBA teams. However, father time and past injuries aren’t the only things working against Bynum. He’s an old school center and would definitely struggle against modern NBA centers. Bynum is a low post scorer that is limited defensively to the paint.
After the end of the Bynum and Sixers union, Bynum had brief stints with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Indiana Pacers in the 2013-14 season. Neither stint was remarkable and produced numbers well below his career averages. Expecting Bynum to return to his former glory would be folly.
Bynum’s potential return shouldn’t concern the Philadelphia 76ers in the least bit. The team currently has depth at the center position with Joel Embiid, Mike Muscala, Amir Johnson, Jonah Bolden and Norvel Pelle. If Bynum gets a chance to return to the NBA, it shouldn’t be with the Sixers.