Andrew Bynum (Photo : REUTERS)
Already out of the league for the entire 2014-15 NBA season, Andrew Bynum will enter perhaps the most crucial offseason of his career. With a history of injuries and attitude problems looming, the former NBA All-Star center must do whatever it takes to convince an NBA team he's better than he has ever been before, both physically and emotionally, or else it might be the end of his once promising hoops journey.
Bynum, who played a total of 26 games after the Los Angeles Lakers sent him to the Philadelphia 76ers in a blockbuster four-team trade in 2012, is expected to hit the free-agency market this offseason in hope of resuming a career once full of potential.
According to his agent David Lee, Bynum will attempt a comeback after deciding to sit out last season in order to give him more time in rehabbing his knee. Lee also added that his client was planning to undergo 'The Regenokine Program' in Germany with the purpose of addressing a chronic knee problem that sidelined him the majority of his career.
In a report by Marc Beerman of the New York Post, Lee mentioned the Knicks as potential landing spot for Bynum once he was cleared to play because of his relationship with former Lakers coach and current Knicks president of basketball operations Phil Jackson.
"The 7-foot Bynum may not be reuniting with Phil Jackson's Knicks or any other team next season because he is seriously contemplating sitting out 2014-15 to undergo the Germany-based knee therapy called "The Regenokine Program'' that would require an extra long rehab, according to his agent David Lee. But he could be in play for the following season," according to Beerman.
However, it's still unknown if Bynum pursued his plan of undergoing treatment on his knees. Other than Kobe Bryant's testimony, there is there's no clear evidence the treatment would solve chronic problems as serious as what Bynum is having. Three years ago, former All-Star shooting guard Brandon Roy underwent the same procedure in hope of giving his basketball career a second chance. After just several games with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Roy ended his career for good.
But other than the knee issues, Bynum's commitment to the game have been put into question a number of times. Dave McMenamin of ESPNLosAngeles.com reported that the Lakers slapped Bynum a hefty amount of fines for breaking team protocols. During his stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Bynum's inability to follow the rules was at the forefront once again and it eventually forced the Cavs top-brass to trade him to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Luol Deng in 2013.
Bynum, who has a career average of 11.5 points and 7.7 rebounds per game, is a living example of a talent gone wasted because of injuries and immaturity. However, people forget that he's still 27-years old. Perhaps, he might have enough time to correct what went wrong in the past and finally find a role in the NBA.
Last summer, the Los Angeles Clippers showed some interest by inviting him to a workout. Jackson also didn't rule out the possibility of reuniting with Bynum in New York as long as he proved he's healthy enough to play. These teams and more are expected to take a closer look at him because they know what Bynum can bring on the table at full strength. After all, if Greg Oden is drawing offers despite his glassy knees, why a proven All-Star like Bynum can't?
