The Philadelphia 76ers are entering a new era of their franchise with new general manager Sam Hinkie and after dealing with the Andrew Bynum debacle, the team appears ready to move on and he appears ready to play basketball for someone else.
According to ESPN.com, Bynum has finished his rehab from knee surgery and can start working out again next week. Bynum was acquired last year in a four team deal that sent Andre Iguodala to Denver and Nikola Vucevic to Orlando and Dwight Howard to the Lakers. The 76ers took Bynum in the hopes that he would play or possibly re-sign with the team, but both of those appear to not be happening in the future.
Bynum is set to be a free agent on July 1 and he is expected to sign a deal with another team and not the 76ers. Bynum's agent said that he would be ready for training camp after missing this entire season and his agent said that there will be many teams ready to try and sign him. Bynum will start workouts next week ahead of training camp later in the summer and he said his knee is much better.
Sam Hinkie spoke about looking at all the other players available in free agency and that he will be looking at Bynum, but all reports say that it is unlikely the two sides will agree on a deal. Bynum was videotaped dancing in Spain two weeks after the season ended and Lee said that it was after his rehab ended and now he will be at the weekend's Formula One race, the British Grand Prix.
Bynum said that he was determined to play this season, but he sat out the while year and made $16.5 million on his contract. The 76ers are in a tough spot, as they still need a new coach and could be looking to deal in the draft, as they have picks 11, 35, and 42 and needs more talent. Reports have the team targeting Michael Carter-Williams and Shabazz Muhammad and they could make a deal to move up and select someone else if they like their prospects in the NBA and feel it adds value.
