May 23, 2013

Report: Lakers’ Bynum has had no Discussions with Cavs

July 19, 2012 by 25 Comments

The agent for Los Angeles Lakers center Andrew Bynum has said that his player has had zero conversations with the Cleveland Cavaliers and the team’s general manager Chris Grant, referring to the rumored deal which would send Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard to Los Angeles. Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon-Journal states that Bynum’s agent, David Lee, confirms that his client has also given no indication of a long-term contract with the Cavaliers.

A Yahoo! Sports report recently surfaced which listed the Cavaliers as a preferred long-term destination for Andrew Bynum with the center entering free agency in 2013. Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio added to this news stating that Bynum not only would be open to a long-term deal with the Cavaliers, but has a desire to play for head coach Byron Scott and alongside reigning Rookie of the Year Kyrie Irving. ESPN’s Ric Bucher recently reported that the three-team deal would involve Cavaliers’ center Anderson Varejao and multiple draft picks leaving Cleveland as the third team. HOOPSWORLD’s Alex Kennedy adds that the entire deal hinges on the Magic who appear prepared to squeeze every possible ounce of compensation out of the Lakers and, now, the Cavaliers.

Lloyd, adding commentary, stated that his feelings were that he did not have the impression of the Lakers center eyeing up Cleveland as a long-term employer. If a deal were in fact close, the Cavaliers — led by Grant and David Griffin — would be allowed to contact Lee to work out any ancillary items. To this point, the two parties have reportedly not talked.

[Related: Summer League Thoughts: On Dion Waiters, His Struggles, and More]

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  • DontbringLBJback

    Well, everyone should live by the cardinal rule: you can’t believe everything you hear, read, see, or anything else dealing with professional athletes.

  • Harv 21

    well, Lee is just his agent. It’s not like he’s as reliable as “according to sources.” Wait, my sources say this may very well be strategic misdirection by the agent. That’s interesting. Yep, I’ll blog that today.

  • Mike E

    Although would be nice to have him here, we are still set up nicely to build through the draft. I don’t see our office making a trade like this w/o the extension. Go Cavs!

  • mgbode

    it is quite possible that alot of what we have heard is smoke. agreed.

    however, let us not leave out the mitigating factors:

    1. His agent has been on vacation (as reported) and just got back now.
    2. Just because he hasn’t talked to Grant doesn’t mean any of the other reports are false. Back-channel discussions are done regularly in the NBA (as we know gruesomely well with Pat Riley) and Irving was just hanging out with Kobe (US-Select team).
    3. Agents lie.

    Again, all the rumors could have been smoke, this could have been smoke, but it’s not like we can just “trust” that nothing is going on by his agent telling us he hasn’t talked with the Cavs.

  • Kekoa

    I have been assured by a friend, won’t say “source” because I’m a college student and not a reporter, that talks are 100% still on. David Lee is not going to say ” yup, Jason Lloyd, the deal will happen in a few days, Andrew loves Cleveland.” He say’s that and that really wakes up Houston and could blow up the deal. Just an agent keeping his mouth shut, not completely denying anything until all 3 parties agree. Confirming anything would be stupid at this point.

  • Tron

    I am more curious about all the speculated picks Cleveland will be giving up as the “3rd team” involved. I really want Bynum, I just don’t want to be the team that gives up all their picks so LA can swap Bynum out for Howard without losing anything else. If that was the situation, I say keep all our draft picks and we have the cap space to sign Bynum outright next year.

  • The_Real_Shamrock

    Very true lets wait to see more concrete information. I tend to believe the three team discussions between the Cavaliers, Lakers and Magic because it makes the most sense. As far as Bynum not signing a long term contract none of us know and I have to believe Chris Grant isn’t going to take the chance in making a trade for him if he’s not going to resign a long term contract.

  • Mike E

    I miss college.

  • Dee P

    We’ve suffered for two long seasons and through that suffering have added a solid core nucleus and a tremendous amount of first round draft picks which are gold to us right now. We have a chance to build a real “team” over the next 2-3 years. If we pull the trigger and give up any of the nucleus, or draft picks it better work out. Because right now we are sitting on a pot of gold as is.

    Sorry for saying “gold” so much.

  • Yup

    If an agent mouth is moving, he is almost assuredly lying. Best to proceed keeping that always in mind. Also, I find Lloyd to be kinda gulliable…

  • The_Matt_Of_Akron

    Are we even “allowed” to talk to Bynum right now? What are the rules for tampering/inappropriate contact?

    Also, as Tron said: Why don’t we just play out the year without Bynum (and get a “better” draft position), keep our draft picks, and sign him next year?

  • The_Matt_Of_Akron

    Grant’s plan, so far, has been a long term one.

  • Harv 21

    Hey, if you’re not a reporter you have no need to protect a confidential professional source. So, let’s hear about your friend, his connection to this and the trustworthiness of his assurances.

    Good stuff.

  • Kekoa

    Low level front office member, close friend, no need to lie to me. They have indeed spoken through back channels but not officially to David Lee. Bynum is intrigued by the situation and would most likely sign long term. LA really wants this deal, and so does Cleveland with a formal assurance and at the right price. “Orlando could screw themselves, while thinking they are holding out for a kings ransom, that won’t come, because everyone knows he’s a free agent next year. Any deal they get at the all-star break won’t be this good, i expect they pull the trigger within a week.” quote from my source if you will.

  • gruvedaddy

    Believe half of what ya see, and none of what ya here. And don’t trust anything that bleeds for seven days and doesn’t die.

  • http://twitter.com/Dennymayo Denny

    Maybe we’re hearing smoke from the smoke monster. #LOST

  • mgbode

    a bird in the hand…

  • mgbode

    we are allowed to talk to Bynum if the Lakers give us permission. if trade talks are far enough along that a trade is reasonably imminent, then they will grant permission.

    of course, to wait that long is foolish (and makes negotiating a trade that much harder), so everyone just sort of looks away as back-channel discussions take place.

  • mgbode

    no idea if your friend is speaking in hyperbole or not but it doesn’t matter.

    Orlando can’t wait until the trade deadline. Howard has already said he wants out NOW and that he refuses to give them a chance. They have to move him. Even if they waited, the best they’d likely get then is the NJ deal they just passed on.

    If they wait the 30days after the draft, then they have some more young pieces they can get from Houston (or us). Not sure if they’d rather deal Dwight directly to Houston (what they want) or if they would still want to go through the 3team deal.

  • https://twitter.com/jimkanicki jimkanicki

    good reporting by jason lloyd on this. here’s a link to his tweets/sulias:
    http://sulia.com/post/cleveland-cavaliers/6a6e5a68-68b2-4ded-bcdf-d481f00705b9/

  • BrownsFanSF

    Agents don’t lie! Especially not when it would serve to improve the bargaining power of their player, increase the trust GMs have around the league for them regarding keeping negotiations under rap and save face in the public eye if a deal failed to go through. That would be immoral!

  • eldaveablo

    So, assuming they DO get Bynum & lose Andy (to move things along), does Zeller start at PF? Sounds like fun to me. I know I’m getting way ahead of myself on this, I just think this kind of discussion is more interesting than if Bynum has even been contacted :)

  • woofersus

    I think Zeller ends up in a rotation with Bynum and TT at both PF and Center. I don’t know if you watched any of the summer league games, but Chris Webber actually pointed out halfway through the first one that Zeller could play power forward. I agree with him. He has a good “back to the basket” game, but he also moves well, has a decent handle for a big man, and can shoot from midrange consistently.

  • woofersus

    I think it’s important to remember that there’s a game of chicken going on, and it may be going on for a while longer. Orlando wants to get everything they can for Howard, but it would be a huge mess for them if they don’t get a deal done. As other potential trading partners fall by the wayside by signing other players that can’t be traded right away, the Lakers (and Cavs, in this case) gain more leverage. Also, both the Lakers and Cavs are fully willing to go into the season without the deal happening – the lakers because Bynum is pretty darn good and they’ve already made their team better and could do a few more things if needed, and the cavs because they’re playing a bunch of rookies and second year players and they can wait another year to make a big move and try to leap toward contention. All this translates into the Lakers and Cavs sitting back and waiting for the Magic to blink. The Nets are out, the Rockets are out, and who else is there?

    Also, the major asset Cleveland is working with here is cap space. Sure they’ll give up Varejao if they get an important long term piece in the deal. (or picks, but that’s not what this deal will get them) But the reason the Cavs are the 3rd party is because what Orlando needs is cap space and the Lakers don’t have it to give. The Cavs are willing to take on a bad contract or two as long as they don’t hamper long term flexibility. Jason Richardson is 31 and has 3yrs/18.5mil remaining. Hedo Turkoglu is 33 and has 2yrs/23.6mil remaining. I doubt the Cavs are willing to take both, but if it lets them keep most of their picks, then maybe. I don’t think the Cavs are going to be willing to give up more than a couple of picks in the deal.

  • Jaker

    agreed. I feel if they pull out of the deal, they’ll get burned later for Dallas or Houston. Free Agency is so unpredictable, as we all know. Let’s take the risk out and get hime now!… And if we want Bynum to sign a deal, shouldn’t we try to talk to him!?!?!