Tag: Andrew Bynum

Suspensions for Bynum, Villanueva trimmed by a game

Andrew Bynum and Charlie Villanueva just got an early Christmas present from the NBA  league offices.

Both Bynum and Villanueva will be returning to the lineup a little earlier after the league trimmed their existing five-game suspensions from last season to four games.

Bynum earned his suspension for a clothesline of Dallas guard J.J. Barea in Game 4 of the Los Angeles Lakers’ playoff series against Dallas. For good measure, Bynum then took off his jersey and stormed off the court after he was ejected from the game.

Villanueva instigated a fight with Cleveland’s Ryan Hollins late last season. It stated on the court and then carried over to the locker rooms as he tried to charge Hollins off the court. He served one game of the suspension last season.

Bynum’s first game back will be Dec. 31 against the Nuggets. And Villanueva will return on the same date against Indiana.

Bynum-Howard trade comes closest to making sense for Magic

Most obervers believe it’s only a matter of time before All-Star center Dwight Howard opts to leave Orlando for  a better financial situation in his next contract.

It’s already sparked much attention across the NBA, particularly the chances of Howard joining Kobe Bryant with the Los Angeles Lakers when his contract with Orlando expires after the 2011-12 season.

The Magic are only two years removed from a trip to the NBA Finals. But several bad contracts for other players have provided a situation where they don’t have much salary cap space.

The Basketball Prospectus.com’s Kevin Pelton writes at  ESPN.com that there’s only one way for the Magic to attempt to get approximate value for Howard. That would be by rather than waiting for a sign-and-trade after next season.

And Pelton writes that the best  location would be the Lakers in a package including Los Angeles center Andrew Bynum.

The Magic would gain some youth by obtaining the 23-year-old Bynum. While he’s not nearly as accomplished offensively as Howard and a lot more injury prone, Bynum might have a chance to emerge with the Magic when not battling for touches with experienced inside offensive threats like Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom.

Pelton provides a lot of statistical evidence that proves the Magic wouldn’t suffer much of a decline if they plugged Bynum into their team in place of Howard.

What to do with Howard will be the major question facing the Magic. Orlando had the fifth-best point differential in the NBA last season and posted a 52-30 record last season that was eighth-best in the NBA. 

Whenver the lockout ends, Howard’s future with the Magic will become one of  the most intriguing stories in the NBA.

It could happen next month or it might be next year. But Howard’s future playing status could affect the balance of powers in the league for several seasons afterwards.

Lakers’ Bynum taking boxing lessons during lockout

Just what the NBA needed — another public-relations hit during the lockout.

But that’s what the league got when Los Angeles Lakers center Andrew Bynum spent some of his time away from basketball taking boxing lessons.

Yes, that’s  the same Andrew Bynum who will be suspended for the first five games once the season begins for his thuggish attack on J.J. Barea during the playoffs.

Bynum is working with noted  boxing trainer Freddie Roach to get in better condition during the lockout.

“I got a two a day tomorrow first road work in the morning, then back in the ring in the afternoon!,” about his early boxing work. “I’m going hard y’all!”

Providing the 7-foot, 285-pound Bynum with some knowledge of how to use his fists should be something that should make rival centers shudder across the NBA.