HoopsHype.com Rumors

Andrew Bynum having fun flamenco dancing in what appears to be a Ferrari jacket at Cafe de Chinitas in Madrid, Spain, where he's spending some time on an early offseason vacation, which is the kind of thing you can do when your team doesn't have to worry about the playoffs. (Bynum also took in a nice meal at Basque restaurant Mesón Txistu and had a nice time at a Real Madrid match.) Yahoo! Sports

Philadelphia 76ers, Andrew Bynum 

Harris, the Sixers’ managing owner, said Thursday that the team is “going to look to bring Andrew back” next season despite Bynum not playing in 2012-13 — while earning $16.5 million — due to bone bruises on both knees. “A healthy Bynum is a needle mover, a top 15 player,” said Harris one day after the end of a disappointing 34-48 season. “We’re going to weigh the positives and the negatives and try to make a reasoned assessment about what’s appropriate for Andrew. Certainly, we’re open to the prospect of bringing him back.” Pressed on the matter, Harris responded, “I’m not saying we’re going to bring him back. I’m saying we haven’t ruled it out. Bringing Andrew back is an important risk that we’re not ignoring.” phillyburbs.com

Philadelphia 76ers, Andrew Bynum 

Tom Moore: #Sixers Josh Harris on #Bynum trade: 'If I had to make that decision again, I’d make it again. Things don’t always work out.' #76ers Twitter @tmoorepburbs

Philadelphia 76ers, Andrew Bynum, Owners, Josh Harris 

The Sixers – in case you didn't want to believe it – will make a run at signing free-agent center Andrew Bynum in the offseason, (owner Josh) Harris confirmed. The owner said he and the team know just about everything they need to know about Bynum's bum knees, which is somewhat of an advantage in the negotiating process, Harris said. Delaware County Daily Times

Philadelphia 76ers, Andrew Bynum 

Joshua Harris on Andrew Bynum: "There's no one scenario that is determinable right now." "Of course we're going to look at bringing Bynum back... a healthy Bynum playing is a needle-mover." "We're going to weigh the positives and negatives and try to make a reasoned assessment about Andrew." "I'm not saying we're going to bring [Bynum] back - I'm saying we aren't ruling it out." "We're very interested and open to Andrew coming back" in a way "that makes sense for us." Philadelphia Inquirer

Philadelphia 76ers, Andrew Bynum, Joshua Harris 

On if the Mavs will make a run at Andrew Bynum: “I’d make that one because he’s so good when healthy. If it’s a short-term deal, if it’s a two-year deal, I’d be tempted. Obviously, he has to have a full examination. But when he’s healthy, and again this guy has missed a whole season so I understand your hesitation, but he’s a monster. There just aren’t that many players like that, and that’s why the 76ers did it. I think you still gamble on Bynum because he’s that much of a difference maker if you can keep him on the court.” Dallas Morning News

Dallas Mavericks, Philadelphia 76ers, Free Agency, Andrew Bynum 

It was picture day for the Sixers before Wednesday’s game against the Atlanta Hawks. Though it’s not necessarily a benchmark of the season for most NBA teams, it reminded coach Doug Collins of how the team came together for its final five-game push for the playoffs during last year’s picture day. This year the Sixers are simply playing out the string. Though there were a lot of different faces in this year’s photo, there were two that were conspicuous by their absences. One was Jason Richardson, who was rehabbing his surgically-repaired knee. The other was Andrew Bynum, who also is rehabbing his knees in New York City. Though his uniform was hung in his locker, Bynum did not make the trip to Philly to smile for the camera. Without Bynum in the team picture it was as if he wasn’t even here at all. CSNPhilly.com

Philadelphia 76ers, Andrew Bynum 

So the Sixers’ primary options with Bynum could be down to re-signing him or letting him leave. The latter option seems to be most likely, but the Sixers could consider bringing Bynum back if his knees aren’t too bad and the price is relatively reasonable. phillyburbs.com

Philadelphia 76ers, Free Agency, Andrew Bynum 

The distinct sense I get in Philly is that the decision whether Doug Collins, at 61, decides to continue coaching the Sixers after projected franchise cornerstone Andrew Bynum played zero minutes this season will be left fully up to Collins. He suggested as much recently while Adam Aron, Philly's CEO, told a town-hall style gathering of Sixers fans in late March that "Doug Collins is under absolutely zero pressure from ownership." ESPN.com

Philadelphia 76ers, Andrew Bynum, Coaching, Doug Collins, Adam Aron 

The agent for Andrew Bynum says that the player has not ruled out signing a contract with the 76ers once free agency begins July 1. “I don’t see why not,” Bynum’s agent, David Lee, said Wednesday morning when asked whether or not Bynum would consider signing an extension with the 76ers this summer. “I still feel like the ball is in their court.” Philadelphia Inquirer

Philadelphia 76ers, Free Agency, Andrew Bynum 

“Philadelphia has been terrific to us – from [majority owner] Josh Harris to [CEO/co-owner] Adam Aron to [general manager] Tony DiLeo,” Lee said. “The only way that Philadelphia would not be an option would be if they decided that they wanted to go in another direction.” Philadelphia Inquirer

Philadelphia 76ers, Free Agency, Andrew Bynum 

Do you have a timetable on deciding whether to bring Bynum back? Rod Thorn: "I don't. He doesn't become a free agent until the end of June, the first of July." Will that be your decision to make the offer? Rod Thorn: "That decision? He is a free agent, he can go anywhere he wants to. It's not just what we want to do, it's what he wants to do, too." Will the Sixers make an offer? Rod Thorn: "We'll have to see what transpires." Delaware County Daily Times

Philadelphia 76ers, Free Agency, Andrew Bynum, Rod Thorn 

With two home games left, do you feel the Sixers should have achieved more this year? Rod Thorn: "With the (Andrew) Bynum situation, we gave up some terrific assets in order to get Andrew. And Andrew hasn't been able to play. So I think we played about as well as we could play otherwise. I think we have done some good things. We had a bad stretch in the year. Obviously, we are finishing up here on a pretty high note. But we rolled the dice to so speak with Bynum. I think if we had Bynum, we'd be a really good team. And with him not being able to play, it's been a tough thing for us." Delaware County Daily Times

Philadelphia 76ers, Free Agency, Andrew Bynum, Rod Thorn 

While it would be wonderful if Bynum - an unrestricted free agent - gave the Sixers special consideration in light of all that they lost in trading for him and the agonizing wait for him to return, a team source with knowledge of the situation said last week that he does not believe that will be the case. The Sixers ultimately may have nothing to show for this deal - no Bynum, no Nik Vucevic, who looks as if he could be a budding star with the Magic, no Maurice Harkless, blossoming in his own way in Orlando, and one less first-round draft pick. All once sparkling assets, they now are reminders of a potentially franchise-crippling mistake by the front office. Philadelphia Inquirer

Philadelphia 76ers, Free Agency, Andrew Bynum 

Did the Sixers view Bynum’s situation as a distraction? “I never considered Andrew a distraction at all,” Sixers coach Doug Collins said. “I never felt that in any way. I tried to be very supportive of what he was going through.” Collins acknowledged, however, that he would have preferred it if Bynum had addressed the media in the room where the coach delivers his postgame news conferences, rather than having media staked out in from of Bynum’s locker before games, around the guys who were getting ready to play. “From his standpoint, there was nothing that he could do,” Collins said. “It was a situation he was put in.” Delaware News Journal

Philadelphia 76ers, Andrew Bynum, Doug Collins 

Indeed, executives seem divided on how they would handle Bynum. I think a one-year deal worth about $11 million certainly would be fair for Bynum, considering his injuries as well as his production when healthy. To take such a deal, he would have to understand he got paid nearly $17 million this season for doing nothing. ESPN.com

Philadelphia 76ers, Andrew Bynum 

One-time All-Star center Andrew Bynum had arthroscopic surgery on both knees Wednesday to remove debris from both joints and will begin physical therapy Friday, the Philadelphia 76ers announced. The 7-foot, 300-pound Bynum, who did not appear in a game this season because of bone and cartilage damage in his knees, will refrain from any weight-bearing activities for about three weeks and will spend an additional three weeks on crutches, according to the team. Bynum’s longtime orthopedist, Dr. David Altchek of the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, performed the operations. The primary focus of the procedures was to clean out loose bodies from his knees in an attempt to alleviate pain and swelling. Courier-Post

Philadelphia 76ers, Andrew Bynum, Injuries 

According to multiple league sources, the Sixers should receive about $6.76 million in salary relief from insurance, or 80 percent of Bynum’s salary for each game he missed in excess of 41 games. Courier-Post

Philadelphia 76ers, Andrew Bynum, Injuries 

Chris Mannix: Sixers announce Andrew Bynum underwent bilateral arthroscopic surgery. Will begin PT on Friday. Crutches for six weeks, at least. Twitter @ChrisMannixSI

Philadelphia 76ers, Andrew Bynum, Injuries 

After Monday's win over the Trail Blazers, Thaddeus Young said he would welcome back Bynum – an unrestricted free agent – for next season, assuming he was fully healed from the arthroscopic surgery on both knees. “Many guys have had knee surgeries and things done to them surgically and they've come back even better,” Young said. “It's all about (Bynum) getting back to the gym, getting back his rhythm and getting into the groove of basketball. Sixers Dish

Philadelphia 76ers, Free Agency, Andrew Bynum, Thaddeus Young