Andrew Bynum has been a Sixer for less than a week. He already feels like he’s home.
Bynum, who is entering the final year of his contract, faced questions yesterday about his plans for the future.
“To be honest, man, my first experience here has been so great I’m really leaning toward making this my home,” Bynum said, inciting deafening cheers from the fans.
Prior to last season, Bynum was a knee injury waiting to happen. Between 2007-08 and 2010-11, he missed 31 games per season while undergoing separate surgeries on each knee. It wasn’t until last season that he finally sustained health for a full season.
But that didn’t stop owner Josh Harris from jokingly asking Bynum, “Where do I sign?” Team trainer Kevin Johnson took Bynum for X-rays and an MRI Tuesday, and he gave the 7-footer a clean bill of health. In fact, they appear happy that Bynum will head to Germany in early September to undergo a non-invasive procedure called Orthokine/Regenokine. It involves taking blood-spinning and produced spectacular results last season for Bynum’s former Lakers teammate, Kobe Bryant.
And the Sixers are prepared to empty the bank for Bynum. They can offer him a three-year, $60 million contract during the season and then a five-year, $100 million deal if he hits free agency.
Bounce passes
Here are few notes from yesterday relating to Sixers coach Doug Collins …
A team source said that Doug Collins’ team-option has been picked up for the full two years, locking him in through the 2013-14 season.
Collins on possibly succeeding Coach K as coach of USA Basketball in 2016: “If my name would get in the mix, that would be great. When I’m there watching USA Basketball, it runs deep for me. It’s vey important.”
