Grantland on Andrew Bynum
Ah shoot. While we celebrate the departure of Jason Babin, the Andrew Bynum era continues to not exist. He might never play for the Sixers, and today, Zach Lowe of Grantland has a rather lengthy take on the blockbuster trade and what it could wind up meaning for the Sixers in the long-term. An excerpt:
Bynum will be a free agent after this season, and if he leaves without playing a game for the Sixers, the trade will have been a mistake in the most literal sense. Philadelphia gave up its best all-around player for Bynum in Andre Iguodala, but the loss of a borderline All-Star nearing his 29th birthday might only be the third-most significant asset Philly surrendered in swinging for the fences. They also gave up potential cap flexibility, both last summer and going forward, and the equivalent of three mid-tier first-round picks in Mo Harkless, Nikola Vucevic, and the 2015 pick now earmarked for Orlando. The team also sent a future first-rounder to Miami on a draft-day deal for Arnett Moultrie, which kicks in if the Sixers make the playoffs this season. That's a lot of future assets out the door, and the first-rounders owed to Miami and Orlando make it practically impossible for Philly to use any future first-round picks as sweeteners in a trade.
You can read the full thing here.