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Free agent Andrew Bynum is now an Indiana Pacer. The announcement came Saturday and the contract is for the rest of the season.
According to ESPN, the Pacers are going to pay Bynum $1 million for the rest of the season.
The move is a huge one for the Pacers. Bynum not only adds size to the Pacers, who are currently leading in the Eastern Division, he also adds depth.
Bynum will join All-Star big man Roy Hibbert and this year All-Star starter Paul George and power forward David West.
In a statement, Pacer’s President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird said, “We are obviously happy to have him join our team. He gives us added size, he is a skilled big man and he has championship experience. With the minutes he gets, he should be a valuable addition.”
Although Bynum is not the player he use to be when he was averaging about 18 points and 11 rebounds per game for the Lakers in 2011-2012, he has shown signs of growth. In the 24 games he played as a Cleveland Cavalier this season he managed to average about 8 points and 5 rebounds per game. Bynum played about 20 minutes per game.
“. . . I think it’s the right fit for me and, in all honesty, I think we’ve got the best chance of winning. It will be a great to back Roy and I’ll do whatever I can to help this team,” said Bynum in a statement.
Bynum didn’t play last season due to knee trouble and was a free agent since Jan. 7, reports USA Today.
With this new edition, the Pacers are hoping to take the championship for the Miami Heat, who beat them out in a riveting game 7 for the eastern conference finals.
Bynum is slated to join the team next week.