The Indiana Pacers signed free-agent center Andrew Bynum to a contract for the rest of the season on Saturday. He will be paid $1 million by the Pacers for the rest of the season, according to sources with knowledge about the deal.
Bynum will join the Pacers next week. This move prevents the Pacer’s rival Miami Heat from getting Bynum. The Heat and four other teams were interested in Bynum. The Heat could have outbid the Pacers for Bynum, as they have $3 million that they could spend. However signing Bynum would have been expensive for the Heat because they have a full roster and a luxury-tax bill of $15 million, according to ESPN. Bynum is a great addition for the Pacers as he will add depth to their roster.
"We are obviously happy to have him join our team," Pacers president of basketball operations Larry Bird said in a statement. "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."
Bynum averaged 18.7 points and 11.8 rebound per game with the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2011-12 season. He missed all of last year because of knee problems, and has been a free agent since January 7. This season Bynum has averaged 8.4 points and 5.3 rebounds per game in 24 games with the Cleveland Cavaliers, according to USA Today. The Pacers are currently 35-10 on the season. They have a three game lead over the Heat in the Eastern Conference.It will be interesting to see what happens to Bynum after this season.