Andrew Bynum says he doesn’t feel bad about leaving Sixers

When the Philadelphia 76ers acquired Andrew Bynum in the four-team trade that netted the Los Angeles Lakers Dwight Howard, the Sixers brass was assuming they just landed their center of the future.

This was a young player coming off a near 19/11 season – the front office had reason to be hopeful. Of course, Bynum never suited up for the 76ers as he missed the entire season nursing a knee injury – a knee injury that became somewhat suspect when Bynum was seen participating in activities (like bowling or driving around in an incredibly small sports car) that people with severe knee injuries really shouldn’t be doing.

A free agent this past offseason, the Sixers brass decided they weren’t going to make another mistake on Bynum, who eventually signed an incentive laden contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers. And make no mistake, Bynum doesn’t feel bad about that at all, suggesting it was the Sixers decision to not retain him:

"“I think they’ll probably boo, but that’s their choice,” Bynum said of Sixers fans during Wednesday’s shootaround in Milwaukee. “It wasn’t my choice to get rid of me. I don’t feel bad at all. . . . If I was not hurt, I would’ve played. That’s really the end to that story.”"

Bynum’s view is understandable, but so is the view of the fan base who is likely less than pleased with his perceived effort to get healthy last year.