Andrew Bynum played in just 24 games for the Cleveland Cavaliers. (GETTY IMAGES)

Andrew Bynum was once considered one of the top centers in the league, and there were even arguments made that he was better than Dwight Howard.

That was just two years ago. Now, Bynum is out of shape and out of work.

The 26-year-old former Western Conference All-Star was traded by the Cleveland Cavaliers after just 24 games to the Chicago Bulls, who then waived the big fella to avoid paying him guaranteed money this season. So far, nobody is jumping in line to grab him off the waiver wire.

“I wouldn’t pick him up this year,” TNT’s David Aldridge said on NBA TV. “I would bring him in and say ‘we have an interest in you, but we’re not gonna try to work you in the next two months.’ [Teams] have to look him in the eye and ask him if he really wants to play basketball. That’s really the only question that matters here.”

The Cavs couldn’t wait to run Bynum out of town, and it wasn’t because he had the knees of a senior citizen. The main issue centered around Bynum’s petulant behavior. The team suspended him one game on Dec. 28 for conduct detrimental to the team and then excused him from all team activities after some disruptive behavior at practice.

Immaturity has been Bynum’s problem ever since he entered the league at 17 — the youngest ever to suit up in an NBA game. The Lakers coddled him during his first couple of seasons, even hiring the great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to teach him the finer points of the center position. The two worked closely for four years until Bynum decided Kareem’s services will no longer be needed.

After the Cavs traded Bynum, Abdul-Jabbar said he could understand why the Cavs would be hesitant to trust Bynum.

Abdul-Jabbar wrote on his Facebook page:

I believe Andrew has always had the potential to help a team when he puts his heart into it. He just doesn’t seem to be consistent with his commitment to the game. That can lead to a lot of frustration for any team that has signed him.

When I worked with Andrew I found him to be bright & hardworking but I think he got bored with the repetitive nature of working on basketball fundamentals day in and day out… but they are the keys to long term success.

In my opinion Andrew is the type of person who walks to the beat of “a different drummer”. So we won’t know the facts until Andrew decides to tell us what actually is the issue and shares his thoughts.

Two years ago, Bynum could get away with cutting corners because he was relatively healthy. But when his knees began to deteriorate, so did his interest in the game. Bynum is not willing to put in the extra work to be great.

The Philadelphia 76ers mortgaged their future in Bynum and are now paying for it dearly. He even cost Doug Collins his job. The Sixers basically gave up All-Star Andre Iguodala because they thought Bynum would be their centerpiece. Unfortunately, Bynum’s knees became a major problem and he never played a single game for Philly.

The Cavs gave Bynum a second chance during the offseason, but they were smart enough to give themselves an out clause.

Eventually, some team will take a shot at Bynum despite all the baggage he brings. He’s a 290-plus pound 7-footer with natural back-to-the-basket skills, and most teams would die to have a center like him.

It it worth the gamble? That’s the question teams have to ponder.

Joel Huerto is editor and publisher of OneManFastBreak.net. Follow him on Twitter @onemanfastbreak.

According to Whitlock, Hunter and at least one member of the union’s executive committee confronted Fisher about their belief that Fisher’s push for a 50-50 basketball-related-income split with NBA ownership was part of a deal Fisher had privately cut with David Stern and/or Adam Silver to deliver the union at 50-50.

In response to Whitlock’s story, Fisher issued this statement to the players via e-mail on Tuesday: “Usually I wouldn’t even dignify absurd media reports with a comment. But before these reports go any further, let me say on the record to each of you, my loyalty has and always will be with the players. Anyone that questions that or doubts that does not know me, my history, and what I stand for. And quite frankly, how dare anyone call that into question. The Players Association is united and any reports to the contrary are false. There have been no side agreements, no side negotiations or anything close. We are united in serving you and presenting the best options and getting everyone back to work. The attempt by ‘sources’ to divide us will be unsuccessful. We will continue to work every day to do right by you, the businesses that depend on our league and our fans.”

Derek Fisher says he remains loyal to the union and denies any side deals with NBA commissioner David Stern. (GETTY IMAGES)

You could almost feel the frustration in Fisher voice as you read his note, and he is willing to put his reputation on the line to get his point across.

I’m going to defend Fisher on this one.

I have had the privilege to speak to Derek Fisher on more than one occasion as a member of the Los Angeles media covering the Lakers. I have followed his career since the day he became a Laker in 1996. I saw his first-ever pro game while playing for the Lakers summer league team 15 years ago. I have seen Fisher go from little-known reserve guard to starting guard for the five-time world champion Lakers. I have seen Fisher grow from an inconsistent jump shooter to one of the best clutch shooters in the history of the game.

Whenever I spoke to Fisher, he always looked me in the eye and articulated his message in a very calculated and well-thought-out manner. Unlike many NBA players, Fisher is genuine and truly cares about his job. You may not get a true sense of what he is all about by watching him on the court because, quite frankly, the man plays like a bulldog and is not afraid to bite back.

But in reality, Fisher is about as level-headed as they come off the court and is very balanced. He is a real stand-up guy. Having said that, I don’t think there was a side deal between Fisher and the league. I just can’t imagine Fisher, who has never backed away from a challenge, giving in and taking shortcuts. That’s not who Fisher is, and TNT’s David Aldridge agrees with me.

“Derek Fisher has killed himself these past eight months. He must have gone across the country 20 times,” Aldridge said on NBA TV. “I don’t buy at all the notion that Derek Fisher has somehow gotten a side deal with David Stern. I just don’t believe that knowing how hard Derek Fisher has worked in trying to get a deal done for the players. Is Derek and Billy on the same page at everything? I’m sure they’re not. I’m sure David Stern is not 100 percent in agreement with the owners. We know that for a fact because Micky Arison just paid $500,000 [for comments he made recently].

“Derek Fisher doesn’t do side deals with anybody. I don’t believe that. This is a high-character guy.”

Now, I’m not going to say Whitlock is in the wrong here either. I’ve never met Whitlock but I am very familiar with his writing, and is a well-respected journalist. It is not clear who his source is, but one thing that is clear is Whitlock has put his reputation on the line by building his story around this source.

Before we shame Fisher for this alleged deal with Stern let us not forget the fact that Fisher is not a lawyer. He is a basketball player and he is merely thinking and acting like a basketball player during these labor talks. Hunter, on the other hand, is a veteran lawyer who knows a thing or two about negotiating labor contracts. Hunter has far more experience in these heated negotiations than Fisher.

So, why is Fisher getting crucified for acting and thinking like a basketball player?

Fisher is smart enough to know that if a 50-50 deal is the only roadblock in the lockout then he’s probably saying to himself “let’s do this!” And I’m sure he’s not alone. He probably heard enough voices in the players’ union that a 50-50 split is acceptable.

As union president, Fisher has to pacify the superstars and the non-superstars. He has to please Stern and Hunter. And he has to deal with the agents who is at the forefront of the BRI battle. Try wearing Fisher’s shoes for a change and see how you deal with all this nonsense. I got your back, D-Fish.

Joel Huerto is editor and publisher of OneManFastBreak.net. Follow him on Twitter @onemanfastbreak.

According to TNT's David Aldridge, Rockets center Yao Ming is expected to play this season. (EPA)

Yao Ming was recently quoted of saying he will seriously consider retirement if he doesn’t recover from his latest foot injury.

“If the foot injury does not heal next season, I might choose to call it quits,” Yao reportedly said.

Yao, who turns 30 in December, was the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA back in 2002 by the Houston Rockets and although it took him a while to become a force in the league, he is now considered one of the top five centers in the world.

He missed all 82 games last season for the Rockets and has not played more than 77 games in a season since 2005-06. He played 77 games in 2008-09, 55 in 2007-08, 48 in 2006-07 and 57 in 2005-06. His 7-foot-6, 310-pound frame may be getting too taxing for his feet, but the Rockets are not ready to give up on their franchise center.

TNT’s David Aldridge doesn’t believe the six-time NBA All-Star is ready to retire, citing that Yao’s latest comments were somewhat taken out of context. “He was responding to a hypothetical question,” Aldridge recently said on NBATV’s “Game Time.”

“Everything that I’ve told from Houston is that rehab is on schedule, he’s gonna play next season, they are not going to push him at the start of training camp, even though he could probably be cleared for training camp, they want to make sure he’s healthy in March not September or October,” Aldridge reported. “They’re going to take it very easy with Yao for the first month or two of the season, he’s going to be on a minutes limit, but [the Rockets] feel like he’s going to be ready to play next season.”

Aldridge noted there have been no setbacks and, so far, there is no issue with his foot.

“It’s coming along. It’s better than what it was,” Aldridge said. “He’s doing the rehab work, he hasn’t missed the rehab work and he’s on schedule to play next year.”

If Yao returns this season, the Rockets could be a playoff contender. He’ll be surrounded with a strong supporting cast led by point guard Aaron Brooks, shooting guard Kevin Martin, small forward Trevor Ariza and power forward Luis Scola, who recently signed a contract extension.