Andrew Bynum to 76ers: What Monster Trade Means for Philadelphia

By the time Dwight Howard had found a home on Thursday night, Andrew Bynum was headed to Philadelphia to join the 76ers.

Everyone is talking about the Los Angeles Lakers right now (and for good reason), but the 76ers honestly got away with highway robbery when all was said and done.

In the four-team deal, the 76ers had to give up Andre Iguodala (who they wanted to trade anyway), rookie Moe Harkless, Nikola Vucevic and a protected first-round pick, according to ESPN.

In exchange, they got the second-best center in the league who is still just 24 years of age and coming off the best season of his career.

Not bad.

The 76ers didn't want to give up Harkless—who they selected with the No. 15 pick in the NBA draft this year—but they have to be ecstatic to add a player of Bynum's caliber. Sure, there's no guarantee he stays in Philadelphia past next season, but it's worth the risk, and Bynum did grow up in nearby New Jersey.

Bynum averaged 18.7 points and 11.8 rebounds last season (both career highs), while adding 1.9 blocks per game. His PER was 22.9, second among centers only to Howard and 10th overall in the league (via Basketball-Reference.com).

The 76ers may have lost some pieces this summer (including veteran Elton Brand), but landing Bynum changes everything. They now have a projected starting lineup of Jrue Holiday, Evan Turner/Nick Young, Thaddeus Young/Dorell Wright/Jason Richardson, Spencer Hawes and Bynum.

They also walk away with more depth on the roster than you would assume after landing Bynum, as well as a promising rookie in big man Arnett Moultrie.

The 76ers ranked 12th in blocks per game, 15th in field-goal percentage and 19th in rebounding differential last season. Bynum helps them in each of these areas, and he figures to be even more motivated next season as he looks ahead to free agency in 2013.

Philadelphia finished a mediocre 35-31 last season, capturing the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference.

In the short term, I could see the 76ers at least leapfrogging last season's sixth and seventh seeds, the Orlando Magic and New York Knicks, and comfortably making the playoffs in 2012-2013.

If they are able to keep Bynum past next season, there's no telling how much they could grow with some additional pieces.

The 76ers scored big with this deal. It's going to be wild in Philly with Bynum leading the charge.

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