Breaking Down What to Expect from the New Version of Andrew Bynum

It's time to start forming new expectations for Andrew Bynum.

Even after he made his Cleveland Cavaliers debut against the Brooklyn Nets, there was optimism in the air. The Plain Dealer's Mary Schmitt Boyer wrote, "The goal/hope always was that Bynum could return to his All-Star form, and if he stays healthy and does that, the Cavs will start him."

Seeing Bynum make an All-Star team is nothing more than a pipe dream now, even if he's looked solid through his first three appearances. On the heels of some sobering news, it seems as though Cleveland will be lucky to get a consistent starting center out of his seven-foot frame: 

Boyer also reports the following: "Preparing to play his third game of the season, Bynum acknowledged that he had experienced 'little, sharp pains.'" 

Uh-oh. 

Bynum has always been a big, physical and skilled center when healthy, but that's no longer true. He may be kind of healthy, but the physicality and athleticism that helped make him special aren't all going to be there anymore.

Even Bynum himself is admitting it. 

In the wake of that news, what can we expect from the seven-footer?

Limited Minutes

First of all, don't expect Bynum to play much at any point during the 2013-14 campaign. There are too many factors preventing him from racking up major minutes in his return from a year off. 

The big man literally sat out an entire season, failing to play even a single second while he was a member of the Philadelphia 76ers. Setback after setback prevented him from stepping onto the court and dashed his hopes of playing like a lone pin left standing could shatter dreams of bowling a 300. 

Because of that, it's important to keep in the back of your mind that this season is already a success. No matter how little action he sees over the course of the year, playing limited minutes is still a positive development. 

During the first four Cavaliers games of the season, Bynum has recorded one DNP (in an 89-74 loss to the Indiana Pacers) and averaged 12.3 minutes per contest when he has been active. The minutes haven't followed a consistent trend, but the 19 he recorded against the Minnesota Timberwolves were as many as he played in the first two games combined. 

Nineteen should be viewed as a number approaching the upper threshold this year. Eventually, Bynum may start averaging right around 20 minutes per game, but it's tough to see him earning anything more. 

Not only is his health working against him, but so too is the rest of the Cleveland frontcourt. 

Anderson Varejao and Tristan Thompson both have to get major minutes, and Anthony Bennett and Tyler Zeller must get run as well, the former more so than the latter.

Where does that leave Bynum? He's an unproven commodity in his current state, and he's going to be treated as such. 

Fewer Touches in the Post

According to NBA.com's statistical databases, Bynum is averaging 2.7 close touches per game, defined as those that originate within 12 feet of the basket and don't come on drives to the hoop.

Throughout the league, 60 players have recorded a higher number, including back-to-the-basket specialists (your sarcasm alarm should be blaring) like Jimmy Butler, Andrea Bargnani, Daniel Orton, Mike Scott, Bismack Biyombo and so many more. Even a non-dominant offensive player like Andre Drummond has recorded 6.7 close touches per game, still well shy of Derrick Favors' league-leading 9.0. 

That's not going to change.

Without his explosiveness and relying solely on his footwork, Bynum isn't going to have the ability to work in the post very often. He can't afford to take the ball out of Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters' hands for too long, after all.

Per Basketball-Reference, the Cavs are running at the ninth-fastest pace in the league, averaging 97.3 possessions per 48 minutes. This is a team filled with young players who are built to run, and it's not going to function at a high level if the ball is consistently thrown into Bynum's area so that things can slow down.

Cleveland has tried to force things to the big man, but that's not going to work for any sustained period of time. He's only shooting 5-of-18 from the field so far, and just two of those buckets have been created through post moves. 

Below you can see the release of all five made shots. 

1. A putback opportunity that will go down as his first make for the Cavaliers. 

2. A tip-in that was made through sheer size as he was falling forward. 

3. A nice post-up hook against Bismack Biyombo. 

4. A floating hook over Nikola Pekovic's outstretched arms. 

5. A spot-up jumper that didn't require him to put the ball on the floor. 

Of the five makes, only two saw the Cavaliers work to get him post touches, and that's going to be a consistent trend throughout the year. If you're expecting vintage back-to-the-basket Bynum, you'll have to put in tape from his days with the Los Angeles Lakers. 

Dominant Defense and Rebounding Numbers

On defense and when crashing the boards, Bynum has been able to make an impact by using his sheer size.

Take his first block of the season, a rejection against Reggie Evans: 

Throughout that play, he remains nearly stationary. While Evans rotates around him, he just stays put and deters the Nets from attacking the rim because they know they can't get around him. First, he fends off a driving guard. Then he slides slightly over so that he can get in the way of the power forward. 

That's all he has to do. 

On the boards, Bynum hasn't been effective as he was during his basketball prime, but he's still averaging 9.7 rebounds per 36 minutes. Don't expect that number to rise much higher, as it's not positioning that needs work. 

The big man is doing a good job boxing out offensive rebounders and positioning himself well for the times the ball caroms off the rim, but without the ability to elevate, and especially to elevate twice in quick succession, he isn't going to post elite numbers. Or even elite per-minute numbers. 

While this will change if Bynum regains his explosiveness and proves—without a shadow of a doubt—that he can play big minutes on a consistent basis, he's going to be a big body functioning as a limited role player. He won't be the All-Star version of Andrew Bynum, but rather, a seven-footer who can defend, rebound and give Cleveland occasional scoring bursts. 

Hey, it's better than nothing!

Right?