The Hawks met Tuesday with unrestricted free agent Andrew Bynum, according to a person familiar with the situation, as the team continued its search for a center.
Bynum reportedly received a two-year, $24 million offer from the Cavaliers after he met with the team Monday, according to Yahoo! Sports. The injury-plagued 7-footer is scheduled to visit the Mavericks on Wednesday.
The Hawks courted center Dwight Howard early in the NBA’s free agency period. After he agreed to join the Rockets, the Hawks turned their attention to other options.
Al Horford is the only center currently on the Hawks roster. The team selected Lucas Nogueira and Mike Muscala in last month’s draft. Muscala will play for the Hawks in the Las Vegas Summer League. Nogueira’s status for the summer competition remains in question as issues with FIBA, the basketball’s international governing body, are worked through. The summer league begins play Friday.
The list of free agent centers available is dwindling. Zaza Pachulia, who played the past eight seasons with the Hawks, agreed to a deal with the Bucks. After Timberwolves restricted free agent Nikola Pekovic, the list of unrestricted possibilities include Johan Petro, Samuel Dalmebert, Brandan Wright, B.J. Mullens, Cole Aldrich and Greg Stiemsma. Petro saw limited action for the Hawks last season. He started four of the six playoff games against the Pacers after Pachulia was lost for the season with a partially torn Achilles tendon.
Bynum, 25, sat out all of last season as a member of the 76ers with knee problems that required surgery. He missed 28 games during the 2011-12 season with the Lakers when he was named an All-Star. He averaged 18.7 points and 11.8 rebounds per game that season. Bynum missed 32 games during the 2008-09 season and 47 games during the 2007-08 season.
Bynum’s agent has informed interested teams that the player will provide medical reports but will not take part in a workout.
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