Bad Boy Andrew Bynum on the Block?

Andrew Bynum was thought to be untouchable because Lakers executive Jim Buss, the son of team owner Jerry Buss, was so enamored of the 7-footer. His immature behavior last season rubbed management, coaches and teammates the wrong way, however.

Coach Mike Brown benched Bynum after he took an ill-advised 3-pointer during a March 27 game against the Golden State Warriors.

General manager Mitch Kupchak then fined Bynum after he skipped a meeting to discuss the situation.

In addition, Bynum declined to join team huddles during timeouts because he said he was ``getting my zen on'' on the bench. He also played loud music in the locker room before games, which was frowned upon by teammates and coaches.



 The chatter about an Andrew Bynum- for-Dwight Howard trade has started again.

The Lakers and the Orlando Magic opened preliminary talks about swapping centers, according to a report Sunday on Yahoo! Sports. The Lakers, Brooklyn Nets and Houston Rockets have spoken to the Magic about Howard, the website said.

Brooklyn remains Howard's preferred destination, however.

The Lakers talked to the Magic about dealing for Howard before the trade deadline last March 15, but the negotiations ended when Howard said he would pick up his contract option for next season with Orlando.

Howard's agent, Dan Fegan, has told the Magic recently his client wants a trade.

Orlando wouldn't consider a deal with the Lakers without the 24-year-old Bynum heading to Florida, according to Yahoo! The Magic would not want power forward Pau Gasol in a trade for Howard, the website reported.

Bynum had a breakout season in 2011-12, averaging career bests of 18.7 points and 11.8 rebounds. He also was injury-free and made the Western Conference All-Star team for the first time in his career.

Only Howard (14.5) and Kevin Love of the Minnesota Timberwolves (13.3) averaged more rebounds than Bynum last season.

Bynum was thought to be untouchable because Lakers executive Jim Buss, the son of team owner Jerry Buss, was so enamored of the 7-footer. His immature behavior last season rubbed management, coaches and teammates the wrong way, however.

Coach Mike Brown benched Bynum after he took an ill-advised 3-pointer during a March 27 game against the Golden State Warriors.

General manager Mitch Kupchak then fined Bynum after he skipped a meeting to discuss the situation.

In addition, Bynum declined to join team huddles during timeouts because he said he was ``getting my zen on'' on the bench. He also played loud music in the locker room before games, which was frowned upon by teammates and coaches.

Howard has issues of his own, including a season-ending back injury that forced him to withdraw from the U.S. Olympic team. Just as important, his state of mind also has been called into question over the last year or so.

Howard's testy relationship with Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy led to Van Gundy's firing at season's end, a move that seemed calculated to placate Howard and keep him in the fold. It worked, but only for a short time.

Now, Howard says he wants to be traded again.