With most of the NBA focused on the (possible) conclusion of the Dwight Howard soap opera, one of the side players in the talks -- LA Lakers center Andrew Bynum -- is an interesting story in his own right.
Bynum, who is set to be an unrestricted free agent at the end of 2013, is rumored to be interested in Dallas.
However, according to the latest report from Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports, that may depend on whether he's dealt in a possible deal with Howard:
If Bynum remains with the Lakers past the Howard derby, he'll have strong incentive to accept a maximum contract extension to stay in L.A., sources said. Otherwise, he has expressed a desire to test the free-agent market.
It's important to note that almost all of the information out there at this time of year is being leaked by agents or front offices looking for leverage and posturing for the rest of the league.
Bynum, and his agent, certainly have no interest in leaving a title-contending team in LA for a rebuilding operation in Orlando, which is why these things are being floated right now. It certainly sounds like Dallas will have a better chance of wooing Bynum if he is dealt to Orlando, which is probably why it won't happen.
For all the latest news and notes on the Mavericks free agency plans, stay tuned to the SB Nation Dallas story-stream as well as Mavs Moneyball.