5. Oklahoma City Thunder

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Even though the Oklahoma City Thunder have Kevin Durant and will be getting Russell Westbrook back this season, it’s hard for me to fully trust a team whose center rotation consists of Kendrick Perkins and anyone else, especially if that anyone else is a rookie that’s still developing as a basketball player.

Particularly while Westbrook is out, Bynum could provide a lot of relief for OKC. He would help alleviate some of the pressure being placed on Durant right now and give the Thunder another reliable option on the offensive end of the floor. It’s probably a long shot that he lands in OKC, but it’s a move I think the Thunder have to, at the very least, consider making.

4. Phoenix Suns

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The Phoenix Suns, to me at least, are a sneaky candidate to throw their hats into the Bynum race. While they’ve been fantastic this year and one of the league’s most pleasant surprises and their starting center in Miles Plumlee has been equally as surprising as the team as a whole, they are still a team that seems like they’re a move away from being real trouble for opponents in the West. Adding Bynum would take some pressure off of the young Plumlee and give the Suns a player that can affect the game positively on both ends of the floor for stretches. Once again, I’m not sure that this deal is all too likely, but it’s one that makes sense.

3. Atlanta Hawks

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The Atlanta Hawks’ need for Bynum simply comes down to the fact that they need another center that can help maximize the talents of Paul Millsap now that Al Horford is likely out for the rest of the year with a torn pectoral muscle. While Horford is the Hawks’ best player, they would still be able to get along just fine if they had another center that wouldn’t allow defenses to key in on Millsap in their schemes. Quite frankly, guys like Pero Antic and so on don’t really provide that. Given all of that, Bynum is a guy who could fill that void and get Atlanta back on track.

2. Los Angeles Clippers

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DeAndre Jordan still has his shortcomings, but has really hit his stride as of late for the Los Angeles Clippers. That being said, the Clippers reserve frontcourt has been atrocious this season. Having Bynum come in and split time in the frontcourt would be huge for L.A.

Even the “75-percent-of-the-player-he-used-to-be” version of Bynum that we’ve seen this season is a massive upgrade from the Ryan Hollins and Byron Mullens that the Clips have been trotting out there this season in relief of Jordan. Bynum might need some time to adjust, but Chris Paul would keep him in check mentally and I think the Clips are close to being the best place for him to land.

1. Miami Heat

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There’s no doubt in my mind or in the minds of many others that the Miami Heat would gain the most from acquiring Bynum. Not only would it help solve their frequent issues in the post, but it would also add a dynamic to this team that hasn’t really been there before with being able to run a big bruising body onto the floor for stretches.

One of the biggest keys to building a dynasty is to always be growing and changing as a team within your roster and what you do. The Heat tried to do that by signing Greg Oden this summer, but he has failed to make an impact. Bynum being available now seems like a second chance in that regard and, if I’m Pat Riley and the Heat, I’m jumping at the opportunity head first.