cavs-bynum-jersey.jpg

Andrew Bynum will wear No. 21 for the Cavaliers. "I want to play a full season. There is no doubt in my mind that I couldn't do that," he said.

(Glenn Moore, cleveland.com)

INDEPENDENCE -- The Cavaliers introduced Andrew Bynum at an 11 a.m. press conference. The free-agent center finalized his two-year, $24 million contract with the team on Thursday.

You can read Tweets from the press conference below from The Plain Dealer's Mary Schmitt Boyer (

) and cleveland.com's Glenn Moore (

), followed by a transcript courtesy

.

Press conference transcript courtesy: cavs.com

CHRIS GRANT: Welcome to Cleveland Clinic Courts this morning. I hope everybody's doing well. When we started this process in the off-season, draft and free agency, we setout to add some talented players to our current roster, current depth and talent of our roster that we have. We feel like we've done that in the draft. We feel like we've done that in free agency. We've added a number of pieces that we feel like will help us grow and help us move along in our process and build our foundation. It's been an interesting process in the free agency period for us. We've added some guys like Andrew, Jarrett Jack, Earl Clark that have an enormous amount of experience at a high level, and have played this game at a very high level and successfully. Ownership has been a very integral They continually put us in a position to be able to make some decisions that are very beneficial for the organization, and for that, we're thankful because I think this place, this community with our fans and the combination with our ownership group and our ps, it's a special place. So we're very excited today to add someone like Andrew Bynum to the organization. He's ha enormous amount of success in this league. I know he's very hungry right now, which we're excited. He's already moved to Cleveland. He's already working with our training staff. The doctors at the Cleveland clinic have dub an amazing -- done an amazing pulling together many parts of their organization to put Andrew in a position to succeed. Andrew is excited to mhe's well aware of that and taken ownership of the process. And we're going to do everything we possibly can to put him in a position to succeed. Like I said, he's moved here, and we're looking forward to getting the court refinished so we can get all our guys back out on the court. With that, like to welcome Andrew to Cleveland, Ohio.

ANDREW BYNUM:Appreciate it.

CHRIS GRANT: Here we go.

THE MODERATOR: We'll open is up for questions.

Q. Hi, Andrew, I'm Mary Schmidt boyier from the Cleveland plain dealer. Welcome to Cleveland. Can you explain to us about last year. Chris says you're in a different place. Can you talk a little bit about how you got there?

ANDREW BYNUM:Definitely. The Cavs so far have given me every opportunity to succeed. The medical staff here is great. We put together a plan going forward. I pretty much show up and work hard, and I really believe in the doctors here and in the training staff. I'm in a different place because after the surgery I feel a lot better than I did last year. With the time off, I've been able to get the swelling out and I'm just ready to work. I'm here, and like Chris said, I moved up here already. I've found a location to live. And I'm going to stay in this gym as much as possible to get my game back to the level that I know I can.

Q. Andrew, good to see you and good luck to you. Having the year off has it given you a different perspective on how to go about your business as a professional? Also, second part, working with a young player like Kyrie Irving who is, in two years he's shown a lot of talent here.

ANDREW BYNUM:Yeah, I'm super excited about that. We have a great, young nucleus of guys here. With Tristan, with Earl, myself, Kyrie, we all come from jersey. We've all played in the past, so it's going to be exciteing from that aspect. Obviously, Kyrie's talent is world renowned. Not having had the opportunity to play with a point guard a great 1-5 combination is always a key in this game that we play. So I'm really looking forward to that. As far as my mindset goes, I have no more frustration. I have had a year off, had a year to watch basketball and really learn the game from the outside in, and I see what I need to do, and I'm just anxious. I'm waiting to start. Come Monday, I'll be working. I can't say it any other way. I want to get things going.

Q. Andrew, ESPN Cleveland, welcome to C-town, man. Did Mike Brown have anything to do with the factor in your making a decision to come here?

ANDREW BYNUM:Yeah, Coach Brown and myself, we definitely have had a great relationship in the past in L.A., contrary to what people believe. I had my best year under him as a coach, most productive year. And he really wants to get the ball inside and he sets it up for me, myself, and the team to be successful. So I'm looking forward to working with him again. Another reason it makes it comfortable to be here is having worked with him already and I know what to expect.

Q. Is the plan for you to be ready for training camp? And how many games do you think you can play this year?

ANDREW BYNUM:I want to play a full season. There is no doubt in my mind that I couldn't do that. Yes, I'm going to be ready. That is the plan. As long as I stick to it, I really believe that I have a great chance with this organization.

Q. With a team that's been in the lottery for the last three years, what do you feel you represent coming over here?

ANDREW BYNUM:I can bring leadership, I can bring experience, and myself and the young team around me, we're in an interesting opportunity to all rise together and really do something special. We have the talent, and now all it's going to take is the work. I think everybody with the team, especially myself, we're ready to put that in. Going forward, I want to get back to the All-Star level. I want to just work extremely hard and get this team into the playoffs and really make some noise. I think the Cleveland fans deserve that. That's it.

Q. As a bit of a follow-up, when you read things -- I don't know if you pay attention to the media or not -- some people want to slam your work ethic and willingness to do those kind of things. Are those unfair characteristics?

ANDREW BYNUM:Completely. I worked really hard to get where I am, and I continue to work hard. I've had injuries in the past, and there is a lot to be said for people who think that way. But I think if you get to know me and you look at how hard I have worked to get where I am now, that that's kind of nonsense.

Q. Do you feel like you're kind of playing to restore your reputation because of those comments about you?

ANDREW BYNUM:I feel like for me getting my career back on track and really playing a full year is my only goal with this season. I really feel like I can accomplish it. Work ethic-wise, I come in every day and I work hard. I don't really -- I feel like it's a little bit unfair at times, but that's just something that comes with the territory. Obviously, you take that and use it as motivation to come out and prove everybody wrong.

Q. Were you surprised that you didn't play last year? I'm just wondering.

ANDREW BYNUM:Yes, I was completely surprised. I had every intention of playing and I showed up. I was ready. I was down in playing weight, I was in shape. It's just an unfortunate situation that it didn't work out for me there. Again, going forward here, we have a great plan. I'm going to stick to it, and will I be ready.

Q. Andrew, you're still so young. Do you feel that your best basketball is still in front of you?

ANDREW BYNUM:Definitely. I got to a point where I was an All-Star in this league a year and a half ago or so, and I feel like I have aof room to grow. Just watching the game from outside, I can see where I'm needed in the game, and that's defense, swim protection, Sprinting down the lane, posting up big, creating double teams. Making it easy on my teammates around me. I definitely have that, and I'm ready. I'm ready to do those things.

Q. What kind of shape are you in and how much do you weigh?

ANDREW BYNUM:My weight right now is about 305. My playing weight I want to be down in the 280s. I have been doing a bunch of non-weight bearing exercises just to protect my knees. Going forward, we're going to do some funal screening and really strengthen my body so that I'm able to play. That's something that's going to be new for me this year coming here. I haven't really had that in the past, and this organization has really laid it out for me to succeed.

Q. I just had a couple. As far as that question goes, do you think it's going to be an issue to get into the 280s?

ANDREW BYNUM:No. It's just going to be work and I'm ready to do it. There is no issue.

Q. I was just wondering if you c elaborate on your relationship with Mike Brown and how much you talked?

ANDREW BYNUM:Actually, Mike is really encouraging as far as players staying together, players going out together, having team dinners. They're really, really big on chemistry. He is fully aware that a team with no chemistry, no matter how talented, won't go as far as it should, and that's a really big preaching point for him. Me being here now, I believe we've already talked. We've talked more about my role as a leader in the locker room, being more vocal, and really just maturing as a player and training together. So we have a great relationship.

Q. Andrew, welcome. You've been to the playoffs six or seven of your seven y including to the top level. Can this be a playoff team with you in the fold?

ANDREW BYNUM:This is definitely a playoff team. We have new talent. We have Jarrett Jack, we have Earl Clark who had a phenomenal year last year. I can't wait to play with Ander honestly. I haven't played with -- he brings a kind of energy and passion to the game that I really haven't been around. Obviously, I played with Kobe, but just from a guy who is willing to sacrifice everything for the team, I think that goes leaps and bounds inside the locker room. So I'm really excited about this roster. We definitely have the opportunity to go

CHRIS GRANT: Thanks everybody.