By Bob Kravitz

bob.kravitz@indystar.com

Go get Andrew Bynum.

Enough of the "exploratory'' stuff. Go get him. Now.

You think I'm nuts, don't you? You think Bynum is a physical mess and a mental midget who has pouted his way out of Philadelphia and Cleveland.

All of that is true.

So why is everybody ready to freak out if he ends up in Miami, where the Heat desperately need a big man who can handle Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert in the Eastern Conference finals.

The sense I get is the Pacers, who are now an otherworldly 31-7 after a 117-89 victory Thursday over the New York Knicks, would not make that particular move simply to ensure he doesn't end up in Miami. They would only do it if Bynum has a chance to make the Pacers better.

That's fine.

But what's wrong with ensuring he doesn't end up in Miami, where the sleeping giant might awaken when presented a chance to compete for a title? Call it a nice side benefit.

"That's all rumor,'' Larry Bird told The Indianapolis Star's Candace Buckner when asked about Bynum. "But I'm going to do what I think is going to make us better. I live this. The moves I make might be the wrong moves, but whoever it is, if I think it's going to make us better, I'll bring him in. That's what I get paid to do.''

There's a lot to love about the Pacers as they're presently constituted, but there are areas where they could handle improvement. One of those areas is backup center, where Ian Mahinmi has played reasonably well, but isn't a game-changer like Bynum can potentially be.

Can you imagine the Heat having to contend with two 7-footers like Hibbert and Bynum in a playoff series? Who's going to defend them? The tattered remains of Greg Oden? Birdman? I don't want the Pacers to mess with their core, but signing Bynum wouldn't alter anything, except maybe mean trading away Mahinmi.

If the Pacers get Bynum, and Bynum gets his game and his head straight, nobody's going to touch the Pacers on the way to an NBA title. Nobody will be able to counter a team with that much size and low-post bulk, least of all the small-ball Miami Heat.

Granted, Bynum has been a disaster the past two seasons. He missed all of last season with the Philadelphia 76ers and played just 24 games with Cleveland, averaging 8.4 points per game and 5.3 rebounds in limited minutes. But his last full season three years ago with the L.A. Lakers, he played 35 minutes per game and averaged 18.7 points, 11.8 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game.

Those are All-Star numbers.

There is risk here, but it's minimal risk, especially if they can get Bynum at a reasonable, short-term price.

Chemistry?

I hear a lot about chemistry, and I'm not worried in the least. Consider the New England Patriots, whose culture is such that it allows for the likes of Randy Moss and Corey Dillon to come in and fit seamlessly into the team. The Pacers have such good chemistry, and such a good chance at an NBA Finals appearance, I could see Bynum coming in here and understanding the importance of fitting in.

You think David West would let Bynum pull the kind of nonsense he's pulled in Philadelphia and Cleveland? If this group can keep Lance Stephenson on a leash, it can certainly force Bynum to fly right as the team pursues a title. This is as strong-minded and as close-knit a group as there is in the NBA, much like the Heat. If Bynum has any interest in resurrecting his career and his reputation, he'll come in here, happily play behind Roy Hibbert and give the Pacers 12-15 quality minutes at center.

"…I don't think on this team, if we brought somebody in here, they wouldn't let a guy come in and disrupt us,'' Bird said. "I don't think it would happen. But if we ever did bring a guy in here and (he) disrupted (the team), I'd say, 'Get rid of him.' But you can always get better.''

The Pacers' two regular-season games with the Heat this year tell the entire story. The Heat couldn't deal with Hibbert in the first game and lost at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The second game, Hibbert got in foul trouble — still not sure why Frank Vogel didn't yank him after his fourth foul — and the Heat came back to win in Miami.

It's really quite simple: The Heat can't deal with size. They can't deal with West. They can't deal with Hibbert. And they wouldn't be able to handle Bynum, not if his head's screwed on right and he's serious about fixing his reputation and his career.

Great risks, great rewards. And there's little to no downside.

Go ahead, Larry. Pull the trigger. Go get Andrew Bynum.

Bob Kravitz is a columnist for The Indianapolis Star. Call him at (317) 444-6643 or email bob.kravitz@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter: @BKravitz.