Bynum puts health first, says he’ll pass on Olympic opportunity

USA Basketball needn’t knock on Andrew Bynum’s door if the organization wants to add the Lakers center to its list of players being considered to represent the U.S. at the London Olympics this summer.

With injuries keeping big men Dwight Howard and LaMarcus Aldridge off Team USA's Olympic roster, Bynum became an obvious potential replacement. But Bynum said he won’t accept an invitation to play in the Olympics because he wants extra rest and plans to have the same procedure on his knee that Lakers teammate Kobe Bryant had in Germany last summer.

“I've got to take care of my legs in the off-season," Bynum said, per the Los Angeles Times. "I've got some things planned for my knees. ... I've got to do some therapy that I'm going overseas to do."

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The list of 20 candidates for Team USA’s roster for London has been whittled to 16, and USA Basketball chairmen Jerry Colangelo will meet with coach Mike Krzyzewski and his staff on May 1 in Las Vegas, when they will decide whether to add to the list of finalists. In addition to Howard and Aldridge, Chauncey Billups also won’t be able to play because of injury, and Colangelo acknowledged that Lamar Odom is no longer being considered because of his poor season in Dallas.

"Lamar Odom had a year that is a forgettable year for him," Colangelo said. "I don't think he possibly, physically or emotionally, could be ready to participate and contribute."