Bynum will be brought on as Roy Hibbert's backup center, which is a luxury not many teams can fathom. The move has to be a strategic ploy to keep a big body on the court when the Pacers face off with the Heat.

“It will be great to back up Roy, and I’ll do whatever I can to help this team,” Bynum said.

Per Ken Berger of CBSSports, Bynum will sign a $1 million deal for the remainder of the season, which is a low-risk deal for the Pacers.

Previously, Bynum signed a heavily incentive-based contract for two years over $24 million with the Cleveland Cavaliers this offseason. The Cavaliers suspended Bynum without pay for conduct detrimental to the team, and those personal issues led to the team to trade Bynum to the Chicago Bulls, who later waived him.

Indiana is well aware of those issues, but, as Pacers president of basketball operations Larry Bird said, Indiana will not judge him based on outside issues.

"You hear all the negativity," Bird said to the Indianapolis Star. "I never judge a person or take somebody else's advice …  I like to find out on my own."

And, because there were rumors that Bynum no longer had love for basketball, star Paul George said Bynum needs to show how he intends to approach this stay in Indiana.

"He'll have to prove a lot to himself on whether he wants to play or not," George told the Star. "If he comes in ready to go ready to put in the work, really buying into our program, we have no problem being there for him."

Bynum wanted to land with a contender, and he said he didn't have to put much thought into signing with Indiana.


STERN SWORN IN


With the turn of the calendar, David Stern officially stepped down as NBA commissioner and Adam Silver took over the title. The final days of Stern's tenure have caused reflection on his time in the position, and put a spotlight on all the improvements he has made to the league over a 30-year career.

Before he could make any decision as the face of the NBA, however, Stern had to be "sworn" in as commissioner. And when he took on that task, his right hand was pressed to the 1984 Sporting News Official NBA Guide, as Bloomberg Businessweek notes in a feature article. With his left hand raised, Stern took an oath.

“I swore to uphold the NBA constitution, bylaws, and all that’s holy,” he told Bloomberg Businessweek.

(Photo credit: Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE)

After taking a hard look at this photo, we could focus in on the physical transformation of Stern over the years. He no longer has that strong mustache or those thick-rimmed glasses.

Instead, we'll simply remember Stern's sterling career from start to finish, and revel in the fact that Sporting News was there with him from Day 1.


GASOL GOES DOWN


Los Angeles Lakers center Pau Gasol will be out for at least a week with a strained right groin, the team announced.

Gasol had played through a sore right groin and the strain was revealed when he underwent an MRI on Saturday.

The Lakers big man will be re-evaluated next week when the Lakers return from a three-game road trip. At best, Los Angeles will play games against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Cleveland Cavaliers and Philadelphia 76ers without Gasol.

This injury puts a damper on one of the best stretches of basketball for Pau Gasol. While the Lakers have struggled, Gasol has played big minutes and put up big numbers in the month of January. He averaged 20.8 points and 11.9 rebounds in 35.1 minutes per game in the month of January and didn't miss a game.

Even with Gasol playing well, the Lakers sit at 16-31 and are second to last in the Western Conference standings, with only the Sacramento Kings playing worse at 15-31. Of course, the Lakers are still without Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash and Steve Blake. Chris Kaman was recently cleared to play, though.


MAD PACER


Indiana Pacers guard Lance Stephenson has made waves in his fourth NBA season, and he expected to be rewarded for his efforts with an All-Star selection.

That didn't happen when coaches decided not to select Stephenson as an All-Star reserve for the Eastern Conference. And while he hasn't acted out in anger, Stephenson, who averaged 14.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 5.4 assists, isn't pleased with their choice.

"I'm mad. I feel like I had my breakout year last year," Stephenson told said Friday, according to The Indianapolis Star (via ESPN.com). "I showed I can play with anyone on the floor and I felt like this year, I brought a little bit more to my game.

"But other people saw it differently. I'm just going to keep working hard and prove everyone wrong."

Stephenson was left on the outside while DeMar DeRozan of the Toronto Raptors and Joe Johnson of the Brooklyn Nets were selected as the reserve shooting guards.

The feeling for most is that Joe Johnson's slot should have been given to Stephenson. Johnson had the benefit of timing, as he put together a solid January effort and was fresh on coaches' minds. Even in his best month, however, Johnson maintained numbers of 15.6 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists.

Stephenson, whose teammates Paul George and Roy Hibbert made the All-Star team, said he received strong support on social media.

"All of them felt like I got screwed," Stephenson said, according to The Star. "Finally, everyone is on my side."

Indiana Pacers coach Frank Vogel, who will lead the East All Stars as coach, said Stephenson has handled himself well.

"He's not verbally saying it, but I could tell he was hurt a little bit," Vogel said, according to The Star. "But he came in and had great energy in practice today, great positive energy. He can move on and hopefully go on a tear."

Contributor: DeAntae Prince