Andrew Bynum unlikely to play

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SAN ANTONIO -- The season-ending back surgery Orlando's Dwight Howard underwent Friday means USA Basketball will be without its presumed starting center this summer at the London Olympics.

And don't count on Andrew Bynum to the rescue.

Bynum

"Probably not," Bynum said after the Lakers' 121-97 loss to the San Antonio Spurs Friday, when asked if he had any intention of trying out for the U.S. Olympic team. "I got to take care of my legs in the offseason."

When asked if USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo had reached out to Bynum to gauge his interest in joining the player pool, Bynum replied: "Not yet."

Candidates for the 12-man team will participate in a July training camp in Las Vegas, but Bynum, 24, said he planned to travel overseas for treatment during the summer.

He already has undergone multiple knee surgeries in the past, and used part of All-Star Weekend this year to receive a Synvisc and cortisone injection to maintain the health of his right knee.

"I got some things planned for my knees," Bynum said.

USA Basketball likely will turn to the New York Knicks' Tyson Chandler to play center, and also will give consideration to Minnesota's Kevin Love and Miami's Chris Bosh.

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Dave McMenamin

ESPNLosAngeles.com

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Dave McMenamin spent five seasons as a staff writer for NBA.com in New York and Los Angeles before joining ESPNLosAngeles.com to cover the Lakers and the NBA.