Andrew Bynum Joins First-Place Indiana Pacers Week After Signing

 INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Andrew Bynum joined the Indiana Pacers for the first time since signing a week ago.

Bynum participated in the team's shootaround at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Friday morning as the Pacers prepared for their game against Portland on Friday night.

A snowstorm kept the 7-foot center from landing in Indianapolis sooner, and Pacers coach Frank Vogel expects to take "a few weeks" to get Bynum ready to play in a game.

"We'll come back from the All-Star break and see how practices go over the next week or two after that before we decide if he's ready," Vogel said. "We want to make sure he's comfortable."

Bynum played in 24 games this season with the Cleveland Cavaliers before being suspended indefinitely by the team in December.

"It's a winning atmosphere," Bynum said. "Obviously, when they have the staff that they have here and the legend Larry Bird, things run correctly. It's a lot easier to fit in here and be positive when the atmosphere is already that way."

He hasn't done much since leaving the Cavs.

"Just relaxing at home and that's it," he said.

When asked if he kept a workout routine during his time off, Bynum said, "not really."

That will make it harder to get back into game shape.