http://www.delawareonline.com/proart...gerestricted=1PHILADELPHIA -- The 76ers let Andrew Bynum break the news about the latest setback with his damaged knees on Friday, then acted as if they weren’t sure what was going on with the guy they’re paying $16.5 million this season.
The truth is that the 7-foot, 285-pound former All-Star center who has yet to play a game as a Sixer may be out for the season and will learn in December, at the earliest, whether he’ll require surgery that could sideline him for up to a year.
If that’s the case, the market value for the soon-to-be unrestricted free agent is likely shot.
One internationally respected orthopedic surgeon, who is not involved with Bynum’s treatment and has not seen his MRIs, told The News Journal that all of the information that has been released by the player and the Sixers points to a likely diagnosis of osteochondritis dessicans lesions. The surgeon said that if this is the case, there’s a small chance that Bynum’s knees could heal sufficiently on their own in time for him to return for the playoffs this season, but called that scenario “wishing on a star.”
“While they can heal non-operatively, they can take a long time [four to six months] to heal, and in adult athletes, frequently they will require surgical intervention at some point if there isn’t adequate healing within the first several months of treatment,” the surgeon said.
He added that if the 25-year-old returns to the court too early and the lesions become large enough, the condition could become career threatening. The surgeon spoke on condition of anonymity because Bynum is not his patient, but this probable diagnosis, given the player’s symptoms and treatment thus far, is backed up by reams of medical literature.
On Friday, Bynum for the first time seemed genuinely, publicly worried about his long-term health as he described “a little bit of a setback.”
He said a bone bruise in his left knee has developed, identical to the bone bruise in his right knee that has kept him from playing and practicing since the Sixers acquired him from the Los Angeles Lakers in a four-team deal in August. The Sixers shipped All-Star swingman Andre Iguodala to the Denver Nuggets, while the Lakers received center Dwight Howard from the Orlando Magic.
Just glad that the Lakers won't have to deal with this.
You lucky mf'er you
tee,hee
RIP career of potential best center of 2010-2015
Oden might come back before Bynum. Damn.
Terrible time for him to pick up a season long injury, I wonder how much he will get in free agency come the end of the season
Will anyone be stupid enough to give him the max? I imagine someone will give him at least $10m/year, they'll either be getting a bargain or dead weight.
LOL, guess Orlando was better off not trading for Capt Glass Knee.
Bynum better have saved up nicely because he's not stepping foot onto a basketball court again.
No chance, he will almost certainly get another contract next season. The guy was an all star last year, at least one GM will be willing to take the gamble.
I'm not saying no one will take a chance, I'm saying he won't be able to play again.
I bet he gets a two year max deal.
I wonder if the Spurs would be interested in that. We need to get some front court help, he is better than the likes of Millsap or Jefferson who would likely require a long term contract around 5 years which would hurt our rebuilding after Timmy retires.
Could pay off massively but it's a big gamble with Timmys last 2 years.
At this point he's trolling the 76ers, traded to Philly, hasn't played a single game yet, scheduled to start playing early next year, re-injures his knee while bowling and now he's out for the year.
And nowadays, with the lack of quality big man around the league, he can get paid big money anywhere.
I like his game but i'm glad the Lakers won't have to deal with his injuries no more... LAL FO put in work tbh.
He's not getting a max deal when he returns. At this point, will his next contract even be insurable? Amare 2.0
And Amare got a long term max deal.
that's what you get for dealing with the fakers.. they faked bynum's health
Worst contract in the NBA at this point. If a GM gives anything like that to Bynum they should get fired. Wouldn't be surprised to see it happen though.
Oh I know that. I'd be willing to bet the Knicks regret giving him that deal. And I'm sure other teams will learn from NY's mistake and say no to a Bynum max deal. Especially considering his health issues he's always had with his knees.
<---- see avatar.
that's what you get for dealing with the fakers.. they faked bynum's health
Did NY learn after watching Orlando blow all that money on Grant Hill? NBA GMs never learn. Glass Knee will get a deal for max money per year, though he might not get max years.
don't you think you got the wrong one?<---- see avatar.
One internationally respected orthopedic surgeon, who is not involved with Bynum’s treatment and has not seen his MRIs, told The News Journal that all of the information that has been released by the player and the Sixers points to a likely diagnosis of osteochondritis dessicans lesions. The surgeon said that if this is the case, there’s a small chance that Bynum’s knees could heal sufficiently on their own in time for him to return for the playoffs this season, but called that scenario “wishing on a star.”
“While they can heal non-operatively, they can take a long time [four to six months] to heal, and in adult athletes, frequently they will require surgical intervention at some point if there isn’t adequate healing within the first several months of treatment,” the surgeon said.
He added that if the 25-year-old returns to the court too early and the lesions become large enough, the condition could become career threatening. The surgeon spoke on condition of anonymity because Bynum is not his patient, but this probable diagnosis, given the player’s symptoms and treatment thus far, is backed up by reams of medical literature.
Bynum said he’s experiencing pain and swelling in both knees, but that his low-impact workouts in the pool and on the elliptical are “not degrading the cartilage, as far as I know.” He called it a “weird issue” that intensified since he last spoke with reporters last Monday. He since returned to visit his longtime orthopedist, Dr. David W. Altchek of the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, to have an MRI on both knees. Bynum said there is no issue with his ligaments or surrounding meniscus.
Altchek did not immediately respond Sunday to a request seeking comment and confirmation of the diagnosis of osteochondral lesions, which can form in joints when the bone underneath gets weakened, such as in the case of Bynum’s bone bruises. The bruised bone then starts to crack, and if it gets too weak and collapses, the cartilage sitting on top becomes unsupported and collapses, too.
Bynum and the Sixers are hoping that his bone bruises, underneath the now-weakened cartilage, begin to heal on their own and create a stronger foundation. But the condition will worsen with additional trauma, hence Bynum suggesting Friday that he may give up working out on the elliptical and, for the time being, confine his exercise to the pool.
Sounds like Bynum is one injury away from retirement, not even kobe's german procedure with dead babies injected to his knees will fix it.
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