It’s been a disaster. No, not the Etch-A-Sketch renditions Andrew Bynum has adopted as hair. The infinitely disappointing season that the Philadelphia 76ers imposed on themselves after giving up quality pieces in Andre Iguodala, Maurice Harkless, Nikola Vucevic—not to mention a protected first-round pick for a malcontent with the knees of a stork. Sure, they also got veteran Jason Richardson in the blockbuster swap, but the only sweating he’s doing is from inside a four-figure suit courtside.
To compound on the damage done, as Bynum did after bowling on a rehabbing knee, it now seems that the center will almost definitely be getting season-ending surgery. ISporstTimes has been the most resolute in its reporting, and pretty much made up their mind for Bynum, announcing that the surgery is likely a done deal. The reality is not much different, as last night Andrew was in New York visiting a personal physician to get further details on the state of his knees. Skip Bayless, who hasn’t been known as a trustworthy individual, has announced in the past that the 25-year-old center has degeneration in his knees, which means that his NBA career will most surely be cut short.
For those who have been keeping the former All-Star on their Fantasy League crosshairs can effectively dump the former Laker. After stating just a few weeks ago that he would be back on the court after the All-Star break, the Bynum circus has made another pitstop in its year-long insanity. After a 5-on-5 scrimmage with 76ers teammates, Bynum developed swelling in his right knee, which is causing much pain and stiffness. As he’s entitled to, Bynum is worried about the lifetime repercussions of playing through pain, when he’s had a storied history of knee issues. He said, “ I feel like it’s my life. I’m 25 and I don’t want to have no cartilage because that’s bad…I don’t want to play in pain.”
As someone who has been around the talented center before, and who played through pain throughout his career, Magic Johnson wasn’t spilling his coffee in surprise of Bynum’s admission. Johnson didn’t have sugary words on the matter: “He [was never] a guy who could tolerate pain. When he was injured, he wasn’t a guy who worked hard to get back. This doesn’t surprise me.”
So it seems that Philly won’t be getting the 18.7 PPG, 11.8 RPG, 1.4 APG, 1.9 BLKPG, 55.8 % shooting Bynum brought with him from L.A. Considering that he becomes a free agent this summer, and the likely scenario that he does have degenerative knees, Philly might never see Bynum suit up for the 76ers. And what started off as potentially a very good trade for Philadelphia, has become as unruly and wiry as Bynum’s hairdo.
