After toying with our expectations for the better part of an NBA season, Andrew Bynum is out for good. This after news today that he will receive season-ending surgery on both of his ailing knees.
It’s an especially heartbreaking loss for Philadelphia 76ers fans who were sold a team that was projected to battle for Eastern Conference supremacy. Averaging 18.7 PPG, 11.8 RPG, and 1.9 BLKPG last season, Bynum was eyed as the central piece of a newfound powerhouse. Instead, the 76ers will most likely miss the playoffs and see the big man walk this season. If it comes to that fateful end, the Sixers essentially paid the former All-Star $17 million this year for a few press photos and a warm bench seat.
Considering some of the complementary talent on the team, such as young stars Jrue Holiday and Evan Turner, the end to Bynum’s season seems even more heartbreaking.
Sixers General Manager Tony Dileo had the following to say, “After many months of rehabilitation and consulting with numerous doctors, Andrew and the doctors treating him determined that this is the best course of action at this point.” In reality, it seemed that Bynum did a poor job of safeguarding his knee after bruising his bone last September, by putting unnecessary strain on it. The culprit? Bowling. Of course, Bynum has been known to put unnecessary strain on his knees while in rehab before.
Dileo capped off his statement by saying, “We will continue to monitor and evaluate his status moving forward.” But in truth, the Sixers might be forced to let the oft-injured center seek greener pastures this summer, come free agency. That is unless they haven’t gotten enough of a thrill playing with fire. Considering the years left in his career, the astronomic potential he has as a player, and a limited free agency, the Sixers might be pressed to re-sign Bynum even after a season that never was.
