Andrew Bynum’s rough start in Philadelphia got a little tougher when word leaked out that the 76ers’ newly-acquired centre had damaged his left knee while bowling.
Bynum has yet to play a minute for the Sixers this season as he is currently rehabbing a bone bruise in his right knee.
“It’s the same exact injury, mirror images of the knee; I think it happened bowling, to be honest,” Bynum told the Philadelphia Inquirer on Sunday.
His coach, Doug Collins, said he was unaware of the situation and Bynum realizes that the decision to bowl while under rehab was probably not the best idea.
“In hindsight, I guess you really shouldn’t go bowling but it’s not anything more than what I’ve done in my rehab,” Bynum explained although he made a valid point right after. “I’m kind of taking the position that if that happens bowling, what happens while dunking?”
Perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised at Bynum’s early bumps in Philly. Last season when the Lakers came through Toronto, he sat reading a book in the dressing room before facing the Raptors, with giant icepacks strapped to his knees and his feet in an icebucket before the game.
At the tender age of 26, this is an extremely troubling sign and should have set off warning bells in Philadelphia’s front office.
Perhaps the more interesting question is: What does Philadelphia do next?
Bynum is in the final year of his current contract and while he is expected to return in January, do the Sixers risk the franchise’s long-term future by tying up funds by signing him?
They have already pushed their chips in and may have no choice.
Whatever they decide, they have to hope that his current knee issues are a blip on the radar rather than foreshadowing a long-term issue.
WHAT LIES AHEAD: The NBA trade front should remain pretty quiet until Dec. 15th as teams are not allowed to deal players who signed contracts in the offseason until that point.
Steve Kyler of Hoopsworld has put together an intriguing list of players that could be on the move when that deadline passes.
Some of the usual suspects are on the list including Jose Calderon of the Toronto Raptors, Atlanta Hawks forward Josh Smith and Charlotte Bobcats forward Tyrus Thomas but there are also some players that you might not have heard of before.
Are the Timberwolves ready to cut ties with Derrick Williams less than two seasons after making him the No. 2 overall pick in the NBA Draft? Kyler said they may be willing to move him if they were able to add some veteran help.
Another interesting name listed is that of New Orleans Hornets guard Eric Gordon.
He was the centrepiece of the Chris Paul trade but has spent more time on the injured reserve than on the floor. He is currently rehabbing his knee in Los Angeles and some suggest that he is actually staying away in hopes of a move. If he is back in December and suits up for a couple of games it may be as an audition, according to Kyler. Although, on the flip side, this may be a last-ditch effort to avoid microfracture surgery.
ROCKETS, WHITE TO MEET? After a week of inactivity, the Houston Rockets and Royce White are set for a Monday meeting to try to smooth over a fractious relationship, according to USA Today.
White left the team last weekend and said that they had given him “inconsistent” support as he suffers from obsessive compulsive disorder and anxiety issues.
He has been sending out a massive amount of tweets since then, including a few that contained some questionable comments about the Rockets. However, it does appear as if he’s softened his stance lately.
I’m very optimistic the @houstonrockets and I can work this out, it may be HARD, it make take TIme, but it can be done. #Hopeful
— Royce White (@Highway_30) November 17, 2012