#SadderDay: Bynum to have season-ending surgery on BOTH knees
Remarkable. The plan went from starting practice in late October, was slowed then by pain, delayed further to early December after bowling further damaged it, had and MRI in mid-December, returned to on-court work in mid-January with an eye on an All-Star break timetable, had another set back around the All-Star break, practiced with the team on February 23rd and did 5-on-5 shortly there after, experienced pain yet again, and is now having surgery on both knees.
Who could have thought this was going to be a multi-season injury?
For Philadelphia, they made a worthy gamble, and I cannot imagine any person on the planet could have thought it would have ended this poorly.
Exactly, like you have just pointed out this whole incident spiraled so far out of control without even a real injury occuring. Bynum was perfectly healthy when we traded for him. He got that German blood plasma procedure right before the season just to reinforce his health. He was only held out of training camp to give that time to properly run it's course. Then suddenly he starts getting pain in his knees.....
I think this is clearly more indicative of Bynum having serious mental issues more then knee problems. He might be a hypochondriac with other mental issues because he clearly doesn't have it all upstairs.
The Sixers have a hard decision to make here. They'll really have to monitor Bynum's recovery and decide what kind of a career he can have from this point forward. I just hope for the Sixers sake that they don't re-sign Bynum to a big deal only for him to be hurt throughout the duration of the contract like Grant Hill was with the Magic.
If I was Andrew Bynum, then I'd likely retire if I need to have another surgery on my knees within a year or two from now.
Because originally he didn't need clean up surgery or any surgery for that matter. Honestly I doubt he truly needs this surgery right now. Bynum wanted his knees to become 110% pain free before he played this year and that quite frankly impossible. In fact his knees right around January and February were pain free except when he practiced they got sore. DUH! I dunno what's going on but Bynums toughness, heart, and mental stability are definitley in question. He knows he had to play this year to get a big contract which is why I think he's just more crazy then anything.
I don't think that's the case at all. He's from South Jersey and therefore grew up in a Philly cultured and influenced area. He considers this home. And he knew he could dominate the East and become a force for the Sixers. I think he's just out of his mind and is making too many excuses.
He said he really liked being in Philly and that he had a warm welcome and the fans were making him feel right at home, so I'm not sure what makes that more than a baseless accusation from a disgruntled fan.
Even though it hasn't panned out, I still commend Philly for taking the gamble on reaching the elite instead of staying middling with what they had before; there's no denying a healthy Bynum would have been a huge factor in the East where the Cs are smaller these days.
That said, it could actually turn out for the best, it's possible that Philly could sign him for a lot less than they would have had to if he was healthy this year, there's no doubt his value has dropped with him not playing coming off an All-Star year.
If I were Bynum, I'd just go to Phoenix, maybe a sign and trade with Gortat if the Suns want to unload him to clear cap room. But if anyone can keep his knees healthy it's gotta be Phoenix and their medical team; I think their proactive/corrective approach would work wonders instead of just waiting for him to break down and then trying to fix him.
If a player fails to average playing in less than 60 games per year during his career because of constant knee problems do not trade Andre Iguodala and Vucevic as well as draft picks for him no matter how good he appears for 2/3's of one season.
Bummer. It sucks for 6er fans as this has taken a catastrophic turn into a very scary direction not to mention the lackadaisical play from Jason Richardson who they also acquired. It must be an even bitterer pill to swallow when watching the fledgling talents of Harkless and Vucevic in Orlando. Despite being injury-prone, nobody could've foreen this outcome and I'm starting to get worried about Bynum's general health at this rate. Having surgery on both of your knees when you're that young is frightening.
The Sixers could have traded Iggy to Golden State or Toronto and drafted Andre Drummond. They could of paired Drummond with Nik Vucevic down low. They would of had Holiday, Turner, and Harkless running lose on the wings with Thad Young, Andre Drummond, Nik Vucevic, and Moultrie beating other bigs up and down the court down low.
Sad news for Sixers, as the question been posed, should Bynum contemplate early retirement? It's really sad seeing this as Bynum is clearly a top 3 Center in the NBA as of now. Does he come back next year better or worse?