With all the shifting of stars in the summer of 2010, the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers (for the most part) have kept their core in tact. The health of the squad, whose average age is floating around 28 or 29 depending on free agents/rookies, may be a question mark come fall.
Andrew Bynum, still one of the youngest Lakers, has had his second knee surgery in three years pushed back to late July.
Bynum will have arthroscopic surgery July 28 to repair torn cartilage in his right knee, a Lakers spokesman said Tuesday. The procedure will be performed by Dr. David Altchek in New York.
Bynum, 22, said during his exit interview last month that he expected to have the surgery July 18, but his doctor didn’t have an opening for the surgery until later this month.
The Lakers claim that Bynum will be 100% by the time they open training camp in late September. Los Angeles’ preseason schedule is busier than normal, opening competition with a two date European swing. The Lakers will face the Minnesota Timberwolves on October 4 in London’s famed O2 Arena, then travel to Spain to face Ricky Rubio and Regal FC Barcelona on October 7.
Bynum’s presence is certainly not needed for the preseason play, though his recovery process will certainly be closely watched by the Laker faithful. Bynum hyperextended his right knee in the first round of the Western Conference Playoffs against Oklahoma City, but delayed any major procedures until after the season.
Bynum has had his knee drained three times since Game 1 of the NBA Finals. While he was praised by his teammates and coaches for playing through the pain, the effects of the were obvious and he was only able to average 7.4 points and 5.1 rebounds in 25 minutes of play.
To avoid being officially labeled as “injury prone” for the rest of his career, Bynum needs to bounce back from this surgery and give the Lakers at least 70 games in 2010-2011, a feat he has not accomplished since the 2006-2007 season – his second in the league.
Additionally, while the Lakers were able to increase depth at the guard postion by bringing in Steve Blake and re-signing Derek Fisher, there is not a ton of firepower behind Bynum and Gasol down low. Josh Powell, who has played significant minutes in Bynum’s absence, remains an unsigned free agent and rookies Derek Caracter and Devin Ebanks lack both the size and experience to be counted on as a starting power forward in the league. While Caracter did show the most promise of the two, it is hard to imagine him being able to provide the defensive presence that Bynum brings down low at just 6-9.
So the Lakers will keep close tabs on Bynum and his recovery, because it is no secret that in order to try and complete the three-peat, they will need the services of the big youngster down low.
