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I figured the odds were good that Andrew Bynum would miss some time during the season. He has been injury prone during his career, so the chances are fairly high that he would get banged up once again. Little did I expect such a thing would happen before the season even started. According to reports I read on a banner trailing a single engine Cessna, Bynum is expected to miss three weeks with a knee bruise. It is supposedly only a precaution after Bynum felt “some discomfort” in his arthritic knee following injections in both of his knees last week.

To show I am fair and not a hater, Dwight Howard has not yet been cleared to participate in full contact practice. However, the team says he will be ready to go when the season starts, and I suppose we’ll learn more today when Lakers training camp opens. Considering Howard had surgery on his back five months ago, I don’t think L.A. is in any rush to get him out on the court. A few Orlando residents may have some voodoo dolls laying about, however.

In yet more disheartening yet not horrible news, Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra hinted that Dwyane Wade may not be ready to start the season, although it is anticipated he should be ready to go shortly thereafter. Like Howard, the Heat will take it slow with Wade and make sure he’s healthy before putting him in full game mode. I wouldn’t shy away from drafting Wade (or Howard or Bynum) just because of some lingering issues in the pre-preseason, but it’s worth monitoring through a pair of binoculars whilst hiding behind curtains (or blinds, your choice).

Finally, outside the top 20, Chauncey Billups is still having problems, as his Achilles has not fully healed, although he will begin light team drills. He is due back sometime in December, although I can’t imagine many people were going to draft him anyway. Meanwhile, in the good news portion of this post, Eric Gordon and Nene (Hilario) will not start when training camp begins-

“Hey, that isn’t good news. So declares I, the ghost of Dolph Schayes!”
You didn’t let me finish, ghost of someone who isn’t dead. Both Gordon and Hilario will be clear to go once the season commences in November.
“It’s cold where I am.”
Get under the blankets, Mr. Schayes.