Philadelphia 76ers president Rod Thorn called Andrew Bynum's injury situation "bizarre", but has confirmed that the insurance would reimburse the franchise for at least a portion of the All-Star center's $16.9 million salary this season.
"There is a league-wide insurance that he's under that gives you some relief along those lines," Thorn said before the Sixers played the Miami Heat on Wednesday at the Wells Fargo Center. "It's the same league-wide program that every player's under. Unless you have a pre-existing condition - and he didn't - so he's on the same one as everybody else."
The Sixers acquired Bynum from the Los Angeles Lakers in a four-team trade in August. Philadelphia dealt All-Star swingman Andre Iguodala, first-round draft picks Nik Vucevic and Moe Harkless and a protected future first-round pick in order to land Bynum.
Bynum has yet to touch the floor in a Sixers uniform since being diagnosed with bone bruises and damaged cartilage in his knees. The Sixers expected Bynum to be ready to play in the season opener, but as the season progressed, the team and player repeatedly delayed the date of his expected debut.
"It's a little bizarre, there's no doubt about it," Thorn said about Bynum's inability to get on the court. "He's had problems. He's worked very hard. As you can see when you see him, he's huge. His upper body, he works in the weight room, he works hard, he just hasn't been able to play. It's been very tough for him and obviously it's been very tough for us."
Bynum is set to become an unrestricted free agent in July, where he'll be eligible to land a long-term deal worth a nine-figure payday.
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