Sixers' Bynum has a setback

Philadelphia 76ers center Andrew Bynum said on Friday he's had another setback in his recovery from knee problems, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

Bynum said an MRI exam conducted Tuesday indicated cartilage swelling in both knees and a bone bruise in his left knee. Previously, Bynum had been diagnosed with a bone bruise in his right knee only.

Bynum also visited orthopedic surgeon David W. Altchek on Tuesday, he said, according to the Inquirer report.

Bynum, who has yet to practice with the Sixers since being acquired in the August trade from the Lakers, said there has been no change to his timetable for a return. The team is hoping he will be ready to play by mid-January.

"I had a little bit of a setback and we're just working through some issues with the right knee," Bynum told the Inquirer. "I kind of have a mirror thing going on with my left knee. I don't know what's going on, but the doctors are saying pretty much that it's a weakened cartilage state."

Bynum, 25, apparently had the MRI performed independently of the team, then let team officials know the results.

Sixers general manager Tony DiLeo told the Inquirer Friday he had no more information available concerning the results of Bynum's examination. DiLeo said Bynum would be re-evaluated in mid-December and that MRIs would be done on both of knees at thaqt time.