Sixers Notes: 76ers have insurance for Andrew Bynum's salary

If there is some good news to be gleaned from the 76ers' experience with Andrew Bynum, it's that they won't be on the hook for all of the $16.9 million the inactive center will be paid this season.

"There is a leaguewide insurance that he's under," Sixers president Rod Thorn said Wednesday before the team hosted the Miami Heat. "There is some relief along those lines."

Thorn did not say how much of Bynum's salary would be covered by the insurance. However, he said that the Sixers would get full relief because there are no preexisting conditions that would prevent Bynum's coverage.

"No, he's under the full protection," Thorn said.

Thorn said that Bynum still had not decided whether to have surgery on either of his knees. Surgery has been discussed as a potential option for Bynum, who has missed the entire season with bone bruises and weakened cartilage.

Thorn expressed the same dismay that others in the team's front office have when asked about the nature of Bynum's injury. Last season with the Los Angeles Lakers, Bynum missed just one game to injury.

"No one was anticipating that this would happen - that he would miss all of season," Thorn said. "We were hopeful that he might be able to play when the season started. Since then it has been a series of things, so that's been tough."

Bynum can be a free agent after this season. Will he ever play for the Sixers?

"Who knows what is going to happen when the season is over?" Thorn said.

Miami's LeBron James is the most powerful athlete in sports, according to the Bloomberg "Sportfolio"/Horrow Sports Ventures Power 100 rankings, which help measure an athlete's market value.

Bloomberg TV rated the most powerful professional athletes in the United States. James is followed on the list by golfer Tiger Woods and Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning. James' Heat teammate Dwyane Wade is No. 25 on the list.