By Spike Eskin

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Andrew Bynum will travel to New York on Thursday to get Synvisc injections in each knee, a procedure that the team says is not a setback in his recovery, and that he will return to basketball activity next week. The Sixers say the procedure was previously scheduled.

Synvisc injections relieve the pain of osteoarthritis for longer periods of time, as patients can receive them one to two times per year. This is opposed to an injection like Cortisone, which works immediately, but doesn’t have the same lasting effect.

Even though he’s seen very (very, very, very) limited on-court activity so far this season, it’s been enough to convince Evan Turner.

“[Bynum coming back is] going to be cool. Definitely, once he gets back, he’s definitely going to help,” Turner told 94WIP’s Michael Barkann and Ike Reese. “Obviously the best big in the game right now and it’s going to definitely help us a lot. Hopefully we make the playoffs, it’s going to help us even more in the playoffs.”

Best big in the game is quite a compliment, even given Dwight Howard’s struggles.

The date of Bynum’s return to practice with the team, and then play in an actual game has been a mystery to most, including Turner.

“I don’t think [he's coming back] tomorrow. It’s like the groundhog. You see his shadow and then Spring is coming, you know?,” Turner said.