Justin Anderson reportedly not cleared for start of training camp after surgery

On June 29, the Philadelphia 76ers announced that Justin Anderson “underwent successful surgery on his left leg to address recurring tibial stress syndrome.” At the time, the injury was said to be re-evaluated by a doctor after two weeks, which would be followed by an additional evaluation at the six-to-eight week mark of his recovery.

In the meantime, Anderson was famously dealt to the Atlanta Hawks in mid-July and, on the eve of training camp (set to begin on Tuesday, Sept. 25), Chris Vivlamore of the AJC reports that Anderson has not yet been cleared for his return to the floor.

Given the initial six-to-eight week timetable for reevaluation, this may not be the best sign for Anderson, though it is important to note that the Hawks do not take part in a regular season game until Oct. 17. It will be interesting to see how he progresses during training camp and the preseason but, for now, it appears he will be on the sideline when the team gathers for its first fully sanctioned practice on Tuesday.

Beyond that, Vivlamore brings word that Dewayne Dedmon is also waiting to be cleared on the heels of an injury suffered on Aug. 27. The Hawks announced in early September that Dedmon suffered an avulsion fracture in his left ankle and, on Sept. 13, the team indicated that the veteran center had his walking boot removed after strong progress in his rehab. Still, the announcement noted that Dedmon was scheduled to be re-evaluated in two weeks (i.e. somewhere around Sept. 27) and that generally aligns with the reporting here.

At the very least, it appears that the Hawks will be without two veterans as training camp begins, though Atlanta does have three additional players available in Thomas Robinson, Cole Aldrich and R.J. Hunter.

Stay tuned.