WEDNESDAY, 4:59pm: Wroten intends to have surgery to repair his torn ACL, Tom Moore of Calkins Media reports (Twitter link).
TUESDAY, 1:49pm: Wroten said Monday night that he, doctors and GM Sam Hinkie were still deliberating whether the ACL requires surgery, reports Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Still, it’s unlikely that Wroten plays again this season.
FRIDAY, 4:53pm: Sixers guard Tony Wroten was diagnosed with a partially torn ACL in his right knee, and the injury will require surgery to repair it, the team has announced. Philadelphia said that Wroten will be out indefinitely, and though it did not provide an estimate when he could return to action, this injury likely means that Wroten will be done for the season.
In the team’s official statement, Sixers GM Sam Hinkie said, “During our game against the New Orleans Pelicans on January 16th, Tony Wroten suffered an injury to his right knee. Over the past week, we have worked closely with Tony, our medical and sports performance teams, his representatives, and renowned specialists in order to reach an accurate diagnosis and provide him with the best possible care. After this extensive process, it has been determined that Tony sustained a partial tear of the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and that the best course of action for Tony’s basketball career is to repair his ACL surgically. While the precise timing and details of the procedure are still being finalized, what has been determined is that the ACL will need to be surgically repaired. Until the procedure takes place, we are unable to provide a specific timeline for his return to play.”
The injury to Wroten could impact whether or not the Sixers would still look to deal Michael Carter-Williams, a move that the team was reportedly exploring recently. The only other point guard currently on Philadelphia’s roster is Larry Drew II, whose initial 10-day contract will expire this Sunday. The Sixers can only ink Drew to one more 10-day deal this season, at the completion of which the team would need to sign him for the remainder of the season or let Drew remain a free agent. The Sixers currently have 16 players on their roster, including the suspended Andrei Kirilenko.
Wroten had been also been mentioned as a trade candidate earlier this month. The Clippers were reportedly interested in obtaining him, though with their recent trade for Austin Rivers, and with president of basketball operations Doc Rivers saying recently that the team intends to use its remaining roster spots to add veteran players next month, Los Angeles had likely moved on from its interest in Wroten prior to his injury, though that is just my speculation.
The 21-year-old guard has one season remaining on his current deal, and is set to make $2,179,353 for the 2015/16 campaign. In 30 appearances this season, including 15 as a starter, Wroten was averaging 16.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 5.2 assists. His slash line was .403/.261/.667.