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76ers G Tony Wroten diagnosed with partially-torn ACL

By Trisity Miller

Jan 3, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Tony Wroten (8) reacts after a foul is called during the second quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 3, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Tony Wroten (8) reacts after a foul is called during the second quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /
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A MRI revealed a partially-torn ACL for 76ers guard Tony Wroten.

The already-bad Philadelphia 76ers have just gotten a bit worse. A knee injury suffered by guard Tony Wroten against the New Orleans Pelicans on January 16 has been diagnosed as a partially-torn ACL injury, announced earlier today by the team.

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From NBA.com:

"The following is a statement from Philadelphia 76ers President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Sam Hinkie regarding the status of Sixers guard Tony Wroten.“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.”"

Prior to injury, third-year guard Tony Wroten was on par for the best season of his young NBA tenure, averaging a career-high 16.9 points on 40 percent shooting, 2.9 rebounds and a career-high 5.2 assists in 30 games (15 starts).

Without Wroten, the 76ers will have to rely heavily on former lottery pick Michael Carter-Williams to man the guard position. While Carter-Williams has dealt with injuries of his own, the sophomore guard is averaging 15.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 7.1 assists per game. The 76ers backcourt could also see extra minutes from K.J. McDaniels and 10-day contract guard Larry Drew II.

It’s never a good thing to see a player go down with injury, but without Wroten in the picture, the 76ers could be on a fast track to their losing ways. In their last ten games, the 76ers have posted a record of 4-6. While this isn’t a mark that’d draw a keen eye, for the 76ers, this is the near equivalent of being good. By losing more games, they’d grow closer to crawling under the New York Knicks who currently hold the worst record in the NBA with a record of 7-36.

And as we know, the 76ers, lead by Sam Hinkie, have been on a tanking path through the last few seasons, quietly sabotaging the team quality through strategic drafting which includes drafting three consecutive players in the NBA lottery who wouldn’t touch the floor during their initial rookie seasons (Nerlens Noel, Joel Embiid, Dario Saric). If the 76ers can secure the worst record in the NBA, they’ll be one step closer to an elite talent such as Jahlil Okafor or Karl Towns, both expected to be top players in the 2015 NBA Draft.

The 76ers withheld from placing a timeline on Wroten’s return.

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