Thursday, August 22, 2013

Sixers trade for Tony Wroten

PHILADELPHIA - The Sixers have added another young piece, acquiring 6-foot-6 point guard Tony Wroten from the Memphis Grizzlies for a future second round pick.

Wroten is in the second year of his rookie contract and is scheduled to make $1.16 million this season. Philadelphia will then have team options on him for the next two years.

In 2012-13 Wroten appeared in 35 regular season games for the Grizzlies and also saw action in six games during Memphis’ run to the Western Conference Finals. Additionally, Wroten was the fifth youngest player in the NBA last season.

The 20-year-old was assigned to the Reno Bighorns of NBA Development League and appeared in a total of 11 D-League games with three starts, averaging 17.0 points, almost four assists, three rebounds and one steal in nearly 27 minutes per game.  He scored a season-high 30 points in the season finale vs. the Canton Charge on April 6.

Wroten was originally the 25th overall pick by Memphis in the 2012 NBA Draft following his freshman season at the University of Washington.  In his only season with the Huskies, Wroten averaged 16 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals and became the first freshman in school history to earn First Team All-Conference honors.  He was also named Pac-12 Freshman of the Year after setting numerous freshman school marks, including most points (559), assists (130) and steals (66).

A native of Seattle, Wroten attended Garfield High School which also produced former NBA All-Star Brandon Roy.  His father, Tony, played football at Washington and his mother, Shirley, ran track at Washington and Arizona State.  Wroten’s aunt, Joyce Walker, was a two-time All-American at Louisiana State and played for the Harlem Globetrotters.  His cousin, Nate Robinson, plays for the Denver Nuggets.

The 6-foot-6, 210-pound Wroten is expected to push for playing time in the Sixers' revamped backcourt.

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