Wroten provides jolt of energy at Sixers workout

Tony Wroten wants to bring energy and a fast tempo to the 76ers.

"I came from a team that almost went to the finals," said the second-year guard who was acquired Aug. 22 in a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies. "So I've seen the hard work that you have to put in and the dedication."

That hard work, energy, and tempo were on display during Monday's practice at St. Joseph's Hagan Arena. The 6-foot-6, 205-pounder was a step quicker than every other Sixer.

He made crisp passes and converted transition baskets during the end-of-practice scrimmage.

One of those baskets came after he stole the ball from Evan Turner at the opposite end of the court. Wroten blocked a layup attempt by James Anderson out of bounds on another defensive possession.

The former University of Washington standout stood out in a three-point shooting drill, draining five straight from the top of the key. The lone negative came when the 20-year-old bruised his right shoulder while running into a pick. That play concluded the scrimmage. Wroten was checked out and is fine.

"Tony Wroten resurrected the gym," said Sixers coach Brett Brown, who added that Wroten "really can do some things" when he stays focused.

"He is physically gifted," Brown said. "He's an excellent athlete. I think he's just a big wing. He passes so well. I suppose he's like a Tyreke Evans-type player."

Like Evans, a Chester native who plays for the New Orleans Pelicans, Wroten can play all three perimeter positions. He is also an aggressive defender who likes to harass point guards in the full court.

"I'm going to do whatever it takes to win whatever my role is - if it's to come off the bench or start," Wroten said. "No matter what, I'm going to try to be the same person, try to change the game every chance I get."

The Grizzlies selected Wroten with the 25th overall pick in the 2012 draft after his freshman season at Washington. He averaged 2.6 points, 1.2 assists, and 7.8 minutes in 35 games last season with Memphis.

"I had fun in Memphis and I love my [former] teammates," he said. "But I want to be playing. Coming here is a great opportunity to get a lot of minutes.

"Yeah, we are rebuilding. But we are going to play every game like we are going to the championship."

Center Spencer Hawes twisted his left knee doing defensive slides and was held out of the remainder of practice. Brown expects him to be OK. . . . Big man Lavoy Allen (knee) participated in a scrimmage for the first time, starting in place of Hawes. . . . Former NBA coach Jeff Van Gundy attended the training-camp session. Van Gundy is a TV analyst for TNT.