Moultrie resumes scripted workouts

PHOENIX – The 76ers don't know when Arnett Moultrie will participate in an all-out scrimmage. But he's preparing for it at US Airways Center.

The power forward, who had surgery on his left ankle in the preseason, resumed participating in team drills on Thursday as part of his rehabilitation.

"He's run around and scripted," coach Brett Brown said following Thursday night's practice. "He couldn't do much physically as far as five-on-five and three-on-three.

"But he got up and down the floor. Endurance-wise, he did a good job."

The Sixers plan "to grow him slowly" into participating in team scrimmages.  Brown said there isn't an exact date in mind for that to happen.  However, there's a thought that Moultrie could see his first game action sometime in January.

"But it was good just seeing him run around today," Brown said.

The 6-foot-10, 240-pounder injured his ankle while participating in pre-training camp conditioning in September.

He averaged 3.7 points, 3.1 rebounds and 11.5 minutes in 47 games played last season as a rookie.  But Moultrie showed some promise, making 12 consecutive shot attempts during a four-game span from Feb. 28 to March 5.  He also shot 66.7 percent during his final 14 games played in the 2012-13 season.

"There's a bounce, an energy, an athleticism we would embrace with our current roster," Brown said. "I know he is excited to come back and play. And I know his teammates are excited to have him come back and play. It's been a long time coming."

- Keith Pompey

Follow and contact Inquirer 76ers beat writer Keith Pompey on Twitter @PompeyOnSixers