Tony Wroten ready for his second season as a Sixer

One of the pleasant surprises of the struggle that was last season for the Sixers was the promising play of Tony Wroten.

Before signing with the Sixers last season, Wroten had only 35 games of NBA experience that he gained with the Grizzlies the previous year. No one quite knew what to expect out of the long, lanky guard from the University of Washington. The Sixers' rebuilding roster provided an open opportunity for Wroten, and he took advantage of it.

In 24 minutes of action per game, over triple the time he averaged in Memphis, Wroten posted averages of 13 points, three assists and three rebounds per contest, while displaying an uncanny ability to get right to the rim. Wroten, in fact, led the league in points per 48 minutes on drives.

Despite the promise he showed last season, Wroten's role and future with the franchise is far from certain. He will need to continue to showcase his skills this season, and demonstrate that he is a player that the Sixers should keep around as they climb back into contention.

"Everything," Wroten exclaimed after being asked what he worked on over the summer at Monday's media day. "I'm not perfect so I worked on everything you could think of. Being more of a leader, shooting, just trying to be a perfectionist. I'm looking forward to the season."

All-around improvement is a sound approach for Wroten, who while clearly talented, remains raw in some areas. He struggled shooting the ball last season, connecting on only 21 percent of his shots from deep despite taking over two and a half per game, so to hear that he focused on his shooting this summer is a solid sign.

In the absence of Michael Carter-Williams, who will miss the preseason and potentially the beginning of the regular season as he continues to recover from shoulder surgery, Wroten will get the nod at the starting spot, where he will get an opportunity to lead the team from the point guard position.

"I feel like I can play both positions," he stated, "but point guard is definitely my position. With Mike [Carter-Williams] out, I'm going to do my best to lead the team."

Playing point will be a test for Wroten, who is adept at paint penetration, but not as polished in other areas of the position. His nearly 1:1 assist-to-turnover ratio needs to be improved upon, as does his shot selection at times.

Wroten doesn't want to limit himself to point guard play, and would prefer to play at both guard spots. He sees himself fitting nicely alongside the reigning Rookie of the Year.

"I would love to slide to the two," he confessed. "Me and Mike together would be great. Me and [Carter-Williams] being so tall, we're probably the biggest backcourt in the league, whoever gets a rebound could bring it. Defensive-wise as well, I think it would be a great idea."

Wroten's versatility is valuable, but in the end, he says he just wants to see the Sixers succeed.

"I'm just trying to win, man. I could never get used to losing. I'll do whatever it takes to win, whether it's coming off of the bench or starting."

Wroten is bringing a sound attitude to his second season with the Sixers, using it as another opportunity to demonstrate that he is worth a long-term commitment from the franchise.

"Philadelphia is a city I love. As much as we lose, when things turn around Wells Fargo is going to be insane, and I can't wait. I want to be one of the people that was here when things were bad and then turned good."