Sixers Notes: Moultrie suspended 5 games for drug offense

ATLANTA - The 76ers have said that this season was about building a culture while developing and evaluating talent for the future.

It will be interesting to see if Arnett Moultrie is part of their plans.

The NBA suspended the reserve power forward five games without pay for violating the league's and the NBA Players Association's antidrug program. Details of the violation were unknown.

His suspension began with Monday night's game against the Atlanta Hawks at Philips Arena. He will be eligible to return April 11 against the Memphis Grizzlies.

It was unlikely the second-year player would have played in those games anyway.

The 6-foot-10, 240-pounder was sent down to the Delaware 87ers, the Sixers' NBA Development League team, on March 15. The Sixers said the move was to get him playing time. He had displayed bad body language and appeared distant because of the lack of game action.

He won't be able to compete for the Sevens during the suspension.

The Sixers were mum about the move Monday.

"Due to the collective-bargain agreement, I'm not able to talk that much about it," coach Brett Brown said. "We are with Arnett. We will help him wherever we can."

Sixers general manager Sam Hinkie could not be reached for comment.

The franchise picked up Moultrie's third-year option of around $1.1 million back on Oct. 31.Moultrie is averaging 10.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1 steal in a total of eight games during his two stints with the Sevens. He averaged three points, 2.9 rebounds, and 15.6 minutes in his 12 appearances with the Sixers.

Moultrie was the 27th overall pick by the Miami Heat in the 2012 draft. The 23-year-old was later traded to the Sixers for Justin Hamilton and a future first-round draft pick. The Sixers, however, will owe Miami only a pair of second-round picks (2015, 2016) if they don't make the playoffs next season.

He was unable to practice until late December after preseason ankle surgery.

The Sixers first shipped Moultrie to Delaware on Feb. 5, one day after he had some choice words for the coaching staff. The former Mississippi State standout was upset that he hadn't yet played. He later made his NBA season debut on Feb. 9 at the Los Angeles Clippers.