Wroten, Marshall to continue rehab with 87ers

WHEN AN NBA player gets word that he is being sent to the Development League, the news isn't usually greeted with the reaction both Tony Wroten and Kendall Marshall had Wednesday, when they were informed they would spend time with the Delaware 87ers. For the two veteran guards, it means they are getting closer to full recoveries from the torn ACLs both suffered in January.

The 76ers announced before their game against the Toronto Raptors that the two had been assigned to Delaware to continue their rehab. They won't play in games for the team; instead, it is a chance for them to get in more rigorious workouts while the Sixers are traveling and having light practices because of their busy schedule.

Both scrimmaged Wednesday with the 87ers.

"It was great," Wroten said. "To scrimmage again is a terrific feeling. Unfortunately, here we've got a lot of guys injured, so it was tough to get guys to scrimmage. To be able to go to Delaware and scrimmage the guys out there was fun. Kendall and I were feeling great, and it's just another step into the process to get us back as quick as we can.

I'm great. It feels great. We just have to pull all of the pieces together. I haven't played in a game in nine months, so I'm just trying to get things back, so I'm not thrown out there cold turkey. It's a good thing for the team to do that and bring us closer and closer. That's the thing that's most exciting."

"I look on the court and I see two NBA players," Sixers coach Brett Brown said. "They are legitimate NBA players. You see that in their demeanor and their skill package and their size. You just see them slowly inching back into this. You always wonder what goes on in people's minds when they have the chance to not play and have a chance to look at it from a whole different angle and lens, just like what we talk to Nerlens (Noel) about and Joel (Embiid) about. I just see that. I see big bodies."

No timetable is set yet for either's return.

It's not uncommon for youth sports to have a game canceled for any sort of reasons - rain, shortage of players, injury. But rarely, if ever, has a game been called because a helicpoter was on the field.

Deadspin broke the story Wednesday that a helicopter landed on a soccer field at St. Benedict's Prep in Newark, N.J., preventing a youth soccer game from being played. The chopper was there to pick up Josh Harris, owner of the nearby New Jersey Devils.

Harris also owns the Sixers. When Harris ran late, the copter sat and waited, as did kids, parents and coaches until the game was canceled.

Apprently, there is an agreement between the school and businessmen to use the field when needed. But this time, someone forgot to check for availability. The game was canceled, and Harris released a statement apologizing and invited players, coaches and families to a Devils game.

The Sixers said at Wednesday morning's shootaround that Noel would be out with a sore wrist for the second straight game. Then, during workouts a couple of hours before game time, Richaun Holmes strained his hamstring, limped to the locker room and was pronounced out.

Brown also said Robert Covington, who was targeting Saturday as his comeback from a knee sprain, will be out longer.

"You have to find ways to move on and figure out ways you can maybe go steal a win," Brown said.

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