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If it were up to Arnett Moultrie, the second-year big man would have made his season debut quite some time ago. But in an interview Monday with Chris Vito of the Delaware County Daily Times, the 6'10" forward voiced his frustration with the fact that he remains on the inactive list a month after he was cleared to return to the court.
Moultrie hasn't suited up at all this year after undergoing left ankle surgery in late September. Despite participating in five-on-five scrimmages since December 31, Moultrie has yet to be activated for a single game in the five weeks since.
With the departure of Dewayne Dedmon and the recent injury to Brandon Davies, it would appear to be in the 76ers' best interests to play Moultrie given the team's lack of depth in the frontcourt. According to head coach Brett Brown, Moultrie's conditioning is "the main hurdle" that needs to be overcome - an assertion that the former Mississippi State standout flatly denies.
"It's not my ankle. It's not my conditioning," Moultrie said, before the Sixers played the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center. "But at this point, I really don't care. I'm just sick of all the excuses. If it ain't one thing, it's another thing."
When pressed for the specific reason he's been given for why he's yet to play, Moultrie declined.
"I'd rather not say," he said.
There isn't much inference needed in this case: Moultrie's comments are clearly directed at Brown and/or those who need to give the 23-year-old the green light to play. It should be noted that Moultrie's interview with the Delaware County Daily Times wasn't the first time that he made his displeasure with the situation known:
I asked Arnett Moultrie when he's going to return. "I don't know. It's not up to me."
— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) January 30, 2014
#Sixers Moultrie really sweating as he does pregame 'sprints.' Looks like his conditioning still isn't where it needs to be.
— Tom Moore (@tmoore76ers) January 31, 2014
Moultrie has had issues with conditioning in the past, but that didn't dissuade the Sixers from picking up his third-year option in October at a shade over $1.1 million. Last season, Moultrie averaged 3.7 points and 3.1 rebounds in 11.5 minutes per game.
So, uh, what could it be?
