When Philadelphia 76ers guard Lou Williams strained his right hamstring during a game versus the Milwaukee Bucks, the Sixers suffered a huge set back. Williams is currently in the midst of having the best year of his career and has been mentioned as a possible Sixth Man of the Year candidate. Unfortunately for Williams and the Sixers his return to the active roster is uncertain. According to 
ESPN, Williams had an MRI on Sunday which confirmed the strain.
So what does that mean for the Sixers?
The 76ers will sign veteran guard Antonio Daniels to a 10-day contract on Monday according to ESPN.com’s Marc Stein, but Daniels is not the answer. Daniels has been playing in the D-League and helped the Texas Legends make the playoffs, but that means nothing in the NBA. His last run in the NBA was with the Washington Wizards during the ’08-’09 season, but his last productive season was during ’07-’08 with the Wizards.
What the Sixers need more than anything is for the No. 2 pick in the 2010 draft, Evan Turner, to step up and develop into the player they drafted him to be. Turner has shown throughout the year that he’s a very capable player, but his season has been filled with 
more moments to complain about rather than cheer. He’s only averaging 6.9 points, and 3.9 rebounds in around 22 minutes per game. However traditionally throughout his career he has started off slow, so he should eventually turn into a solid draft pick. But when will that happen?
If a person’s body language means anything, Turner has looked frustrated throughout the season. I’m sure his lack of consistent playing time is something that has bothered him during his rookie year. Besides starting off slow, Turner has had to deal with the 
maturation of Williams, Andre Iguodala, and Thaddeus Young (another player that will need to step up his play).
It may be unfair to place so much pressure on a player in his rookie season while the team is in the middle of fighting for playoff positioning, or maybe not. When you’re selected with the No. 2 pick in the draft and are supposed to be the “savior” of the franchise, you have to step your play up eventually. Turner has proven on every level that he is capable of playing with the best players. It’s extremely unfortunate that Williams had to suffer an injury in order to open up time for Turner. Nevertheless it’ll be interesting watching how Turner handles it all.
The 76ers will continue to monitor Williams’ hamstring injury.
No. Turner won’t step up because Turner can’t step up. He’s an idiot when it comes to the NBA game and his athleticism is nothing but average here with the big boys. He’s a bum just like I said he would be a bum. He was a superstar in the BIG TEN! Get real. Wasted #2 pick. Still pissed off about it.
Birdo – you sound like a bum yourself. I don’t know how old you are, but if you were to tell me that you never improved from you ability to do your job from the first year you got out of college, I’d say that’s ridiculous. Look at Drue Holliday compared to last year. look at Iguodala compared to his first year. Heck, look at Brand this year v. last year (not even a case of youth). NEWSFLASH genius, people are dynamic, changing things, and people develop.
You’re going way too sour way to early on this kid.
I hear your frustration, and I agree he’s been a dissapointment as of yet. But step back and be rational for a second for the love of god.
Whatever. He was the #2 pick in the draft and was suppose to be the savior of the franchise ala Allen Iverson, Derrick Rose, Dwyane Wade, Lebron James etc. etc. — He hasn’t even come close to holding their jockstraps and has shown no improvement over the course of the season. If anything, he got worse.
He’s a glorified John Salmons. Period.
Well there you go, “was suppose to be the savior of the franchise ala Allen Iverson, Derrick Rose, Dwyane Wade, Lebron James”
This aint the bible, it’s the NBA. Assuming a #2 pick with be the savior of a franchise is the mistake of a fan or media member. That’s silly. Yeah, you hope they turn into that, but to assume it or expect it is foolish.
And the guys you list, AI, Lebron, yeah, great stats and highlights, but they got there franchises um…. where?
I say give Turner some time to develop – he clearly needs it. And give Dougie some time to develop him – can you argue that if it can be done, Doug will do it?
Slow your roll and enjoy the season, Turner’s dividends are likley to pay off in the coming years.
I am with Schill on this, I don’t recall anyone stating that aTurner was the SIxers Svior, just another young player with a great upside, has he disappointed so far during his rookie season, yes he has, but let’s give him some time to develop and get stronger and I think he will be a very good NBA Player, not a MVP by any stretch, but still a solid contributor and a long career..
Turner won’t even see the court. I see Jodie and Lou Will getting more PT than him. Not to forget about Iggy either. Who is Turner going to overthrow?
A.I. never got a ring, Lebron hasn’t either yet….but they made their franchises contenders. LEGIT contenders. They were/are unstoppable. What is Turner? Can’t even get on the court.
#2 picks contribute IMMEDIATELY….if they don’t, they’re busts. Don’t believe me? Look at the last twenty years. The only #2 pick that didn’t contribute immediately but still went on to become a legit hall of fame player was Gary Payton. All other #2 picks that didn’t contribute immediately ended up becoming busts or roleplayers. Nothing more.
to talk down a guy thats averaging 7 points a game with inconsistant minutes is really smart.. kobe averaged 6 points his first season, howard 7, those are the first 2 that come to mind… granted I dont expect turner to ever produce like those 2 player, but seriously…he’s started like 10 games all year, give it some time, he’s 22.
John Wall is 19/20? He’s shining down here in D.C. — The team sucks but he’s doing his thing.
If Turner was selected with the 10th-20th pick, I wouldn’t have had a problem with his rookie season. But the Sixers dubbed him worthy of the #2 pick in the draft when we already had players at his position that are better than him. Why? It made no sense. Still doesn’t.
Howard was a beast his rookie year, there was no denying his athletic ability and beastiocity — yea I just made that up.
And don’t get it twisted, those 7 ppg either come in garbage time, or at the foul line.
birdo – if you voiced those opinions to any NBA coach, they would laugh in your face and refuse to waste another moment of their time with you. HOF caliber (AS A FRICKIN ROOK!?) or bust? Are joking? Is this a prank?
darko milicic, hasheem thabeet, marvin williams, emeka okafor, jay williams, tyson chandler, darko, stromile swift, and sam bowie… all contributed immediately ? I didnt even look at the list…
birdo – (NEWSFLASH), the sixers – you know, the TEAM, are doing GREAT. Way better than expected this year. That’s what matters. Your examples, Wall, Iverson, Howard, Bron Bron, are all of superstars on teams that don’t win championships.
I’m convinced, you don’t care about teams, about the sixers doing well. You just love the superstars/names/stats/highlights.
You draft to make your team better. Not to make that draft pick an instant huge success. Is the team better? Hell yeah. That’s the bottom line.
The draft pick is but a baby.
What do they all have in common zoltek? THEY SUCK!
Schiller, be real. Howard took his team to the Eastern Conference Championship, same with Lebron, same with Iverson. All of them except for Iverson have a chance to still get that ring.
My problem with Turner isn’t his lack of production, it’s the fact that I KNEW he wasn’t worth of the #2 pick. I’m a Penn State fan, I watch BIG TEN Basketball. It’s a weak conference. I watched Ohio State last year. I watched Turner. There is NOTHING special about the kid. His speed is average. His athleticism is average. His leaping his average. He can’t shoot consistently. There is NOTHING about this kid that screams “I’m going to be a star and be the anchor of this team!” — nothing.
Birdo – if you knew that a bunch of #2 picks, um, in your words, SUCK, then why did you expect ours to be a savior!? That makes no sense. You should have been reasonable with your expectations.
And Did Howard, Lebron, Iverson etc… do that in their rookie years? Hmm?? No, so you are drawing conclusions about Turner WAY TOO EARLY. How can you argue against that.
Ok, you told us right there, PSU/BIG 10 etc…. why you are biased and so passionate about this. Gotcah – bias/passion etc…. all things that draw people away from thinking rationally.
We get it, you hated the Turner pick, and you think you were right about it. Well, so far you were, so what. The team is thriving and he’s still an infant in his NBA career.
Take a deep breath bro.
AAAAAAAAARHHHHHHHHHHGHHHHHH! TURNERRR!! YOU BUM!!! AARRRHRHHHHGHHHHH!
Birdo???? You sound so ridiculous! I can’t believe what your saying. Have you seen Evan Turner this year??? Now he has been disappointing most of the time, but when your on a team with people who all think they are the “answer” what do you expect him to do? Go back to the first game of the season. You know against the Miami Heat, no one special. just Lebron. Dwayne…… Look at his game. Just look at it. Or BOTH Suns games, OR the Detroit Games, OR Both Denver games. Evan Turner has the potential to be the next great PG in the league. He is being forced to play , Small Forward , Shooting Guard. You obviously don’t play any ball, it’s a big transition to go from Point Guard to SF, and SG.
People talked just like you, when Kobe first came in the league. Kobe wasn’t top 5, but he was an american phenom , and people thought he was a for sure bust… NOW LOOK. Evan Turner will be up there, in regards to the great players. It’ll be funny to look back on your horrid opinion.
there you go buddy, get it out….
feel better now?
@superduke, If Turner turns out to be the next Kobe, I’ll GLADLY eat crow because it’ll only mean the Sixers are legit.
You talk about the first game of the year against the Heat and blah blah blah, its one game. He had like 15 pts, who gives a ish?
Jrue is our point guard and he will continue to be our point guard. Turner is going to have to be a SHOOTING guard at 6’7 or whatever the hell he is or move on to another team.
Even Stromile Swift had 50 pts once….does that make him the next Kobe? Be real man. The kid doesn’t have it in him. In two years, just like I hope I’m wrong (which I doubt I am) — if Turner comes into his own and is the next big thing, I’ll eat my words. If not, make sure you come back to this site so I can tell you I told you so.
birdo – do you honestly not get that there’s PLENTY in between Kobe and trash? And that a whole lot of it means really good basketball player? I really get the sense that if you were offered $999,999.99 you wouldn’t take it because it’s not a cool mil. You sir are ridiculous.
FORGET ABOUT TURNER BEING THE NEXT NBA SUPERSTAR. That is so unimportant and irrelevant. NOBODY every said he would be and you’re the only one even thinking about that.
@schiller, PLENTY said he would be the savior of the franchise. I didn’t want another John Salmons, I wanted a Kevin Durant.
kevibn Durant’s come around about every 10 years or so..Wait until this NBA Draft in 2011, they say it’s one of the weakest in year unless a lot of underclassman come out and even then, it’s 2-3 years down the road before most of them make any consistent contributions or impact for their teams..
Anyone who thinks that Turner was drafted to be the savior of this franchise is an idiot, Hopefully,he will develop into a very good cog in the wheel that Collins is trying to put together. Could they have gone another way with the #2 pick? Sure but if you weren’t getting John Wall everyone else is rolling the dice, you think they aren’t saying the same things in Detroit with Greg Monroe and Jersey traded Derrick Favors for a player that may not even be there next season, it was a cap move but still. I’m giving Turner three seasons before I go the Kenny Payne route.
Ron Glover good points I agree. I said the same thing give turner 3 years to develop his game. Hey I wanted D Cousins personally but the sixers couldn’t pass up a potential superstar ina few years. D, Cousins has personality flaws so they didn’t wanna take a chance hopefully it won’t backfire on them.
There is really nothing more to add about turner. Turner is a rookie and will grow and get better and when he does the team will be better overall
evan turner is the best sixer with the basketball the only 1 who can get to the rim at will
no i dea y he isnt our starting pg i hate jrue kolb
please put evan vick in the game
he just had 19 and 6 ast 4 rebs in yesterdays gm verse celts and was the only sixer to get to the rim
jrue holiday cant beat any1 off the dribble thats the reason iggy pretty much plays the pg
whic is also the other reason turner minutes r down and know it all who know nothing like birdo make ridiculous comments
the kid is a pg in a 2 guard body
we have a 20 yr old irratic pg y not let turner split minutes with the bum who starts
jrue holiday plays 37 min a gm and avgs 13pts and near 6ast
i told yall preseason he is eric snow with a lil more range
e snow 2001 -2003 avgs 14 and 6 and yet yall hated e snow but yall love this kid for some reason
give me a break with the good guy stuff yes hes a good kid yes he dont get into trouble so tf what
get me some bad guys in here and we may get better
sixers full of mr nice guys
mr nice guys go home 1st round
um philly, Turner is by no means the only one that can get to rim at will. There’s this guy named Thad Young, hopefully you’ve heard of him…
schill please go watch hockey
lou will gets to rim but hes hurt
thad young georgia tech avg 14 a game 6th man of the yr candidate
most upside on sixer team
but no he cant get to rim at will he cant dribble
when we go small like we did tonight sometimes he can beat true power forwards off the dribble with his first step but by no means is he a put the ball on the floor player so go read a scouting report
he did tonight cause amare was guarding him
check the last 5 opponents amare guarded
tyler hansborough career high 29 and 12 on him and thats a back up pf on the pacers
i hear what u have to say football wise dont agree but i hear it but ur basketball knowledge suck period ‘
so save ur comments for others
i dont even read ur dumbass bball post
talk hockey football stay out of grown man basketball talk
and by the way u cant suck up to sixers management with all stefanski bonehead moves
so i have no idea y u r even here
go back to andy reids office and massage him do ur job
turner no kobe there may never be another kobe
but if any of u watched the game tonight eric snow also said evan turner in his opinion is the best sixer with the ball in his hands and he strengthened that point by saying even over iggy
evan turner just has 2 learn how to play the 2 guard to get minute here
for some unforsaken reason we as a franchise love jrue holiday
i think he’s ok but shouldnt be a starting pg at this point in his career
he is a long way from that and unfortuantely for us we have to go through his growing pains
i still predict that before its all said done evan turner will replace the good son jrue holiday at the pg position
if any of u have been watching the games ud see tht jrue isnt really even playing the pg its mainly iggy and its always iggy down the stretch
turner lacks 3 pt range right now and jrue’s 3pt set shot is slightly better which helps space the floor so that y he is in the game
if turner can come back with a 3 next yr he’ll play more or if dougie can just give in and play to the man strengths which is a playmaker with the ball in his hands i think we will be better off for it
thats evan turner in a nut shell