Sixers Notes: Newcomer Robinson happy to be a Sixer

MILWAUKEE - Thomas Robinson went from shocked to happy Tuesday upon hearing the 76ers had claimed him off waivers.

"I was happy because the Sixers made it clear that they wanted me here," Robinson said before Wednesday's game against the Milwaukee Bucks. "At the end of the day, I'm happy."

Robinson had been placed on waivers Sunday by the Denver Nuggets. The 23-year-old was initially shocked because he agreed to play with Brooklyn on Monday. He had to clear waivers Tuesday evening before signing a contract. But the Sixers intervened.

Robinson arrived in Milwaukee from New Orleans around 2 p.m. Wednesday. He shook the hand of Sixers coach Brett Brown and learned he would play against the Bucks.

"I'm going to play basketball," Robinson said. "Let everything happen on its own. I'm not going to try to force nothing. I'm going to find my way to get comfortable. And then after that, everything will take care of itself."

The Nuggets placed Robinson on waivers three days after they acquired him, Victor Claver, and Will Barton, along with a 2016 lottery-protected first-round pick from Portland in exchange for Arron Afflalo and Alonzo Gee.

The 6-foot-9, 240-pounder out of Kansas was the fifth overall pick by the Sacramento Kings in 2012. Robinson was traded to the Houston Rockets on Feb. 20, 2013, and then to the Blazers on July 10, 2013. He averaged 4.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 13.5 minutes in 172 games.

"When you are drafted as high as he was drafted with the intelligence you have in the league - people making decisions - somebody saw something there," Brown said of Robinson. "I'm going to have to dig in and sort of pay attention more than I have.

"Right now, it's pretty quick moving and learn how to best use him and give him a chance to be a part of us."

Robinson becomes the 29th member of the Sixers roster, and 24th to play in a game.

This is all a part of the Sixers' trying to identify talent to fit into their long-term plans and acquire assets. For the most part, their approach has been a win-win situation for the franchise and players. That's because in most instances, the Sixers are providing NBA minutes to players who normally wouldn't receive them.