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Sixers' Stauskas vows to be a hard worker

LAS VEGAS - Nik Stauskas has a message for 76ers fans. He wants them to know playing in the NBA has always been his dream since growing up in Canada.

LAS VEGAS - Nik Stauskas has a message for 76ers fans.

He wants them to know playing in the NBA has always been his dream since growing up in Canada.

"This is what I was born to do," the shooting guard said. "I'm extremely hard working and that's the only reason I got here, just because of my hard work.

"So hopefully the fans of Philadelphia understand they are getting a kid who is going to work his butt off to do everything he can to win games."

With those words, Stauskas might become an instant fan favorite after his trade from Sacramento became official Friday evening.

Stauskas is with the team at the NBA Summer League but will not play in Saturday night's game against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Thomas & Mack Center. He twisted his right ankle this offseason and the Sixers haven't decided if he will play in other games this summer.

Stauskas is coming off a rough rookie season, averaging 4.4 points and shooting 36.5 percent.

"Coming into this organization, the fact that they are rebuilding gives me an opportunity to have a new start to my career and show people I belong," Stauskas said.

The team is without rookie power forward Richaun Holmes.

Holmes landed hard on his elbow in Thursday night's 84-78 loss to the Jazz at EnergySolutions Arena. He was scheduled to travel to Las Vegas to compete with the Sixers.

Holmes reportedly will miss six to eight weeks with a fractured right elbow. The 37th pick in June 25 NBA draft, who competed in the Utah Jazz Summer League, flew to Philadelphia from Salt Lake City for an evaluation, according to a source. The team will know more from there. However, citing a source, RealGM, said the elbow is fractured.

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