Hawes eager to join Sixers

The acquisition of center Spencer Hawes from Sacramento last week in the Samuel Dalembert trade gives the Sixers yet another young player. Hawes, a first-round pick in 2007, just turned 22 in late April.

He joins Jrue Holiday (20), Jodie Meeks (23), Thad Young (22), Lou Williams (23), Marreese Speights (22) and Jason Smith (24). The leader of the group, Andre Iguodala, is still only (26) and Thursday the team will probably add 21-year-old Evan Turner with the second pick in the draft. The thought of coming east and joining this group of players excites the 7-1 Hawes.

"You look at the team on paper and you see a boatload of talent," he said. "Their athleticism really jumps out at you. Any time you have that kind of talent, it's a huge advantage. With coach (Doug) Collins and his staff, we can really start focusing in and translate that into more wins."

If it plays out the way the Sixers hope, Hawes will be solid and consistent – much unlike his predecessor in Dalembert.

"I don't really think of this as a second chance," he said of the trade. "It sort of caught me off-guard, then I had a chance to look at it and evaluate it. I'm coming to a great organization in a great city. I have an opportunity here to try to take my game to the next level."

More on Hawes in tomorrow's Daily News.