76ers sign Robinson, cut Frazier

MILWAUKEE -  The 76ers nabbed Thomas Robinson, the player the Brooklyn Nets coveted.

The Sixers claimed the power forward off waivers Tuesday. To make room, they released Tim Frazier from his second 10-day contract. By acquiring Robinson, they blocked the Nets' bid to sign him to a 10-day deal.

Robinson had been placed on waivers Sunday by the Denver Nuggets.  He agreed to play with Brooklyn on Monday, but had to clear waivers Tuesday evening before signing a contract. The Nets are upset over the Sixers' actions, according to multiple league sources. Brooklyn was likely going to sign him for the rest of the season after his 10-day deal.

The Nuggets had acquired Robinson, Victor Claver, and Will Barton, along with a 2016 lottery-protected first-round pick from the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Arron Afflalo and Alonzo Gee on Thursday.

"The important thing with the Nets is a playoff contender wanted Thomas' services as well. [He's] a sought-after player in this league," said Kevin Bradbury, Robinson's agent. "We had agreed to terms, and when [Sixers general manager] Sam [Hinkie] called me today, we were excited about it.

"Either way, he was going to play."

Robinson will fly here Wednesday morning to join the Sixers before that night's game against the Milwaukee Bucks at BMO Harris Center.

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.

"I think if you look at Thomas' stats on the minutes he did play in Portland, he is a very good contributor, and at times it was almost a rebound-a-minute type of guy," Bradbury said. "So bringing that energy and that rebounding and those types of things to a team where you can do it for more than eight to 10 minutes a night, you know, it's a great opportunity."

The Sixers, however, aren't committed to keeping Robinson for the long term. They claimed him off waivers to get an up-close look to see if he can fit into their plans.

Frazier had signed his latest 10-day deal with the Sixers on Friday. The former Penn State standout averaged 5.7 points, 7.2 assists, and 3.2 rebounds in six games.

Tuesday's move came two days after the Sixers claimed point guard Ish Smith off waivers. They waived power forward Malcolm Thomas to make room for Smith.