New Sixers arrivals see trade as an opportunity

PHILADELPHIA — A jersey hung at his locker-room stall Friday night, yet Henry Sims was nowhere to be found. The newly acquired big man eventually made his way to the floor for pre-game introductions.

Sims has been with the 76ers long enough to see only one of their games, a 124-112 loss to Dallas. So he’s had a mere 48-minute litmus test to have developed an opinion. And Sims’ takeaway? The Sixers’ defense is lacking, and he wants to change that.

Sims’ assessment had to be cathartic for Sixers coach Brett Brown.

“I really just want to hug him, start crying and have him over for dinner,” Brown said, grinning.

Sims’ niche, he hopes, is providing defense. So few have shown a commitment to defense that, when one does, it’s likely to turn Brown into that player’s No. 1 fan. Nonetheless, Sims is guaranteed nothing. Just like Byron Mullens and Eric Maynor, all of whom were shipped to the Sixers at Thursday’s trade deadline, they’ll have to earn the minutes they get.

But being with the Sixers (1541), where playing time is there for the taking, is an improvement off each player’s previous situation. Mullens, a fifth-year 7-footer, was so anxious to get to Philly that he took a red-eye that landed Saturday morning. He arrived at PCOM at 7 a.m., took a physical and then hit the practice floor. Hey, sleep is overrated.

“It’s going to be awesome,” said Mullens, who had 27 DNPs in his final 41 games with the Los Angeles Clippers. “L.A. is a tough rotation to get into. All of the players are great there. I’m looking forward to being a leader on this team.”

Maynor, a fifth-year guard, had gone 3-for-33 in game appearances for Washington over the last few months. And Sims, a second-year center, got sent away from Cleveland just as he was actually getting playing time. He had netted 62 of his 168 minutes played this season in only his last four appearances for the Cavaliers.

“We’re at a point where we’re starting to cleanse the program, move some things around and get ourselves on track,” Brown said of his new guys, all of whom will be available Monday against visiting Milwaukee.

When Sims got word that he’d been traded from Cleveland to the Sixers, two thoughts crossed his mind. The first was a reunion with Hollis Thompson, with whom he played three seasons at Georgetown. “I gave him a phone call and told him I can’t escape him,” Sims said.

Sims also remembered a conversation he had shared Tuesday with the guy for whom he was traded.

“It was funny, because I was actually talking to Spence, making conversation on the court. We were chatting back and forth,” Sims said of Spencer Hawes. “Two days later, we’re playing for each other’s coaches. It was just an ironic situation. … We should’ve (switched jerseys). Could’ve saved a lot on travel.”