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Sources: 76ers claim Thomas Robinson off waivers to meet NBA's salary minimum

Sources: 76ers claim Thomas Robinson off waivers to meet NBA's salary minimum

The Philadelphia 76ers have acquired forward Thomas Robinson through a claim in the NBA's waiver process, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

Robinson had reached agreement on a deal with the Brooklyn Nets should he have cleared waivers and become a free agent. For the Nets to sign Robinson for a possible playoff appearance, the Sixers would have to waive him by Saturday.

The Sixers needed the sum of Robinson's remaining salary to honor the obligations of the collective bargaining agreement that dictate a team needs to reach within 90 percent of the NBA's salary floor before season's end – or pay out that shortfall amount equally among the rest of the players on the roster.

Robinson's $3,678,360 salary pushes the Sixers over the salary floor. Denver is no longer responsible for paying Robinson's salary. The Nuggets saved close to $900,000 on the balance of Robinson's salary because the Sixers claimed him.

The Sixers can use Robinson to reach the salary then waive him again. Nevertheless, their initial plan is to keep Robinson and take a look at him in the short-term, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

After Portland traded Robinson to Denver on Thursday, Robinson's agent requested he be waived because of a lack of playing time available to him with the Nuggets.

Brooklyn wanted to take a long look at Robinson with hopes of a potential future partnership. Robinson was the No. 5 overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft with Sacramento, but has so far played for the Kings, Houston Rockets and Trail Blazers without finding traction.

Robinson, 24, averaged 12 minutes in 32 appearances for the Blazers this season.

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