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Weary Trevor Booker excited to lead young Sixers

"Coming to a young, up-and-coming team I think it's a new opportunity for me," says Trevor Booker.

The Philadelphia 76ers acquired Trevor Booker (right) in a trade with the Brooklyn Nets that sent Jahlil Okafor and Nik Stauskas to Brooklyn.
The Philadelphia 76ers acquired Trevor Booker (right) in a trade with the Brooklyn Nets that sent Jahlil Okafor and Nik Stauskas to Brooklyn.Read moreStephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/TNS

CLEVELAND – Trevor Booker is tired.

Just thinking about what the newest 76er experienced on Thursday and Friday would even make someone well-rested  exhausted.

The Sixers acquired the reserve power forward from the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Jahlil Okafor, Nik Stauskas and a 2019 second-round pick on Thursday afternoon.

At the time of the transaction, Booker was taking a pregame nap in his hotel room before that night's game against the  Oklahoma City Thunder in Mexico City.

He than took an 8 p.m. flight out of  Mexico City.   Unable to get a direct flight, he flew to Houston, arriving at 10 p.m.

"Then snow delayed everything," Booker said. "So I took off at 12 there and got into Brooklyn about 5 a.m."

He packed clothes for an hour, took another short nap and headed toward the Sixers practice facility in Camden at 8 a.m. After arriving at 10 that morning, Booker took his physical, did some work in the gym and boarded the team flight to here in the afternoon. He made his Sixers debut Saturday night in the first quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena.

"Once I got to Cleveland, I slept most of the day," Booker said.

While he's weary, the 30-year-old Clemson product is definitely elated to be on a Sixers squad that has a chance to reach the playoffs.

"Coming to a young, up-and-coming team, I think it's a new opportunity for me," he said after Saturday morning's shootaround. "I'm looking forward to it. And I'm just looking forward to playing with the fellas and Coach Brown."

Booker started in five of his 18 appearances this season for the Nets. He averaged 10.1 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists in addition to being a solid defender.

Booker, who will become an unrestricted free agent in July, is a solid addition coming off the bench. The Sixers are also expecting the eighth-year veteran to be a leader for the young guys.  That shouldn't be a problem for someone who has the reputation of being a great locker-room guy.

"He's a solid vet, a very hard-nosed energy guy that brings a lot to his game," Robert Covington said. "He's going to give it his all every time he steps on the court."