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  6. article_body => "<p>James Ennis will decline his player option and become a free agent, his agent, Scott Nichols from Rize Management, confirmed Monday morning.<\/p>\n<p>The news was first reported by Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium. Ennis\u2019 player option was for $1.85 million.<\/p>\n<p>According to Nichols, Ennis is seeking a more lucrative, multi-year deal. Nichols said Ennis, after being acquired by the Sixers in February in a trade with the Houston Rockets, enjoyed his stint in Philadelphia, and it\u2019s possible he could return to the Sixers.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe\u2019s built good relationships within his short time there with his teammates like Ben [Simmons] and Joel [Embiid] and has found a quiet leadership role there, too,\u201d Nichols told NBC Sports Philadelphia.<\/p>\n<p>Ennis talked at his exit interview last Monday about the close friendship he\u2019s developed with Simmons, mentioning that Simmons talked him into getting a Cane Corso dog, the same type of dog Simmons has.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Ennis boosted his stock during the postseason as a key member of the Sixers\u2019 bench, averaging 7.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 11 playoff games. During the regular season, Ennis won the \u201ctournament\u201d for wing minutes off the bench in a landslide, beating out Jonathon Simmons and Furkan Kokrmaz.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was tough at first because it was unsure if I was going to play,\u201d Ennis said. \u201cMe and Jonathon were play one game, sit one game, so it was kind of rocky at first. But I got more games under my belt, got more comfortable, and it just took off like that. I appreciate the staff believing in me, Elton Brand bringing me here and Coach [Brett] Brown allowing me to play.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>At 28 years old, Ennis has already played for six teams. The Sixers, if they\u2019re willing to offer a deal that Ennis and Nichols like, may offer the stability that\u2019s been lacking during his career.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/smart.link\/5bb788a3d5b83?site_id=Web_NBCS_Philly&amp;creative_id=nbcsphi1356&amp;cp_4=www.nbcsports.com&amp;cp_1=washington&amp;cp_2=myteams-nbc-sports&amp;cp_3=nbcsphi1356\">Click here<\/a>&nbsp;to download the MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the Flyers, Sixers and Phillies games easily on your device.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<h3 dir=\"ltr\"><strong>More on the Sixers<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/76ers\/spotlight-elton-brand-his-first-nba-draft-free-agency-sixers-general-manager\">Spotlight is on Elton Brand for first offseason as Sixers\u2019 GM<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/76ers\/backup-center-near-top-list-sixers-nba-free-agency-nba-draft\">How will Sixers address backup center this offseason? <\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/76ers\/decision-free-agent-tobias-harris-toughest-elton-brand-will-face-may-define-offseason\">Tobias Harris toughest decision for Brand but may define offseason <\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/76ers\/hes-not-perfect-jimmy-butler-worth-risk-sixers-free-agency\">He\u2019s not perfect, but Jimmy Butler is worth the risk for Sixers <\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/76ers\/sixers-talk-podcast-why-brett-brown-back-which-players-should-and-shouldnt-return\">Sixers Talk: Why Brown is back; which players should and shouldn't return<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n"
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76ers

76ers

James Ennis will decline his player option and become a free agent, his agent, Scott Nichols from Rize Management, confirmed Monday morning.

The news was first reported by Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium. Ennis’ player option was for $1.85 million.

According to Nichols, Ennis is seeking a more lucrative, multi-year deal. Nichols said Ennis, after being acquired by the Sixers in February in a trade with the Houston Rockets, enjoyed his stint in Philadelphia, and it’s possible he could return to the Sixers. 

“He’s built good relationships within his short time there with his teammates like Ben [Simmons] and Joel [Embiid] and has found a quiet leadership role there, too,” Nichols told NBC Sports Philadelphia.

Ennis talked at his exit interview last Monday about the close friendship he’s developed with Simmons, mentioning that Simmons talked him into getting a Cane Corso dog, the same type of dog Simmons has. 

Ennis boosted his stock during the postseason as a key member of the Sixers’ bench, averaging 7.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 11 playoff games. During the regular season, Ennis won the “tournament” for wing minutes off the bench in a landslide, beating out Jonathon Simmons and Furkan Kokrmaz.

“It was tough at first because it was unsure if I was going to play,” Ennis said. “Me and Jonathon were play one game, sit one game, so it was kind of rocky at first. But I got more games under my belt, got more comfortable, and it just took off like that. I appreciate the staff believing in me, Elton Brand bringing me here and Coach [Brett] Brown allowing me to play.”

 

At 28 years old, Ennis has already played for six teams. The Sixers, if they’re willing to offer a deal that Ennis and Nichols like, may offer the stability that’s been lacking during his career.

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