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  6. article_body => "<p>There's a reason why the Sixers hadn't announced the acquisition&nbsp;of Nemanja Bjelica.<\/p>\n<p>No dotted line was ever inked.<\/p>\n<p>The free-agent power forward, who had reportedly agreed to a one-year deal earlier this month, informed the Sixers on Tuesday he will not sign and instead return to Europe, a source confirmed to <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JClarkNBCS\/status\/1019237150645260288\" target=\"_blank\">NBC Sports Philadelphia's John Clark<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/wojespn\/status\/1019235244124225537\" target=\"_blank\">ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski<\/a> first reported the news.<\/p>\n<p>The 30-year-old Bjelica, who reportedly agreed on the mid-level exception, was seen as a cheaper and younger replacement for Ersan Ilyasova, who signed with the Bucks.<\/p>\n<p>A 6-foot-10, 240-pounder from Serbia, Bjelica played three seasons with the Timberwolves. Last year in Minnesota, he set career highs in minutes (20.5), points per game (6.8), rebounds per game (4.1), three-point percentage (41.5) and three-pointers made (76).<\/p>\n<p>Along with Ilyasova, the Sixers also lost key bench contributor Marco Belinelli in free agency. They acquired Wilson Chandler in a trade with the Nuggets and may possibly go forward with internal options to fill out pieces to their second unit.<\/p>\n<p>The team on Monday officially re-signed big man Amir Johnson. It also&nbsp;has&nbsp;some size and shooting ability along the wing in Justin Anderson (6-6),&nbsp;Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (6-6) and Furkan Korkmaz (6-7).<\/p>\n<h3 dir=\"ltr\">More on the Sixers<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/76ers\/sixers-reportedly-rebuffed-attempt-hire-houston-rockets-general-manager-daryl-morey\">Sixers' sky-high bid to land high-profile GM swatted away<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/76ers\/sixers-officially-bring-back-amir-johnson-1-year-contract\">Sixers officially bring the hustle back to their lineup<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/76ers\/sixers-managing-partner-josh-harris-discusses-lebron-james-meeting-general-manager-search-and\">Why LeBron meeting encouraged Sixers; no timeline on GM search <\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/76ers\/wilson-chandler-impressed-sixers-ready-help-them-win-nba-free-agency\">Wilson Chandler loves Sixers because they 'play f------ hard'<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/76ers\/sixers-reportedly-have-interest-free-agent-carmelo-anthony\">Should the Sixers be interested in Carmelo Anthony?<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n"
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76ers

76ers

There's a reason why the Sixers hadn't announced the acquisition of Nemanja Bjelica.

No dotted line was ever inked.

The free-agent power forward, who had reportedly agreed to a one-year deal earlier this month, informed the Sixers on Tuesday he will not sign and instead return to Europe, a source confirmed to NBC Sports Philadelphia's John Clark.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski first reported the news.

The 30-year-old Bjelica, who reportedly agreed on the mid-level exception, was seen as a cheaper and younger replacement for Ersan Ilyasova, who signed with the Bucks.

A 6-foot-10, 240-pounder from Serbia, Bjelica played three seasons with the Timberwolves. Last year in Minnesota, he set career highs in minutes (20.5), points per game (6.8), rebounds per game (4.1), three-point percentage (41.5) and three-pointers made (76).

Along with Ilyasova, the Sixers also lost key bench contributor Marco Belinelli in free agency. They acquired Wilson Chandler in a trade with the Nuggets and may possibly go forward with internal options to fill out pieces to their second unit.

The team on Monday officially re-signed big man Amir Johnson. It also has some size and shooting ability along the wing in Justin Anderson (6-6), Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (6-6) and Furkan Korkmaz (6-7).

 

More on the Sixers