Corey Brewer’s contract expires, Sixers won’t re-sign him for rest of season

Corey Brewer’s second 10-day contract with the 76ers has expired and the team is not planning to sign him for the remainder of the season, according to team sources.

NBA teams can sign a player to a maximum of two 10-day contracts before signing the player or letting him become a free agent.

Letting Brewer walk gives the Sixers an empty roster spot with the trade deadline approaching. If Brewer is still available and the Sixers still have a roster spot after Thursday’s deadline, they could sign him for the rest of the season. But the team is not planning to do so before the deadline, indicating there are bigger plans in the works.

In his seven games with the Sixers, Brewer averaged 7.6 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.4 assists. His high point came in Denver on Jan. 26 when he had 20 points, six rebounds, and four steals in his third start in place of an injured Jimmy Butler (sprained right wrist).

Brewer received praise from teammates and coaches during his time with the Sixers. The 32-year-old guard/small forward, who spent time with the Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder last season, had not played since April 27 when he signed his first 10-day contract with the Sixers on Jan. 15.

Six days after signing with the Sixers, Brewer was put into the starting lineup in place of Butler and was tasked with guarding James Harden when the Rockets visited the Wells Fargo Center. He finished the night with 11 points and multiple defensive plays that brought the crowd to its feet.

The Sixers return Tuesday from their four-game road trip to host the Toronto Raptors, who went into Monday night 1 1/2 games behind the East-leading Milwaukee Bucks.