Evan Turner and Sixers ‘going in a different direction’

The Sixers didn’t extend a qualifying offer to Turner before Thursday night’s deadline, meaning the former No. 2 overall pick will be a restricted free agent at the end of the season. He said “I really don’t know” when asked whether he’d be on the Sixers past this season. From reporter Christopher Vito:

“I knew [the Sixers wouldn’t pick up the qualifying offer] a while ago,” he said. “I knew when Sam [Hinkie] took over and traded Jrue (Holiday) and all of that. I wasn’t expecting anything. Hinkie is not my GM. He doesn’t owe me anything. I’m just taking advantage of playing. I just didn’t expect anything. We’re going in a different direction.”

Turner said he and Hinkie have not spoken about Turner’s future with the team. Hinkie has set a clear path of bottoming out the team’s chances, accumulating young, cheap assets and building for the future. Turner, who would have made $8.71 million in 2014-2015 if the Sixers had picked up his option, clearly doesn’t appear to be a part of future plans.

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