Corey Brewer will not be returning to the Philadelphia 76ers. Not this season, anyway.

The news hit Twitter on Monday afternoon and, for some, came as a bit of a surprise. With Brewer on the team for 20 days (and nine games), the Sixers put together a 6-3 record that saw them reenter the discussion of conference contenders out East. In the seven games he played, the team was 5-2.

Some believe that the choice to not re-sign Brewer could be a precursor to a trade, considering the fact that the Sixers have been reportedly active on the trade front and the deadline is approaching on February 7.

Sixers will not be signing Corey Brewer for remainder of season. He is a free agent. — Jon Johnson (@jonjohnsonwip) February 4, 2019

By rule of the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement, after signing Brewer to two 10-day contracts, the Sixers would have had to sign him for the remainder of the season if and when they wished to bring him back.

A productive player in the minutes he got, Brewer may have an opportunity to sign with another NBA team. In all likelihood, there will be some additional clarity after Thursday’s deadline, but for now, it’s safe to assume that he’s played his last game for the Sixers this season.