By Spike Eskin

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – And so the Royce White era in Philadelphia begins.

According to the Spanish basketball website Solobasket, Royce White did not travel to Spain for the Sixers preseason game on Sunday against Bilbao. They will travel travel to Manchester, England for a preseason game on Tuesday against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer also confirmed that White was not in Spain.

White said at the team’s media day that he planned to travel with the team to Spain. Though many have speculated that White will not fly, he has said repeatedly that isn’t the case. White said he planned to fly when he has to, and drive when he’s able. Clearly driving to Spain is not an option.

Many fans have asked about the possibility of White playing for the Sixers this year, given his experience with the Houston Rockets last season, when he did not play a regular season game in the NBA.

It is best, as Mike Levin of Liberty Ballers put it, to expect nothing from White this upcoming season for the Sixers. Not because it’s assured that the team will get nothing for him, but because that’s probably the best way to avoid being disappointed. Many have asked me if I think White will play, and the truth is that neither I, nor anybody outside of Royce White knows if he will play this year. I don’t believe the Sixers know, nor do I believe they are counting on him to play.

If he plays, great. If he doesn’t play, his contract is expiring, so great.