Sixers bring back familiar face

Skinner, who spent the 2002-03 season with the 76ers, played for the Milwaukee Bucks last season. In 56 games last year for the Bucks, Skinner averaged 10.5 points and 7.3 rebounds per contest.

NBA teams can officially begin signing free agents on Wednesday, July 14.

The 28-year-old Baylor product had his minutes reduced in the Bucks’ five playoff games versus the Pistons, mostly because of the matchups with Detroit’s big men.

Skinner had inked a two-year contract with the Bucks before last season, but he had a player option for the second year. The Temple, Texas native had been slated to make $1.65 million next season before opting out of the contract.

With the Sixers, Skinner averaged 6.0 points, 4.8 rebounds and 17.9 minutes in 77 games. The 6-foot-9, 265-pound Skinner will add size and depth in the frontcourt for the Sixers. Skinner was a first-round selection of the Los Angeles Clippers in the 1998 NBA Draft.

Philadelphia, which was in pursuit of recently-signed Boston Celtics center Mark Blount, finished with a lowly 33-49 record last season and missed the playoffs for the first time since the 1997-98 campaign. The 76ers were also reportedly interested in Philadelphia native and Detroit Pistons free agent forward Rasheed Wallace.