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  • Plymouth Whitemarsh’s Michael Pereira brings professor-like IQ and ‘Hulk mode’ to Penn hoops

    Plymouth Whitemarsh’s Michael Pereira brings professor-like IQ and ‘Hulk mode’ to Penn hoops

    Before games, Michael Pereira needs some time alone to visualize the moment.

    “I’m thinking about what I’m going to do and also trying to feel the emotion that would come with doing that thing,” Pereira said. “I’ll think of me dunking, and then feel the jolt of energy you get after you dunk it.”

    It’s a practice he learned from his mother, and being a visionary through his four years at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School has taken the 6-foot-10 center pretty far. After starring for the Colonials, Pereira has been playing internationally for Brazil, where his father was born.

    In June, he missed his senior prom to help the country’s under-18 national team place third in the FIBA AmeriCup in Mexico. Come fall, Pereira will join Penn, where he’s a member of Fran McCaffery’s first recruiting class.

    Westtown’s Jordyn Palmer, Bonner-Prendie’s Korey Francis named state’s Miss and Mr. basketball

    Pereira is hoping to bring what he learned from international play to Penn.

    “[The AmeriCup] was a great learning opportunity, definitely,” Pereira said. “The pace of play, the physicality of the game was faster because everyone was higher level there compared to what I’m used to.”

    After falling to the United States, 102-56, in the semifinals, Brazil faced Puerto Rico in the third-place game on June 7. At halftime, Puerto Rico led by 19. It seemed as if Brazil would end AmeriCup play with back-to-back blowout losses. Then, Brazil came storming back and took the lead in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter. From there, it was able to hold on to claim an 83-77 victory. Pereira notched 4 points, 11 rebounds, and 2 blocks.

    Michael Pereira averaged 14.1 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks this season with Plymouth Whitemarsh. Plymouth Whitemarch Athletics

    Three days later, he was back at Plymouth Whitemarsh for his graduation.

    “He’s a serious student-athlete,” said Plymouth Whitemarsh coach Jim Donofrio. “Anyone that can get accepted into Wharton early admissions obviously has a good resumé academically. Michael is a very curious guy when it comes to learning; he is open-minded to learning anything, he has high standards to want to excel in anything he takes on.”

    ‘Something special’

    Pereira’s curiosity drove him into his coach’s Honors Philosophy & Ethics course. In class, Pereira did not shy away from offering his thoughts on whatever topic Donofrio covered that day. But before interjecting, Pereira would always stop and take in the concept.

    Donofrio said this quality has become rare in today’s “hyper impatient society.”

    However, it did not surprise the longtime coach that his player was a diligent and thoughtful student. Pereira showed the same characteristics in practice.

    “One thing in the coaching world that we should emphasize constantly is when I’m talking to you, I want pure eye contact,” Donofrio said. “Michael gives you nothing but eye contact, he almost looks through you. He takes the message and he absorbs it, and that’s mind training — for a young guy to have that kind of discipline to want to listen.”

    Pereira picked up the sport relatively late, in sixth grade. His parents had Chuck and Ronald Moore, two former Plymouth Whitemarsh players who went on to play collegiate basketball, train Pereira and his older brother Will. When Pereira entered eighth grade, Ronald was his coach.

    Then, in high school, Chuck oversaw Pereira’s development as Donofrio’s assistant.

    After McCaffery was hired by Penn, he brought in three assistants. One of them was Ronald Moore, who played under him at Siena. It was Ronald who put Pereira on his former coach’s radar.

    “Tons of respect for Jimmy [Donofrio] and the job that he’s done for so many years there,” McCaffery said. “Also aware of the quality of play in that conference, the teams they played against, and I felt very strongly that Mike would be ready when he got here.

    “When I saw him his junior year, I thought he had a chance. When I saw him his senior year, I knew he was going to be something special.”

    Pereira received offers to play at various high-level prep schools for his senior season, but he wanted to stay at Plymouth Whitemarsh. His decision paid off. Pereira averaged 14.1 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks, while leading the Colonials to a PIAA District 1 Class 6A championship.

    Ronald Moore was once a March Madness sensation. Now he’s a Penn assistant coach.

    “Something I liked about Plymouth Whitemarsh was that I could do more stuff, I could try stuff that was out of my comfort zone,” Pereira said. “Since it wasn’t like insanely good competition, I would get away with some stuff.

    “I’ve tried different footwork. I would shoot a three or two in a high school game. But just considering my role in international play, I wasn’t really doing any of that, I was more so just doing what got me on the team in the first place.”

    Improving as a Quaker

    The Colonials’ 2026 campaign ended with a loss to Father Judge in the PIAA Class 6A quarterfinals. Pereira, who logged a double-double, wanted to get his mind off the defeat.

    Coincidentally, Penn was playing in the Ivy League championship against Yale the next day.

    “I don’t want to be depressed after this loss. Let’s just drive up,” Pereira said.

    The game, played at Cornell, offered much more than a distraction. Penn junior forward TJ Power poured in 44 points to lead the Quakers to an 88-84 overtime victory and a ticket to the NCAA Tournament.

    “I still think it’s one of the best games I’ve ever watched in person,” Pereira said.

    Penn is expecting eight newcomers on the roster next season. Going into his second season at the helm, McCaffery has valued acquiring size and flexibility.

    He certainly has found that in Pereira.

    In order to take advantage of his frame, Pereira will need to continue his rapid progression as a player. McCaffery does not believe this will be an issue, noting he expects his new center to develop a “year-round obsession” with improvement under his watch.

    Meanwhile, Donofrio believes that Pereira’s game will translate to the next level if he can better balance his intellectual side.

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    “He has to use his humble ability to listen like crazy and his curiosity,” Donofrio said. “All that stuff is really important, but he’s then going to have to learn how to be as aggressive as he can with that body without fouling out, but I almost want him to foul out a few times.”

    “I always said, ‘Mike, you’re like in professor mode, then there’s the Hulk mode, where you turn into the Hulk.’ If we can just get the professor and the Hulk merged together, you got a guy that might be making money at the game someday.”

  • Philadelphia has built African trade ties for decades. Trump’s silence on one expiring law could undo that.

    Philadelphia has built African trade ties for decades. Trump’s silence on one expiring law could undo that.

    For Maxwell Adew, the owner of Kuueza, a U.S. import-export and sourcing company based in Southwest Philadelphia, uncertainty surrounding the African Growth and Opportunity Act is more than just a policy debate in Washington — it has forced him to rethink his business strategy.

    Known as AGOA, the trade preference program allows over 7,000 products from eligible African countries to enter the United States, but it is set to expire on Dec. 31. Because of concerns raised by the Trump administration about the fairness of the program, Congress faces a steep climb to save it.

    Adew argues that AGOA is well worth saving due to the critical role it plays in helping African goods enter the U.S. market at competitive prices.

    “Without AGOA, some businesses using our platform have actually stopped exporting,” he said.

    The uncertainty about the program’s future comes at a particularly challenging time for many businesses owned by African immigrants in the United States, including in Philadelphia.

    “A lot of immigrant-owned small businesses have been affected,” Adew said. “Some have already shut down. Organizations like the African Cultural Alliance of North America in Southwest Philadelphia are helping businesses navigate these challenges.”

    Why it’s important

    President Trump has questioned the fairness of the trade preference program, but in February extended it for a year while policymakers weigh its merits. Rosa Whitaker, the president and CEO of the Whitaker Group and one of the program’s architects, said preserving AGOA was an important reminder to the rest of the world about the U.S. commitment to Africa.

    “The extension of AGOA sent a powerful signal that Africa was perhaps more important to the United States than many people realized,” she said.

    A Netflix representative at an exhibition at the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum in Johannesburg, South Africa. The program, which fosters U.S.-African trade, is in jeopardy, writes Alexanderia Haidara.Denis Farrell

    As Congress debates AGOA’s future, several U.S. industries are pressing for both renewal and reform.

    “AGOA has not generally been utilized to leverage improved market access for U.S. agricultural products, even though it was intended as a tool for that purpose to facilitate that two-way trade,” said Jim Remcheck, director of export services at the U.S. Meat Export Federation.

    But Florizelle Liser, the president and CEO of the Corporate Council on Africa, the leading U.S.-Africa corporate business association, said the program is worthwhile in terms of opening up Africa as an alternative supply chain.

    “AGOA has also been beneficial to U.S. companies looking to diversify their sourcing away from China,” she said. “And it supports hundreds of thousands of jobs in the United States, as well as producing significant savings for U.S. consumers.”

    While critics argue AGOA has not met its full potential, analysts at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) point out that it has generated measurable economic benefits to both African countries and the United States. In a report, the center noted that AGOA imports totaled $9.7 billion in 2023.

    Nevertheless, Adew has already changed his investment decisions in Africa because of the uncertainty.

    “We’re not sure about the future of AGOA,” he said. “We have to rethink where we invest our resources, and focus on products with stronger demand and higher value.”

    U.S.-African relations have been sorely tested under the Trump administration. Some analysts and business leaders say cooperation between the U.S. and African nations has deteriorated amid disputes over trade, aid, migration, and diplomatic engagement.

    And while U.S. companies lobby Congress to keep the lines of trade open, South Africa is pushing for a 15-year extension of AGOA, a key part of marketing its vast resource of critical minerals. Government and business leaders there warn that a shorter extension or suspension will undermine investor confidence and disrupt manufacturing plans.

    Whitaker believes the African diaspora can enhance U.S.-Africa relations and make them more inclusive to amplify trade and investment efforts.

    Beyond trade

    For Whitaker, the future of U.S.-Africa economic relations must extend beyond AGOA to support regional integration efforts such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Global shocks and a reduction in foreign aid have left the continent too vulnerable, she said. And she underscored the need for structural reforms in the international financial system to help the continent become more competitive with other parts of the world.

    “Africa is recognizing that it must become more self-reliant,” Whitaker said. “Economic integration is no longer optional.”

    As Washington debates the future of AGOA, businesses like Adew’s are already adjusting their strategies. The possibility of AGOA’s renewal is no longer theoretical. It is reshaping the future of U.S.-Africa commerce in real time.

    Alexanderia Haidara is a former U.S. diplomat and U.S. Agency for International Development specialist helping U.S. companies expand to emerging markets.

  • 1 in 4 Philadelphians say preserving historical sites is city’s top ‘responsibility to the nation,’ poll shows

    1 in 4 Philadelphians say preserving historical sites is city’s top ‘responsibility to the nation,’ poll shows

    President Donald Trump’s administration got the green light from a federal appeals court last week to install its own version of the historical exhibits at the President’s House Site on Independence Mall after it dismantled panels about slavery there earlier this year.

    But that may not jibe with what many Philadelphians want to see.

    A new Suffolk University/Philadelphia Inquirer CityView poll of 500 city residents found that a quarter of respondents believe the city’s primary responsibility to the nation is to protect its historical sites for future generations. Nearly 27% said the city’s primary responsibility to the nation is to serve as a model for “diverse, multicultural urban progress.”

    The poll, conducted from June 16 to 20 and released this week, comes after a ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in favor of the Trump administration and just weeks ahead of celebrations in Philadelphia for the nation’s 250th birthday.

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    The appeals court’s ruling last week was a turning point in a legal battle waged by Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s administration that questioned the federal government’s authority to interfere in what information is presented at the President’s House. Both the Third Circuit ruling and a recent decision by a Boston-based federal appeals court regarding National Park Service exhibits nationwide have started to pave the way for the Trump administration to make unprecedented changes to displays of U.S. history in the region.

    Alacia Maxton, 36, a respondent to the poll, said frustration with the attacks on the President’s House has been at the forefront of her mind as the city prepares to celebrate the Semiquincentennial.

    For nearly two decades without opposition, the site — which opened in December 2010 — has memorialized the nine people George Washington enslaved at his Philadelphia residence during the founding of America and detailed the brutality of slavery.

    Last month, it was designated as an endangered historic site by a major national historic preservation organization. The new panels proposed by the Trump administration to replace the removed exhibits at the President’s House soften Washington’s role as an enslaver, according to those working to protect the site.

    “I don’t like the idea that certain groups of people want to whitewash history and erase what doesn’t make them feel comfortable,” said Maxton, who lives in Overbrook Park.

    Carolyn Keys, 61, another resident who responded to the poll, said the absence of the some of the original panels is like “missing pieces to a puzzle.”

    “Every piece was specifically put together for a purpose,” said Keys, 61, a veteran who lives in the Tacony neighborhood.

    David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center, said Philadelphians valuing preserving history and being a model for progress is a particularly localized issue.

    “Which I think makes this really important information for the nation to see,” Paleologos said.

    Philadelphia Lawyer Michael Coard speaks at a rally at the President’s House Site in response to the removal of the President’s House exhibit in Old City, in Philadelphia, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, in Philadelphia
    Jessica Griffin / Staff Photographer

    A bipartisan grassroots group of Philadelphians — called the President’s House/Slavery Memorial Coalition — has been spearheading efforts to protect the historical site, which has been under scrutiny from the Trump administration since last summer.

    The group has often discussed a desire for its work in Philadelphia to be a model for preserving history elsewhere in the country.

    Michael Coard, an attorney and founder of one of the leading groups in the efforts to protect the President’s House, said in a statement Wednesday that the poll results show that “Philadelphians understand the importance of protecting our shared history.”

    “Black history is American history, and we have both an obligation and, based on these results, a clear mandate to ensure that the stories of enslaved Africans and their descendants are preserved, honored, and accurately told,” Coard said.

    Other respondents had different ideas for Philadelphia’s primary responsibility as the birthplace of democracy: Roughly 23% said “leading national conversations on civil rights and economic justice” was a top priority, while almost 17% said the city’s duty to the nation is “proving that a large, complex city can govern itself equitably.”

    These insights come as Philadelphia is bracing for an influx of tourists, with particular emphasis on its history as the nation’s birthplace, ahead of the Semiquincentennial celebrations.

    The Liberty Bell in Independence National Historical Park Feb. 2, 2026.Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer

    Almost 28% of the Philadelphia residents polled see the Liberty Bell — in comparison to Independence Hall, the National Constitution Center, and the Rocky Steps — as the city landmark that best embodies American democracy.

    But hanging over the impending 250th celebrations is the uncertain fate of the President’s House, said Leeanna Lundy, 34, of West Philly.

    “For them to remove where the most impactful part of where history took place, it’s like mind-boggling,” Lundy said.

    Staff writer Michelle Baruchman contributed to this article.

  • Can the USMNT beat Turkey to go unbeaten in World Cup group play for the first time? Here’s our predictions.

    Can the USMNT beat Turkey to go unbeaten in World Cup group play for the first time? Here’s our predictions.

    After a pair of electrifying matches in which the United States displayed arguably its most dominant performance at a World Cup, just one more match remains in Group D for the Americans, a primetime showdown with Turkey on Thursday (10 p.m., Fox29, Telemundo 62).

    With the U.S. awaiting its round of 32 opponent on July 1, it’s anyone’s guess whom Mauricio Pochettino, the U.S. men’s head coach, will start against Turkey, which has been eliminated from advancing after losing to Paraguay in its second match.

    Right now, we know that Christian Pulisic is trying to return to the lineup after missing the USMNT’s 2-0 win over Australia in Seattle last Friday. But will Pochettino trot him out or offer even more rest before the knockout round match?

    Christian Pulisic (center) was active in Wednesday’s practice ahead of their final match in Group D against Turkey on Thursday.Jonathan Tannenwald

    It’s what our team of soccer writers weighs in on this week as the U.S. looks to finish strong in a match that matters very little.

    Jonathan Tannenwald

    I really don’t know what to think about this game, since there are no actual stakes in it.

    Sure, it’s nice that the U.S. has clinched first place and will now play a World Cup game with no standing stakes for the first time since 1998. (That one was the polar opposite of this, as the Americans were eliminated from progressing after two games.)

    But how much will Pochettino rotate his lineup? Even being out at the team’s camp, it’s tough to say.

    USMNT players are waiting with everyone else to learn what changes will come in the group stage finale

    It’s also unclear what Turkey will do. A team with lots of attacking talent has taken 62 shots over its two games combined so far, but failed to score in both. Will this be the day they finally find the net? And if so, what will it do for their mentality?

    Something tells me that’s coming, and the U.S. had better be ready.

    Prediction: United States 2, Turkey 2

    Kerith Gabriel

    Honestly, after a deeper dive into this one, the question is not so much will the U.S. win, but who will play. This might be a good chance to give players who haven’t seen the field yet the chance to prove to Pochettino that they can be effective in key moments, particularly against a bona fide soccer nation like Turkey, even if this installment of their starting 11 has yet to inspire.

    Let’s see a strong performance from Brenden Aaronson and Mark McKenzie, two local guys who cracked the roster but are still looking for their first minutes. Matt Freese has been fantastic in goal, but let’s not forget that his backup is Matt Turner, who was the U.S.’s No. 1 for a while, even under Pochettino.

    This game scratches the itch for those players who have yet to make an appearance. If that’s the mindset Pochettino employs, then motivation alone from those guys should be enough for the U.S. to take three points and finish off a perfect group stage performance heading into next week.

    Prediction: United States 2, Turkey 0

    Owen Hewitt

    Win, lose, or draw against Turkey, the U.S. is moving on to the knockout round. It’s great news for an American side trying to win its second-ever knockout match in its history, but it’s terrible news for prognosticators.

    There’s little way to be sure of who will play for either the U.S. or Turkey, making Thursday’s match as unpredictable as the average Week 18 NFL game.

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    Pulisic started training with the full squad again on Tuesday, but there’s little reason now for Pochettino to rush the Hershey-born winger back onto the pitch before he’s ready.

    Chris Richards, Antonee Robinson, Tyler Adams, and Folarin Balogun will all sit out on Thursday to avoid getting another yellow card against Turkey.

    That said, the sheer quality we’ve seen from the USMNT this tournament (and the lack thereof from Turkey) should equate to another three points for the U.S.

    Prediction: United States 2, Turkey 1

    Rob Tornoe

    To paraphrase Whose Line is it Anyway?, this is a game “where everything is made up and the points don’t matter.” With the U.S. already clinching first place in Group D and a spot in the round of 32, they can afford to let Pulisic rest his calf.

    .

    Turkey has nothing to play for, except pride. It’s just their second appearance at the World Cup since 1954, and in a game with so many unknowns, the only sure thing is The Crescent Stars will be playing hard to avoid going home scoreless and winless.

    Turkey certainly hasn’t lacked aggressiveness this tournament, but success hasn’t followed. Through two games, they’ve taken 62 shots, but zero have found the back of the net, the most in a World Cup since 1966, according to the Athletic.

    During the second half of France’s dominant win over Iraq in Philadelphia on Monday, the refs worked hard to move the storm-delayed game along, eliminating the second-half water break and adding minimal stoppage time. That feels like the mood of this game — Turkish pride against a U.S. team already looking toward July 1.

    Prediction: United States 2, Turkey 2

  • Most Philadelphians back sanctuary city status as Trump threatens federal funding, poll shows

    Most Philadelphians back sanctuary city status as Trump threatens federal funding, poll shows

    A significant majority of residents want Philadelphia to remain a sanctuary for immigrants, according to a new poll that shows the overwhelmingly Democratic city is undeterred by President Donald Trump’s threats to defund so-called sanctuary cities.

    A recent Suffolk University/Philadelphia Inquirer poll that surveyed 500 city residents asked respondents if Philadelphia should remain a sanctuary city, “even if it means losing federal funding.” A commanding 59% answered “yes,” with only 28% saying “no” and the remainder undecided or unwilling to say.

    The support for Philadelphia’s sanctuary status was consistent across age and racial groups. The only geographic region where a plurality of respondents answered “no” was far Northeast Philadelphia, which is among the most politically conservative areas of the city.

    The survey question did not elaborate on what a loss of federal funding could mean for the city in terms of the impact on residents. Philadelphia received $2.2 billion from the federal government in fiscal year 2024 to pay for a wide range of critical services, including infrastructure needs, as well as healthcare, food, and housing assistance for low-income people.

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    Still, the results of the poll show relatively widespread support in Philadelphia for the city’s sanctuary policies, which include its practice of not complying with detainers issued by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement without a court order. Those detainers are effectively requests submitted by federal agents to local law enforcement agencies that ask to hold undocumented immigrants in custody.

    Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s administration does not refer to Philadelphia as a “sanctuary city” — she and her top aides instead call it a “welcoming city,” language that has been increasingly adopted nationwide as Trump and his allies in the Republican Party have sought to crack down on sanctuary cities.

    President Donald Trump travels to the Lehigh Valley to visit Mack Trucks in Macungie on Tuesday, June 23, 2026.Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer

    The sanctuary policies predate Parker’s tenure and were in place under an executive order signed by former Mayor Jim Kenney. They were codified into law earlier this year after City Council passed a package of legislation aimed at limiting ICE’s operations in the city and instituting some of the nation’s toughest restrictions on ICE.

    In May, Parker signed six of the seven bills in the package, but took no action on one that bars law enforcement officers from concealing their identities, including by wearing masks. City Solicitor Renee Garcia wrote in a letter to Parker that the legislation may not be legally enforceable, but the mayor did not veto the bill, allowing it to become law.

    Last week, the Trump administration sued Philadelphia and some of its top officials, including Parker, over the mask-ban ordinance. The Trump administration contended that the law is “blatantly unconstitutional” and undermines federal law enforcement’s ability to do its job.

    Trump administration sues Philadelphia over ‘ICE Out’ face mask ban for law enforcement

    The lawsuit is one of several filed across the nation by the Trump administration challenging local laws related to immigration as federal authorities carry out the massive deportation campaign promised by the president.

    The White House has also targeted sanctuary cities through executive orders, including one the president issued last year directing the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security to ensure that sanctuary jurisdictions “do not receive access to federal funds.”

    That effort is also tied up in litigation. Last year, a federal judge issued an injunction blocking the Trump administration from denying funding to jurisdictions that limit cooperation with ICE, saying the White House could not impose funding conditions without authorization from Congress.

    Staff writer Sean Collins Walsh contributed to this article.

  • Free agency comes into focus for Sixers after leaving the draft with Labaron Philon Jr.

    Free agency comes into focus for Sixers after leaving the draft with Labaron Philon Jr.

    During his news conference following the NBA draft’s first round, new 76ers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey vocalized a desire to aggressively explore acquiring a second-round pick.

    “We’re always going to make calls,” Gansey told reporters from the Sixers’ facility late Tuesday, “and try to turn over every stone and see what’s out there. We have roster spots. We have playing time.

    “So trying to get someone that can fit [coach Nick Nurse’s] system and the way we want to play, the character piece, we’re going to try to look at it all and try to get someone who can fit.”

    Inside Labaron Philon Jr.’s draft night and unexpected fall to the ‘perfect spot’ with the Sixers

    Yet Wednesday night’s second round of the draft was uneventful for the Sixers. No move enticing enough materialized for Gansey, even while possessing several future second-round picks. So the Sixers exited the draft with one selection, after Alabama guard Labaron Philon Jr. surprisingly slipped to them at No. 22 overall.

    Gansey’s first roster-building checkmark is complete. Next up is free agency beginning at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, likely with limited financial flexibility given Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and Paul George all remain on max contracts for multiple seasons. Embiid and George are considered difficult to trade because of their age and injury history.

    The Sixers used the prudent best-player-available approach in selecting Philon, who is crafty with the ball in his hands and significantly improved as an outside shooter and facilitator in his second college season. That pick also continued to lean into their dynamic young guard rotation featuring Maxey, an All-NBA third-teamer last season, and VJ Edgecombe, who finished third on a terrific NBA Rookie of the Year ballot.

    Alabama guard Labaron Philon Jr. is crafty with the ball in his hands and significantly improved as an outside shooter and facilitator in his second college season.Vasha Hunt

    “Adding me, it’s a blur,” Philon said from Barclays Center after his selection. “You’ve got two guys that are really shifty, two guys that know how to handle the ball, and a guy that can jump out the roof. That means everything in the backcourt. I feel like Coach Nurse is going to have a fun time with that.”

    Perhaps that is another deliberate step in the Sixers establishing an identity, a necessity that Bob Myers, the president of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, emphasized the same day the franchise formally introduced Gansey earlier this month.

    Why Mike Gansey’s sound process in selecting Labaron Philon Jr. bodes well for Sixers’ future

    That also means the Sixers still have positional gaps along the wing and in the frontcourt. Starting small forward Kelly Oubre Jr., sixth man Quentin Grimes, and reserve center Andre Drummond all are unrestricted free agents (so is reserve guard Kyle Lowry, but he is expected to retire). The availability of Embiid and George also remains unpredictable, though both former perennial All-Stars expressed optimism about their health entering the offseason last month. Rebounding and three-point shooting were team weaknesses last season.

    So when North Carolina’s Henri Veesaar, a stretch-big man who was widely projected as a first-rounder, continued to tumble down the second round, an outsider could have considered his fit with the Sixers. Instead, the Atlanta Hawks traded for the 52nd overall pick to select him.

    Teams have been permitted to negotiate with their own free agents since the New York Knicks’ title officially ended the NBA season. The Sixers also must make team option decisions on Dominick Barlow ($3.4 million for 2026-27), Trendon Watford ($2.8 million), and Dalen Terry ($2.6 million) by Monday.

    Once the market fully opens, the Sixers will have the nontaxpayer midlevel exception (about $15 million), or could split that salary figure on multiple players. They also will be able to sign players to veteran minimum deals.

    The Sixers will have decisions to make on several unrestricted free agents, including Kelly Oubre Jr.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    Before then, it remains possible that the Sixers agree to terms with undrafted rookies — who typically sign two-way contracts — in the coming hours or days.

    Productive players can be found via that route. Barlow, a starting forward for the Sixers for much of last season, was not selected in the 2022 draft. Neither was former Sixer Julian Champagnie, who eventually morphed into a sharpshooting starter for the San Antonio Spurs team that just advanced to the NBA Finals. And the second round progresses, agents sometimes angle for their clients to go undrafted in order to have more choice in their playing destination.

    Yet the Sixers exited the 2026 draft with a potential first-round steal in Philon, and without a second-round selection.

    Up next: Free agency.

  • Q&A: Draft analyst Chris Peters weighs Flyers’ options at No. 21, Alexander Command’s NHL comparison, and more

    Q&A: Draft analyst Chris Peters weighs Flyers’ options at No. 21, Alexander Command’s NHL comparison, and more

    It’s that time of year.

    The next generation of NHL stars will find out their destinations on Friday and Saturday at the 2026 NHL draft as teams work to fill the cupboards and holes in their depth charts.

    As of Wednesday, the Flyers have four picks — one in each of the first, second, sixth and seventh rounds. The biggest question: Who will they grab at No. 21 in Friday’s first round?

    Ahead of the draft, FloHockey draft and prospect analyst Chris Peters joined The Inquirer on the latest episode of Flyers Gameday Central to dissect the draft class, which players fit the Flyers, and what could happen in the next few days.

    Flyers draft: Tommy Bleyl, Ryan Lin, and Xavier Villeneuve are smaller defensemen. Will they get passed over by Philly?

    You can watch the full Flyers Gameday Central episode with Chris Peters below.

    Q: Is there anything we’ve learned from the past couple of drafts with the Flyers that could suggest the route they’re going to go [at pick no. 21]?

    A: Teams definitely have types, they have guys they like, they have the kinds of players they go after. I think when you’re drafting at 21 in the first round, you’ve got to be really diligent about your list and really stick to it, I feel like, because you’re just hoping to get an NHL player. … I think there’s a ton of intrigue about really from [picks in] the teens on down, where things can go, and at that point you’re going to see a wide variance in ranges of players on lists. And so you’re just trying to see whoever the Flyers have as the best pick, they might be really high on somebody else’s list, or might not be on somebody else’s list at all.

    Q: Is there anyone in this draft class who fits the Flyers system at center?

    A: I think it would be hard to pinpoint that. I do think that you look at guys that are centers that could potentially be wings, like Maddox Dagenais, a guy who’s all over the map in terms of draft ranges. He could be gone in the early teens, he could be gone in the mid-20s, but he is a center naturally, plays a lot on the wing though, and so I think a lot of people are thinking that he is more of a winger. … Jack Hextall, he’s a good two-way guy, high-energy player, had a really good strong season in the USHL this year. … A guy to really keep a close eye on, probably in that range, I think he could be available, there is Ilia Morozov, who plays at Miami [Ohio}. He’s a 6-foot-4 center; obviously the Flyers have not been afraid to draft some Russians, and he’s been a Russian who’s played in North America for at least three years and he’s been playing at a pretty high level, and had a great season in Miami. And the upside on him is just tremendous. So I could easily see a player with that size, skill combo being a really good fit for the Flyers.

    Q: Maksim Sokolovskii is a name I heard in Buffalo as someone who the Flyers have a lot of interest in. There’s the London [of the OHL] connection, and he’s a giant at over 6-7. Is he someone they could reach on at 21 or is that too high?

    A: They could, I wouldn’t. I think that would be Sam Morin part two. So I wouldn’t do that. I like [Sokolovskii] a lot, and I watched him in the playoffs a lot, and that’s where I think a lot of this late buzz is coming from, is that he was a really good shutdown guy for London in the postseason. And he was playing a physical mean brand of hockey, the kind of hockey that helps you win in the playoffs. I think that there is so little offense there … he’s too one dimensional defensively. The skating, it isn’t good enough for me to say, like it’s good for his size but like it’s not good enough, I don’t think. So, he has boom-bust potential too, because he’s got this massive frame, he has incredible reach. I think he thinks the game decently well, like I think he thinks the game defensively pretty solidly. I think he’s got good enough mobility defensively. And so I think he’s going to play [in the NHL]. The question is where does he go?

    Moncton defenseman Tommy Bleyl potted 81 points in 63 regular-season games, breaking a rookie record that stood for 48 years in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League.Daniel St Louis
    Q: Who’s the one player people aren’t talking enough about?

    A: I would say people probably aren’t talking enough about Tommy Bleyl. It’s coming up more now, but the season that he had was historic. … And you talk to teams like, “Hey, I didn’t have him on my radar as a guy for us,” and there were some guys like, “Yeah, I had him as a pick, but no way was he a first.” And his postseason put him right in the mix as a first [round pick], and potentially even a mid-first round pick, and that’s a pretty significant jump from where he was at the start of this season. So, he’s a guy that I think is incredibly fascinating. The skating ability is about as good as anybody’s. I just think there’s a lot to unlock with that player yet, and I’m excited to see who takes him.

    Q: The player you enjoyed watching the most this year?

    A: One of the players I had the most fun watching this year was probably Nikita Klepov, even in the games where he was a little bit frustrating and a little bit out of it. I just think that there’s a real skill level to him. Another guy that just frustrates the heck out of scouts that I enjoyed watching was Egor Shilov from Victoriaville. Just the patience that kid has on the puck is really out of this world. The way he extends plays and finds the right read. He’s not quite competitive enough for guys, and I think that’s going to potentially knock him out of the first round. I did list him in the second round myself, but he’s a really intriguing player, too. I think the hockey sense is high-end in terms of the offensive game.

    Flyers draft: Jack Hextall brings way more than a famous last name — and could be a fit with the Orange and Black
    Q: Who is the best defensive defenseman?

    A: William Håkansson is pretty darn good [at] defending. I think he’s a stopper. Sokolovskii is a stopper. … But like I look at Håkansson, I think he’s probably one of the most mature overall defenders. And then also at the end of that top 10, top 11, Malte Gustafsson is another guy where I just think the defending is outstanding. He’s such a complete player, and I’m really impressed by him more and more.

    Q: The Flyers love high-compete and great motors. Who do you think is in that range of high compete, great motor kind of guy?

    A: Yeah, I think Alexander Command is probably No. 1. Viggo Björck is up there too, but I think Alexander Command has the physicality, the doggedness in pursuit of the puck. Just the absolute annoyingness of just getting under your skin, and I think that there’s a lot to like about that player. The comp that I had for him was Brayden Schenn and I think he probably has a higher motor, even there. Brayden Schenn was physical and mean, and he could score, and that’s what I think Command can do, too.

  • ⚽ Keep it rolling | Sports Daily Newsletter

    ⚽ Keep it rolling | Sports Daily Newsletter

    We’re approaching the point of the World Cup where things start to move fast.

    By Sunday, the knockout round begins. And tonight (at 10 p.m.), the U.S. men’s national team will compete in its final match in Group D against Turkey.

    We already know that the U.S. advanced to the round of 32 after its win over Australia, but we’re still awaiting its opponent for the July 1 showdown.

    As for tonight, it’s anyone’s guess whom head coach Mauricio Pochettino will start. Right now, Christian Pulisic looks to return to the lineup — and it might be in his best interest after being sidelined. Is it worth the risk in a match that matters very little?

    Let’s see how our soccer writers weigh this one.

    The U.S. men’s team has never won all three of their group-stage games in a single World Cup. While, there’s still a long way to go beyond Thursday’s group stage finale, this could be a moment to stop and survey just how far the team has come, writes Jonathan Tannenwald.

    — Isabella DiAmore, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

    If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

    ❓How far do you think Team USA will go in the World Cup? Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.

    The ‘perfect spot’

    A year ago, Labaron Philon Jr. delayed his draft night after originally declaring in 2025. The guard from Alabama then sat in the Barclays Center on Tuesday for longer than expected, as a projected lottery pick who slipped past that portion of the first round. However, landing with the Sixers was worth the wait.

    And the national media is divided Philon — some are calling him the steal of the first round while others expressed concern on how he’ll fit with the team.

    What we’re …

    👀 Watching: Highlight moments from Jason Kelce’s sixth annual Sea Isle fundraiser, which had plenty of surprise appearances.

    🤔 Wondering: What Zach and Julie Ertz said about the Eagles on ‘New Heights’ — that left the former tight end emotional.

    📖 Reading: Twin pitchers Austin and Blake Havertine left their mark at Radnor. Now, they’re heading to different colleges.

    🏀 Learning: About the 6-foot-10 freshman center who will play under Penn coach Fran McCaffery next season.

    Welcome newcomers

    Joseph Woll (right) and Simon Benoît are now going to be teammates in orange and black.Adrian Wyld

    Joseph Woll and Simon Benoît met with the media on Zoom Wednesday and expressed excitement about being part of the organization. The two newest Flyers were traded from the Leafs for goalie Sam Ersson, defenseman Emil Andrae, and a third-round 2026 draft pick on June 16.

    Benoît played with Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale for several seasons with the Anaheim Ducks. He’s expected to bring a physical defensive presence, while Woll is already forming a relationship with his new goalie partner, Dan Vladař.

    And to get you ready for Friday’s NHL draft, here’s three defensemen who keep getting mentioned as an option for the Flyers at No. 21.

    Schwarber being ‘cautious’

    Kyle Schwarber missed a second straight game on Wednesday with tightness in his lower back.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

    Kyle Schwarber was out of the Phillies lineup for the second consecutive game with tightness in his lower back. Don Mattingly said Schwarber was feeling better, but the interim manager wanted to be cautious and give him another day off.

    Schwarber, though, helped start the Phillies’ rally on Wednesday when he entered the game in the ninth inning, drew a 10 pitch walk with two outs, and made way for Derek Hill’s go-ahead two-run homer for a 5-4 win over the Nationals.

    David Murphy’s take

    New Sixers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey says first-round pick Labaron Philon Jr., “fell into our lap.”Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

    Mike Gansey aced his first test as Sixers president on Tuesday night. He took the player he graded as the best talent. Of course, the real test is whether he’s right.

    But, however Labaron Philon Jr. turns out, the Sixers did what a team in their position should be doing: Using the opportunity to draft a player they think will someday belong in a championship caliber rotation, writes columnist David Murphy.

    Join us!

    Jackie Spiegel answers your questions about the Flyers during our Reddit AMA at noon on Thursday.Vaughn Johnson

    After making the second round of the playoffs, how will the Flyers approach the NHL draft?

    The Inquirer’s Jackie Spiegel will provide answers on that and more in an AMA tomorrow in the r/Flyers Subreddit!

    What you’re saying about the Sixers’ pick

    Alabama guard Labaron Philon Jr.is the newest member of the Sixers.Vasha Hunt

    We asked: Are you happy with the Sixers’ first-round pick? Why or why not? Among your responses:

    Another Guard? We are well stacked with Maxey and VJ, which is why the Sixers shipped Jared McCain out to OKC (or was it a salary dump). If he is indeed a shooter, great! If not, the Sixers could have used a “Big” given the ongoing uncertainty around Embiid. — Bob C.

    Thought they had 3 guards, but traded one to Oklahoma City. Do they have a clue?? — Bill M.

    Just surprised that they went for a guard. I thought they would go for a big man to support our two guys who struggle every season with injuries etc. — Everett S.

    Makes no matter if they would have drafted the second coming of Michael Jordon. Until they move Joel to his new home, their chances of winning any championship are nil. He’s a great part time player and that’s it! Not knowing if he’s playing in each and every game until he shows up in the locker room is just plain wrong. — Ronald R.

    We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from David Murphy, Jonathan Tannenwald, Owen Hewitt, Kerith Gabriel, Rob Tornoe, Jackie Spiegel, Lochlahn March, Gina Mizell, Ariel Simpson, Joseph Santoliquito, Conor Smith, Mia Messina, and Ethan Kopelman.

    By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

    As always, thanks for reading. Have yourself a terrific Thursday, I’ll be back in your inbox tomorrow to wrap up the week. — Bella

  • These Philadelphians planned the perfect World Cup weekends for their families. Then their tickets never came.

    These Philadelphians planned the perfect World Cup weekends for their families. Then their tickets never came.

    Georgette Luna planned her Father’s Day weekend down to a T, splurging $3,000 on three tickets to the Friday World Cup match in Philadelphia. The Fishtown resident, her husband, and her father — who traveled from New York — would go to Reading Terminal Market, she thought, barhop to mingle with fans before the game, and then head to the stadium early to tailgate before seeing Brazil take on Haiti.

    She had purchased the tickets on the third-party ticket resale platform StubHub last fall, but the seller she bought the tickets from never transferred them. She called StubHub frequently in the months, weeks, and finally days leading up to the match, wondering when the transfer would go through.

    Every time, a StubHub representative said her “tickets would transfer to her on the day of the game,” Luna said. But by Friday, the group — who could not wait to see Brazil play, since their favored Chileans did not qualify for the World Cup — never made it into the stadium.

    “We’re standing outside the stadium and obviously everybody is in full celebration, and here we are, supposed to be living this World Cup moment together for the first time, and there’s just this feeling of disappointment,” Luna said.

    As the World Cup takes over the country, people across U.S. host cities have shared the same story: Fans in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, New Jersey, Seattle, and, of course, Philadelphia arrived at stadiums hoping their tickets would be transferred to no avail, with most facing issues with StubHub. Other reports indicate fans are having similar issues on SeatGeek.

    StubHub, for one, blames FIFA’s tech infrastructure and the rollout of a new mobile phone app weeks before the tournament for why tickets have not been transferring on time. FIFA has urged fans not to buy tickets on third-party platforms, saying it “may result in issues, including the inability to cancel or accept transfers,” as well as a higher risk of fake or invalid tickets.

    This confusion is in addition to the long wait times, glitches, and extra hurdles placed on ticket buyers for original, face-value tickets from FIFA. FIFA’s ticketing practices are under investigation by the New York and New Jersey attorneys general.

    But fans who lost out on a generational moment are more interested in how platforms like StubHub plan to resolve these issues.

    Stephanie Fred of Bristol and her 9-year-old son, Levi, are heartbroken after their tickets to the Monday France vs. Iraq game never materialized, even as they stood outside the stadium. To make matters worse, Levi, a soccer player himself, had been trying to see his favorite player, French superstar Kylian Mbappé.

    Mbappé scored two goals, tying for the second-most goals scored by a player in men’s World Cup history. Fred’s son could hear the cheers from outside the stadium. He broke down into tears that did not stop even later that night, she said.

    During Philadelphia’s first World Cup game, between Ecuador and Ivory Coast, Jayden Quezada, 17, and his parents came to Philadelphia from Bensalem, hoping for an Ecuadorian victory. But they were turned away. The night before the game, the trio had spent $4,350 to get three tickets through the TickPick app after seeing a social media advertisement. By the time they arrived at the stadium, the tickets still had not been transferred to their FIFA app.

    “They have been the biggest fans since before I was born, and they don’t get to go to Ecuador often because of work,” Quezada said. He said they would try to get a refund, but missing the game was “really sad because we were looking forward to feeling the Ecuadorian pride.”

    For that game, a line of more than 50 fans waited for help with their failed tickets. Monica Rojas, 22, and her friend Jose Avil, both Spanish speakers, were confused about what to do after the ticket office explained the problem with their ticket in English. The pair had driven two hours from New York, after having bought tickets on StubHub for $2,000, including parking. After a FIFA volunteer interpreter intervened, the pair found out their tickets had been refunded.

    Brazilian fans cheers before a FIFA World Cup Group C soccer match between Brazil and Haiti at Lincoln Financial Field on Friday, June 19, 2026, in Philadelphia.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    StubHub blames FIFA

    StubHub is aware that fans are not receiving the tickets that they bought, and a company representative blamed FIFA.

    “The issues fans have experienced at this World Cup are largely driven by performance problems with the event organizer’s own ticketing infrastructure, which has created transfer failures across all resale platforms,” a StubHub spokesperson said.

    StubHub said the launch of a new FIFA app right before the World Cup began has led to delays, failed transfers, and access issues that have affected all resale platforms, not just StubHub.

    The ticket reseller also said sellers are required to fulfill their ticket orders or they face financial penalties and bans from the platform.

    Bad actors on resale platforms can engage in a practice called “speculative ticketing,” where buyers will list a ticket that they do not yet own on StubHub and other platforms, in the hope that they will find a cheaper ticket later and recover profit, said Scott Friedman, owner of the Ticket Talk Network podcast and an industry veteran who is helping to sue StubHub on behalf of 160 buyers and sellers who said company practices harmed them.

    StubHub does offer a “FanProtect Guarantee‚” a promise the company will find replacement tickets or refund the order when a ticket does not transfer. But the policy repeatedly states that resolving these issues falls under StubHub’s “sole discretion.”

    StubHub ticket protection measures can look like replacement tickets, a full refund, or a voucher worth 120% of the value of the tickets. During the World Cup, the company said, it is prioritizing replacement tickets so fans can get to a match.

    France forward Kylian Mbappé sprints for a pass against Iraq during the first half of a FIFA World Cup Group I soccer match Monday, June 22, 2026, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    Refunds can’t replace a once-in-a-lifetime moment

    All of this leads to confusion, and eventually disappointment, when the tickets never show, Luna said. As she and her family, hanging their heads low, took a depressing train ride home from the stadium last week, Luna continued to try to get answers.

    Finally, on Monday, she said, she received word StubHub would refund her June 19 match tickets and gift her similar tickets to the July 4 match in Philadelphia, which she said she would accept. But, later, Luna was told she would only receive replacement tickets.

    “Is this a wonderful outcome? For sure, but my father and I would have been happy with the perfect weekend that we had planned for ourselves as it was,” Luna said. “While they’re doing right by us, there are so many people who aren’t getting this result.”

    Fred’s family got word Tuesday that StubHub would provide them with tickets to France vs. Norway in Boston on Friday. Fred does not mind the drive as long as Levi can achieve his dream of seeing Mbappé play.

    “We don’t get this type of opportunity from where we come from,” Fred said. “Being able to provide a World Cup experience for our kids just means the world to us, and having that be ripped away from us, it was just so hard to process.”

  • Daryl Morey planned on the decline of Paul George and Joel Embiid with the Sixers as the Heat land Giannis

    Daryl Morey planned on the decline of Paul George and Joel Embiid with the Sixers as the Heat land Giannis

    At an early summer lunch just before free agency began two years ago, Daryl Morey mapped out the 76ers’ dream scenario.

    If the Sixers could somehow land free agent Paul George, a future Hall of Famer who then was 34, Morey told a trio of esteemed scribes that the Sixers would open a two-year window in which they could contend for the Eastern Conference title, if not an NBA championship. The East looked relatively toothless.

    To his credit, or perhaps not, the team’s former president of basketball operations was being realistic. George had just made his ninth All-Star team and played in 74 games, but he’d also missed about 35 games on average in the previous four seasons.

    Why Mike Gansey’s sound process in selecting Labaron Philon Jr. bodes well for Sixers’ future

    Further, Morey had modest expectations for Joel Embiid. Yes, Embiid had just made his seventh straight All-Star team; yes, he was only 30; and yes, he was one season removed from winning his MVP award. But Embiid underwent a second surgery on his left knee a few months before and was significantly hobbled when he returned. Nevertheless, doctors told Morey that, if Embiid was diligent with his conditioning and his rehab, with proper load management, he could resume his NBA career without significant regression.

    Doctors aside, Morey was no fool. He told the writers that if he got two more really good years from Embiid, that would be a good enough return on investment. Overpaying on the back ends of contracts are necessary evils in the sports industry.

    That’s why Morey signed them both to max contracts — George, a delightful surprise in July; Embiid, a necessary evil in September.

    The Sixers still owe Paul George and Joel Embiid almost $300 million.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    Disaster struck.

    Embiid played in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, but, six weeks later, he reported to camp out of shape and so far behind in his rehab that he was unable to start the season. He needed further surgery in the spring of 2025. By the end of last season he’d finally recovered from the knee problem, but he suffered three more injuries: oblique, right ankle, and right hip. He has played in just 64 games in the last two seasons, including playoffs.

    Predictably, George endured a slew of injuries in his first season as a Sixer, then, in an effort to recover from injury, he was suspended 25 games last season for violating the NBA’s antidrug program. He has played a total of 89 games as a Sixer, including the playoffs.

    Which brings us to Monday.

    Blockbuster

    In perhaps the biggest transaction since LeBron James took his talents to South Beach 16 years ago, Giannis Antetokounmpo did the same.

    The Heat and Bucks on Monday reportedly authored a two-team, blockbuster trade. Miami saw blood in the water, jettisoned its ballast, and attacked. Pat Riley, now 81, mortgaged a Heat future in which he likely will play a diminishing a role to support the chances of second-tier star Bam Adebayo.

    Brilliant.

    There have been other big deals, such as the idiocy in Dallas of trading Luka Dončić in 2025 to the Lakers, but Giannis is a bigger deal. He has two MVPs, an NBA championship, and an acceptable BMI. Luka has none of those.

    With the Greek Freak on board, the East is ripe for Miami, and Riley, the Heat president for the past 31 seasons, knows it. After all, he orchestrated the last trade with this sort of effect, when he brought Shaquille O’Neal to Miami in 2004, then won a title with him in 2006. On Monday, Riley’s team immediately became a contender again in a vulnerable Eastern Conference.

    The principals

    Celtics? The patchwork Sixers upset the mighty Celtics in the first round of the playoffs.

    Knicks? The hodgepodge overachievers, the most fun team to watch since Larry Brown pushed the Pistons to the 2004 title, ran off 11 consecutive wins in the conference playoffs to reach the NBA Finals, in which they wore down an inexperienced team and its inexperienced coach.

    The Cavs? They collapsed due to the cold left hand of James Harden, who, to no one’s surprise, shot just 38.9% in the conference final against the Knicks.

    The Pistons? Two words: Tobias Harris.

    Pat Riley, 81, orchestrated the trade of another superstar to Miami in landing Giannis Antetokounmpo in a reported trade with the Bucks.Marta Lavandier

    The Pacers? Two words: Tyrese Haliburton. He pushed the Pacers to the NBA Finals in 2025 but blew out his Achilles in Game 7. With all due respect to Jalen Brunson, if Haliburton returns at 100%, then he’s the best player in the East. How good is he? The Pacers’ 19 wins were second-worst last season, but with Haliburton returning, their DraftKings odds to win the East are 12-1.

    Upon news of the trade, the Heat’s odds to win the conference on DraftKings improved from 12-1 to 6-1. That’s behind the Celtics, at 2.25-1, and the Knicks, who are at 3-1.

    The Sixers? They’re still seventh, at 19-1, behind the Cavs, who are 13-1, after Tuesday night’s draft. The Sixers used their 22nd overall pick on Labaron Philon Jr., a 6-foot-4 sophomore sniper out of Alabama whom they hope will compensate for Morey’s deadline trade of popular second-year shooter Jared McCain, who flourished in Oklahoma City.

    Inside Labaron Philon Jr.’s draft night and unexpected fall to the ‘perfect spot’ with the Sixers

    Philon’s arrival did not move the DraftKings needle.

    Don’t expect those odds to get any better July 6, when free-agent deals and proposed trades like the Giannis deal can be ratified.

    All the Sixers will be able to do is watch.

    They’re still saddled with the crippling contract of Embiid, now 32 going on 52 and who is owed almost $188 million over the next three seasons.

    They’re still saddled with the last two years and almost $111 million owed George, who is 36. A second positive drug test would cost him 55 games. Maybe he needs them.

    He averaged just 14.5 points and shot 40.7% from the field when the Knicks swept the Sixers out of the second round — a sweep that, two days, later, cost Morey his job as president.

    These twin albatrosses will haunt the Sixers for at least two more years. This, remember, is by design.