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  • Leo Carlsson offer sheet: Answering the biggest questions about the Flyers’ strategic move

    Leo Carlsson offer sheet: Answering the biggest questions about the Flyers’ strategic move

    Picture it.

    It’s a little past 3 p.m. on the Friday before the Fourth of July. The Flyers’ development camp had wrapped up a few hours ago, and all that seemed to be on the agenda were new contracts for their four restricted free agents, including Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale.

    Then the notifications went off. The text messages. The emails.

    Six words sent the hockey world afire: “We have tendered an offer sheet.”

    Here’s everything you need to know about the Flyers’ efforts to obtain Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson.

    Maksim Sokolovskii ‘mauls’ teammates, a former Flyer’s son impresses, and more from development camp

    What is the offer sheet the Flyers tendered to Carlsson?

    An offer sheet is tendered to a player on another team who is a restricted free agent and who was provided a qualifying offer. In this case, the Ducks, who own Carlsson’s rights, had until July 1, the start of free agency, to negotiate an exclusive contract without worry of an offer sheet.

    The Flyers’ offer is a five-year contract worth an average annual value of $18 million. According to a league source, it is front-loaded with a heavy signing bonus — and signing bonuses every ensuing year of the deal. Carlsson would receive the league minimum in base salary every year.

    According to PuckPedia, the final year has a no-movement clause.

    Anaheim Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek must consider the team’s next move on Leo Carlsson. Ashley Landis

    The announcement means that Carlsson, 21, has accepted the offer. It would make him the highest-paid player in AAV in the NHL and would walk him directly to unrestricted free agency.

    It all comes just two days after Flyers general manager Danny Brière made some interesting comments on the first day of free agency, like stating that if the organization has an opportunity to make the roster better, “we’ll jump on it,” and “There’s a chance, and a good chance, that we take a little bit of a step back this year.”

    Was that a tell with the first part and a sleight of hand on the second as the Flyers try to get the first-line center they’ve been craving for years?

    What is the next step for the Ducks?

    According to the collective bargaining agreement, the Ducks have seven days to match the offer, which means they have until 3 p.m. Friday.

    If they match, the Ducks must meet the structure of the contract and pay Carlsson the signing bonuses — something Anaheim rarely doles out — along with taking on the $18 million salary cap hit.

    It could come down to the final day, and it should be noted that the Utah Mammoth are weighing a similar decision after the New Jersey Devils tendered an offer sheet to Barrett Hayton. That offer sheet is for one year, $4.775 million, and Utah must decide by Wednesday.

    The interesting part is that Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman reported on Thursday that he had heard “over the past few hours Anaheim guaranteed it will match any attempt on Leo Carlsson.” The clock is ticking.

    The two teams could still work out a side trade for Carlsson to preempt Anaheim’s decision to match, but if the Ducks match, they would be unable to trade him for one year.

    What compensation would the Ducks receive from the Flyers?

    If the Ducks do not match the offer sheet, they will receive four first-round picks in the next four drafts from the Flyers. The compensation is based on the amount of the offer, and because it is over $11,939,166.

    Since Philly has all its own picks moving forward — it is not permitted to use the first-rounder it is receiving from the Toronto Maple Leafs as compensation here — the Ducks would receive the Flyers’ first-round picks in 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030. Had the Flyers already traded one of their picks in the next four drafts, they would have been required to provide the 2031 first-rounder for the missing year.

    The Flyers are one of 28 teams that still have four picks in the next five years to tender an offer sheet. Having just made the postseason for the first time since 2020, the hope is that the four picks the Flyers would give to Anaheim would be in the 20s or worse, and not a lottery pick. The Flyers’ expectation is that it would not be a player as highly valued as Carlsson, who is a first-line center.

    How does the Carlsson offer sheet impact the Flyers and Ducks?

    If the Ducks match

    According to PuckPedia, the Flyers would have a smidge over $29.5 million in cap space; however, that number includes center Jett Luchanko‘s contract ($941,667), and Brière told The Inquirer in early June that the expectation is he will be in Lehigh Valley of the American Hockey League. They do have to re-sign restricted free agents Drysdale, Zegras, Nikita Grebenkin, and Hunter McDonald, who is expected to be in the minors.

    The Ducks would then be the ones saddled with an $18 million AAV. The problem? As of Monday night, they have just under $10 million in cap space after signing Pavel Mintyukov to a five-year deal with an AAV of $7.2 million. They still have to sign restricted free agent forward and ex-Flyers draft pick Cutter Gauthier, who scored 41 goals this past season, and defenseman Tyson Hinds. Anaheim could try to move out some players like Chris Kreider, Frank Vatrano, and Alex Killorn; however, they all have modified no-trade clauses, so trade partners are limited. Troy Terry could also be placed on long-term injured reserve, but that would impact the Ducks’ salary cap at the deadline and next season.

    Fitting Leo Carlsson’s salary into the roster could mean trade talks for Rasmus Ristolainen escalate. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    If the Ducks do not match

    The Flyers would be the ones saddled with an $18 million AAV and would have a little over $12.5 million in cap space — with Luchanko being sent down — to sign Zegras and Drysdale to NHL contracts. Grebenkin could land in the minors to start, along with McDonald, so those contracts would not impact the cap space. Zegras and Drysdale’s new deals are expected to combine for in the neighborhood of $15 million, so if the Flyers do land Carlsson, they would likely have to move out a contract or two. Does Rasmus Ristolainen finally get moved, or does a forward get moved to help stabilize things up front?

    The Ducks would probably still have to move out a contract to sign Gauthier, who will likely ask for more than $10 million.

    What would Carlsson bring to the Flyers?

    Although some would argue the amount is an overpayment, Carlsson is a 6-foot-3, 208-pound dynamic center coming off a breakout season in which he had 29 goals and 67 points in 70 games. He missed time after sustaining a Morel-Lavallée lesion in his left thigh in mid-January but returned after the Olympic break and scored 11 goals and 23 points in 26 games. According to Physiopedia, a Morel-Lavallée lesion is “due to shearing forces which separate the skin and subcutaneous tissue from the deep fascia.”

    The 21-year-old ex-teammate of Zegras and Drysdale has size, speed, playmaking ability, and a lethal shot. Selected second overall in the 2023 NHL draft, Carlsson had four goals and 11 points in 12 playoff games last season, his first postseason experience. Across 201 career games, he has 141 points (61 goals and 80 assists) with a 14.7 shooting percentage, and he should be able to help the Flyers’ dismal power play after scoring four goals and 18 points last season with the man advantage. He would have tied Matvei Michkov for second in power-play goals, and the 18 points would have been the second-most on the Flyers behind Zegras.

    Carlsson is a No. 1 center with tremendous upside given his young age. The Flyers have needed a top-line pivot since trading Claude Giroux, who, despite some rumblings of a reunion, appears to be staying in Ottawa with the Senators. Carlsson would fit in quite nicely with right winger Porter Martone on the top line, and then, more than likely, speedster Owen Tippett on the left.

    Did Carlsson’s offer sheet impact Zegras’ and Drysdale’s negotiations?

    The long and short of it all is … kinda.

    Obviously, Zegras and Drysdale have not signed their new contracts yet, and it feels like everything is on hold until the decision about Carlsson is made. As mentioned, they are expected to combine for a figure in the neighborhood of $15 million, and there is still the question of whether Zegras will be paid like a winger or a center; typically, centers get paid more.

    Both players filed for salary arbitration on Sunday, which means they cannot be tendered an offer sheet and “stolen” away from the Flyers.

    Hearings are scheduled to run from July 20 to Aug. 1, and until they begin, the team and player can still negotiate a deal. If it does go to the arbitrator, they can award only a one- or two-year contract. Because it was a player’s choice, the Flyers will select the term length, and if Philly selects a two-year contract, the player will walk to unrestricted free agency. If it is for one year, the player would be a restricted free agent next summer.

    Could Adam Fantilli be a Plan B for the Flyers?Sue Ogrocki

    What is Plan B if the Ducks match?

    Finding a true No. 1 center has long been the Flyers’ goal, so what happens if they do not get Carlsson? According to Aaron Portzline of The Athletic, there have been rumblings that the Flyers could pivot to Adam Fantilli of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

    Fantilli, 21, is a restricted free agent center, so they could try either another offer sheet or a trade. The Canadian center just registered career highs in assists (35), points (59), power-play goals (four), power-play points (13), average time on ice (18 minutes, 54 seconds), and face-off winning percentage (49.8%). Across his 213 career games, Fantilli has 140 points (67 goals, 73 assists).

  • House of the week: A three-story brick home in Graduate Hospital for $675,000

    House of the week: A three-story brick home in Graduate Hospital for $675,000

    When they added them up, Robin and Andy Glass counted 11 children under age 4 on the block where, in 2018, they were considering a three-story rowhouse on a quiet street.

    The couple had been renting in Washington Square West when they bought the three-bedroom, 2½-bathroom house that summer.

    And for their two boys, now aged 8 and 6, they liked being in the Edwin M. Stanton School catchment area.

    Kitchen and dining area. There are hardwood floors throughout the house.Alcove Media

    It was also convenient to Robin’s job in admissions at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and Andy’s job in nonprofit lending at Wells Fargo.

    “We’re staying in the neighborhood,” Robin said, moving four blocks away to a larger house, also in the Stanton catchment.

    There are hardwood floors throughout the 2,070-square-foot house.

    Living roomAlcove Media

    The first floor has a living room, dining room, and kitchen, with access to the back patio.

    The kitchen area has a pantry, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, a tiled backsplash, and a center island with seating. The view out the window over the kitchen sink is the backyard with its white privacy fence.

    The second floor has two bedrooms, a hallway linen closet, and a full bathroom. One of the bedrooms has an alcove suitable for a home office and a shared hallway bathroom with a shower/tub combination, custom tile, and a vanity.

    Primary bedroom is on the third floor, with direct access to the rooftop deck.Alcove Media

    The third floor has the primary suite with direct access to the roof deck. The bathroom has a walk-in closet, a walk-in tiled shower, an extra linen closet, and a jetted soaking tub.

    The fully finished basement with a half bathroom and extra living space could be converted to a fourth bedroom, fitness center, media room, or office. It contains a Murphy bed.

    Backyard with white privacy fence.Alcove Media

    The HVAC system was replaced about two years ago.

    The house is listed by Jenn Geddes of KW Empower for $675,000.

  • NATO unveils billions in arms deals to prove its firepower as Trump arrives in Ankara

    NATO unveils billions in arms deals to prove its firepower as Trump arrives in Ankara

    ANKARA, Turkey — President Donald Trump arrived in Ankara Tuesday afternoon for the NATO summit, as the transatlantic military alliance was announcing billions in arms deals in an attempt to appease the mercurial U.S. leader.

    Trump was expected to head first to the presidential compound of Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, a close ally who is hosting this year’s gathering.

    Just before Air Force One touched down in Ankara, NATO showcased a series of military projects worth billions of dollars — an investment that the alliance’s secretary-general, Mark Rutte, called “money well spent.” An energized Rutte was speaking to government ministers and defense industry officials at a forum billed as NATO’s “big reveal,” to the thrum of techno music and a slick video display.

    NATO as an organization does not own any weapons — these are the property of the 32 member countries — but it does have a fleet of 14 AWACS early warning radar surveillance planes that are about 50 years old, along with some newer surveillance drones.

    A deal to replace the aging planes was announced Tuesday. Swedish manufacturer Saab will be supplying up to 10 new GlobalEye surveillance aircraft for a 10-nation consortium, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson announced.

    “It’s a moment of great pride,” he said, noting that the twin-engine aircraft would be “made within the alliance for all the alliance.”

    Some of the projects will be paid for with funds from a system of cheap loans for defense purposes set up by the European Union, comprising up to $170 billion raised on capital markets.

    “We need to ensure that we are translating our economic might into military capabilities, putting the cash to work from defense plans to drones, from money to missiles and interceptors,” Rutte said.

    Trump has branded NATO a “paper tiger” that would cease to function without American arms and leadership. At the forum on Tuesday, Michael Duffy, a U.S. undersecretary of defense, said “the reality is that we need production increases across the board.”

    “We will be looking to increase our exports to those who are looking to buy our equipment, and we’ll also be looking to partner with the expansion of production capacity here in Europe,” he said.

    Defense sales announced

    Representatives from 15 nations shook hands and patted shoulders on a vast podium under the NATO logo as they announced a multinational effort to buy air-to-air refueling and transport planes from Airbus.

    Then Rutte announced a four-country effort to purchase as many as five new Triton surveillance drones to add to NATO’s small fleet.

    “It is genuinely made in NATO, and creating jobs on both sides of the Atlantic,” he said.

    Rutte told reporters on the eve of the military alliance’s two-day summit in Turkey that “we will announce tens of billions in new contracts that will provide the crucial kit we need to deter and defend.”

    However, at Tuesday’s event, no dollar figures were given and the display included some projects long since agreed.

    The defense industry splash comes a few weeks after Rutte tried to ease U.S. concerns about military spending at NATO with a new pitch using a chart labeled “The Trump Trillion” — showing $1.2 trillion in spending by European allies and Canada since 2017.

    Far from being impressed, Trump appeared unmoved, saying he was still disappointed at some NATO allies’ refusal to join the Iran war, which he had launched alongside Israel without consulting them.

    “We don’t need their money — we don’t need anything,” Trump said. “I just want loyalty.”

    Debate over jet sales to Turkey

    The summit is being held in President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s sprawling palace compound in Ankara, and Trump has suggested he would come bearing gifts for the Turkish leader.

    Speaking Monday on the morning show “Fox & Friends,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged the U.S. not to sell F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, saying that Erdogan “calls openly for the annihilation of Israel.”

    Turkey and Israel have acrimonious relations. Erdogan frequently accuses Israel of committing genocide in its war in Gaza, triggered by the deadly Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on southern Israel.

    Turkey was barred from the F-35 program in 2019 after it purchased Russian-made S-400 missile defense systems. However, Trump, who has warm relations with Erdogan, has hinted ahead of his planned visit to Ankara that the sales could soon resume.

    Netanyahu said selling Turkey F-35s would “upset the power balance in the Middle East, which is ultimately guaranteed by Israeli air superiority and also, I think, by America’s posture in the Middle East.”

    Israel’s Air Force depends on hundreds of U.S. fighter jets, including F-35s, F-16s and F-15s.

    Turkey beefed up security and banned protests in Ankara during the summit, but a small group of demonstrators gathered on Tuesday in the capital. They were quickly surrounded by police, and a legal association said 22 students affiliated with the leftist Turkish Workers Party and three lawyers had been detained.

    Seeking a stronger Europe for a stronger NATO

    The focus of the summit is a stronger Europe for a stronger NATO. The Trump administration has warned the allies that they must handle Europe’s security alone as the United States focuses on China and the Indo-Pacific region.

    The Pentagon wants a reboot and is promoting what it calls “NATO 3.0,” a vision of the alliance in which Europe assumes greater responsibility for its own defense, freeing the U.S. to concentrate on other priorities.

    But hiking defense spending means increasing taxes or diverting resources from other priorities. U.K. Defense Secretary John Healey unexpectedly quit last month, saying the British government was not willing to spend at a time of rising threats.

    Concern is mounting among some northern and central eastern countries that Russia might be preparing a hybrid attack — a combination of conventional warfare with tactics like cyberattacks — on the continent as Russian President Vladimir Putin struggles to secure victory in Ukraine.

    Keir Starmer’s office said the British leader will be “focused on building a stronger and more European NATO” on what is likely to be his last foreign trip as prime minister.

    Starmer, who announced his resignation June 22, has faced criticism from military leaders, opposition politicians and some in his center-left party for the slow rate of increase in U.K. military spending.

    His government has committed to reach the NATO budget target of spending 3.5% of gross domestic product on defense by 2035 but does not have a concrete plan to get there. Its current spending plan will see that spending hit 2.7% of GDP by 2029.

  • US support for Israel slips as Democrats grow more critical, AP-NORC poll finds

    NEW YORK — After decades of reliable bipartisan backing for Israel, a new AP-NORC poll reveals a dramatic erosion of support for the longtime U.S. ally, with rising opposition from Democrats and signs of division among Republicans.

    The survey by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research arrives at a moment when a once-consensus foreign policy issue is increasingly polarizing Americans along partisan and generational lines, driven by criticism for Israel’s conduct nearly three years after the outbreak of its latest war with Hamas in Gaza.

    About one-third of U.S. adults — including roughly half of Democrats — believe that Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians during the war in Gaza, an accusation that’s been leveled by some human rights organizations and vehemently denied by Israel and the U.S. government. About 2 in 10 Americans say Israel has not and the rest, about half, don’t know enough to say.

    A similar share, 30%, of Jewish adults say Israel has committed genocide, although about half, 49%, say it has not.

    Harold Kalmus, a 69-year-old Democrat from Arden, Delaware who describes himself as Jewish by birth, said he remembers being proud of Israel when he was younger. Not anymore.

    “I realize that there is a threat from Hamas. And I realize they’re in a very difficult situation, but what they have done is just an unspeakable horror,” he said of Israel’s military action against the Palestinians. “They’re trying to wipe out a civilization as far as I’m concerned.”

    The findings show sharply eroded views of Israel in the U.S., nearly three years after Hamas’ attack on Oct. 7, 2023, which left 1,200 people dead in Israel, mainly civilians, while 251 hostages were taken back to Gaza. More than 73,000 Palestinians have died in Gaza according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, which doesn’t distinguish between civilian and militant deaths, including more than 1,000 killed since the beginning of the latest ceasefire. American sympathies had been shifting toward the Palestinians and away from the Israelis since around 2020, according to other polling, but has nose-dived since the latest war in Gaza began.

    Many Americans, about 4 in 10, don’t know enough to say whether Israel’s immediate military response to Hamas’ attack or its ongoing military operations were justified. Among those who did have an opinion in each case, most say the initial retaliation was justified — but a majority think its current actions are not.

    About three-quarters of Jewish adults said Israel’s initial response was justified, but only about 4 in 10 believe that about its ongoing operations.

    Only about one-third of U.S. adults view Israel as an “extremely” or “very” important issue to them personally. But it’s been a searing topic in American politics as the relationship between the two countries remains tense, just four months before high-stakes midterm elections determine the balance of power in Congress for President Donald Trump’s final two years in office. Vice President JD Vance recently criticized Israeli leaders who have expressed frustration with Trump, while vocal critics of Israel recently defeated establishment-backed Democrats in New York and Colorado primaries.

    Democrats’ support for Israel drops

    The AP-NORC poll reveals a decisive shift within the Democratic Party.

    About 58% of Democrats now say the U.S. is “too supportive” of the Israelis, up from 45% in an AP-NORC poll from January 2024 when former President Joe Biden was in office. That includes 51% of Jewish Democrats in the new poll.

    Roughly 6 in 10 Democrats, 62%, say the U.S. is “not supportive enough” of the Palestinians, up from 49% in 2024. Younger Democrats — those 45 and younger — are still more likely than older ones to say that the United States is “not supportive enough” of the Palestinians, but older Democrats are catching up to their younger counterparts. About 57% of older Democrats now say the U.S. should do more for the Palestinians, up from 39% two years ago.

    Joy Jennik, a 73-year-old Democrat from Brookfield, Wisconsin, said she didn’t have strong opinions about the U.S. relationship with Israel until after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack.

    Now, she believes Israel is guilty of genocide.

    “The Gaza Strip, there’s not a lot left of it. Those poor people are barely living,” said Jennik, a retired home economics teacher.

    GOP stays behind Israel, but less so among young Republicans

    Just a sliver of Republicans, 13%, describe Israel’s actions as genocide, although there is an apparent age gap. About 2 in 10 Republicans under 45 say Israel has committed genocide, while about 1 in 10 Republicans ages 45 and older say the same.

    Overall, 60% of Republicans describe the U.S. support for Israel as “about right.” Only about 2 in 10 Republicans say that the United States is “too supportive” of the Israelis, although Republicans under 45 are more likely to say this.

    The share of Republicans overall who say the U.S. is “too supportive” of Israel has not changed meaningfully since 2024, but the share who say the U.S. is “not supportive enough” has shrunk from 39% to 15%.

    Mike Cardona, a 70-year-old Republican from suburban Phoenix, said he’s pleased with the level of support that the U.S. is giving Israel and rejects the notion that Israel has committed genocide.

    “I wish they’d gone in harder and better,” Cardona, a retired industrial supply salesperson said of Israel’s military action in Gaza. “Unfortunately, some innocents will be hurt, but Hamas and Hezbollah never took that into consideration when they were killing children and women in Israel.”

    Netanyahu is broadly unpopular, while views of Mamdani are split

    In interviews, several respondents emphasized that their criticism of Israel was focused on its leaders, especially Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is perceived as closely aligned with Trump after repeated clashes with Democratic presidents.

    Overall, only 20% of U.S. adults have a favorable view of the Israeli prime minister, while about twice as many, 38%, have an unfavorable view. About 41% don’t know enough to have an opinion.

    Netanyahu is particularly unpopular among Jewish adults: about 6 in 10 view him unfavorably, while about one-third see him positively.

    Younger adults, regardless of party, are more likely than older adults to say they don’t have an opinion about Netanyahu. But while older Republicans see Netanyahu more positively than negatively, younger Republicans’ views tilt unfavorably.

    New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has gained prominence as an outspoken critic of Israel, and 27% of U.S. adults have a favorable opinion of the 34-year-old democratic socialist. Another 28% of U.S. adults have an unfavorable opinion, while 44% don’t know enough to say.

    Jewish adults, who overwhelmingly identify as Democrats, have a more positive view of Mamdani than of Netanyahu, with 44% viewing the New York City mayor positively, 39% viewing him negatively, and 17% saying they don’t know enough to say.

    About half of Democrats overall have a favorable impression of Mamdani and only about 1 in 10 have an unfavorable view of him, while the rest, about 39%, don’t have an opinion.

    Meanwhile, the U.S.-Israel relationship is not top of mind for many Americans as they think about the upcoming midterm elections.

    For people like Michael Ripka, a 34-year-old stage hand from Casper, Wyoming who typically votes Republican, the economy is by far the most important thing on his mind.

    “Everything is mad expensive,” he said. The conflicts in the Middle East, he added, is “100% a very big distraction.”

  • Explosions rock Damascus, wounding 18, as French President Macron visits Syria

    Explosions rock Damascus, wounding 18, as French President Macron visits Syria

    DAMASCUS, Syria — Explosions rocked Damascus on Tuesday as France’s president met with his Syrian counterpart in a landmark visit, wounding at least 18 people, Syria’s Interior Ministry said.

    Emmanuel Macron was inside the presidential palace when the explosions happened, and Macron’s office said he was safe and that the meeting with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa continued.

    “Nothing can smother the aspiration of Syrian women and men to live in a fully sovereign, safe, pluralistic, and united Syria,” Macron said in a post on X hours after the deadly explosions. “This morning I met Syria in all its diversity. I saw dignity, courage and determination.”

    A large plume of smoke could be seen from the site of the explosion near the Four Seasons Hotel, where Syrian media reported Macron was staying. Footage widely circulated on social media showed a van and a motorcycle on fire and blood stains on the street in the area on a busy street near the headquarters of the Tourism Ministry and the Damascus National Museum.

    The explosions represent a challenge to al-Sharaa, who came to power after leading an insurgency that ousted Bashar Assad in 2024 and ending the country’s 14-year uprising turned-civil war. Assad’s dynasty ruled Syria with an iron fist for half a century.

    Al-Sharaa has since pushed to assert full control over and bring stability to war-torn Syria, appeal to minorities skeptical of his Islamist-led rule, and win the support of Western governments who were concerned about his past leadership of the formerly al-Qaeda-linked Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group. His government has promised political and economic reform after decades of autocratic rule.

    Macron is the first major Western leader to visit Syria since al-Sharaa came to power and his visit comes before he is set to head to Ankara, Turkey later Tuesday for a NATO summit. Macron also plans to hold a joint news conference with his Syrian counterpart. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss Macron’s whereabouts and security.

    The French head of state played a major role in pushing Europe and the United States to drop most sanctions on Syria. He arrived in the country Monday night with an economic delegation, and is scheduled to sign memorandums of understanding with his counterpart as the battered country tries to lure investors to help it rebuild after 14 years of war.

    The Interior Ministry in a statement reported by Syrian state media said that the two blasts in the heart of the capital were caused by explosive devices, one placed in a garbage bin and the other in a parked car. It added that four of the wounded were police officers, and no deaths were immediately reported.

    An investigation is currently taking place at the scene of the attack. No group immediately claimed responsibility.

    Macron arrived in the country Monday night with an economic delegation, and is scheduled to sign memorandums of understanding with his counterpart as the battered country tries to lure investors to help it rebuild after the war.

    The incident comes days after an explosive device was detonated in a cafe near the Justice Palace in Damascus, killing at least 10 people and wounding more than 20.

    While Syria’s new rulers have wrestled with violence involving different groups in the country as they work to assert control, the capital has largely been peaceful during the turbulent period.

    The conflict in Syria killed nearly half a million people and displaced millions. Syria’s infrastructure lies in ruins, and while other nations and businesses have made large investment pledges, the country still needs hundreds of billions of dollars to rebuild and lift millions out of poverty.

    Before arriving at the presidential palace, Macron met with members of Syrian civil society, though his office did not give details on who.

  • The Supreme Court’s conservative majority keeps choosing ideology over impartiality — and the rulings show it | Editorial

    The U.S. Supreme Court concluded another tumultuous term in which many rulings seemed driven more by politics than by the rule of law.

    While the high court rejected some of Donald Trump’s blatantly unconstitutional initiatives, the justices delivered lasting and transformative wins for the president and the Republican Party.

    In doing so, the court’s conservative majority continued to mar its reputation as independent arbiters of the rule of law, charged with upholding the Constitution and protecting individual rights and liberties.

    The court — which includes three Trump appointees — continued to overturn precedents, curtail voting rights, and expand presidential power.

    In one major case, the justices ruled the president can fire the leaders of independent government regulators for any reason or no reason at all. The decision overturned a 91-year precedent that had long protected the agency heads from political pressure.

    But then the conservative majority contradicted itself by blocking Trump’s effort to remove Fed governor Lisa D. Cook from the central bank.

    The takeaway here is: Don’t look for the conservative majority to provide legal logic or follow longstanding precedents. The justices move from originalism to textualism to intentionalism and pragmatism depending on the argument.

    America turns 250 with its soul in the balance | Editorial

    In another step backward, the conservative majority continued its more than a decade-long assault on voting rights, clearing the way for more gerrymandering and the elimination of majority-Black congressional districts.

    The court also expanded gun rights and paved the way for even more money to shape elections. On both scores, the public good is further compromised.

    Many of the conservative majority’s landmark rulings continue to contradict both public opinion and legal precedents, dating back to the 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, ending a woman’s federal right to legal abortion.

    Thankfully, the court drew some red lines on Trump’s abuse of power.

    The court rejected his illegal effort to impose tariffs, which was causing economic chaos around the globe.

    The court also rejected Trump’s effort to toss out mail-in ballots that arrive late. The court said the votes should be counted if the ballots were postmarked by Election Day.

    Pro and anti-Trump demonstrators rally outside the U.S. Supreme Court, before justices hear oral arguments on whether President Donald Trump can deny citizenship to children born to parents who are in the United States illegally or temporarily, on Capitol Hill in April.J. Scott Applewhite

    As expected, the court rejected Trump’s illegal effort to end birthright citizenship. But legal experts were surprised that the vote was not 9-0.

    Three of the more extreme justices — Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, and Neil Gorsuch — argued that citizenship is not constitutionally guaranteed, even though the 14th Amendment clearly states that “all persons born in the United States … are citizens.” Conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh offered an even more convoluted opinion that agreed with the majority, but not its reasoning.

    The closeness of the vote is sure to set the stage for future political battles, as the GOP will use the issue to animate its base by using anecdotal stories to argue that birth tourism is a national security threat when children born to tourists account for less than 1% of all U.S. births annually.

    Krasner isn’t perfect. The Pa. Supreme Court’s ruling on his exoneration push is worse. | Editorial

    The slapdash legal gymnastics by dissenting justices underscore how personal politics — and not impartiality — drives the decision-making by the conservatives on the court.

    The number of cases involving Trump highlighted just how much time the court has to spend on his attacks on long-standing norms, policies, and procedures that have guided the country.

    While the conservative majority on the court sometimes rules against Trump, they have largely cleared the way for him to do what he wants and placed him above the law.

    The greater danger of the misguided rulings, of course, is that they will live long after Trump. He will eventually be gone, and the next president will be free to abuse the power of the office as well.

    How will the conservative majority respond then?

    Playing politics at the Supreme Court is a losing proposition for the entire country.

    Supreme Court justices swear two oaths.

    One requires the justices to support and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. The other stipulates they “administer justice impartially, without respect to persons, and to do equal right to the poor and the rich.”

    On both scores, the conservative majority remains blinded by its ideology.

  • Philly chefs are leading a brunch renaissance

    Philly chefs are leading a brunch renaissance

    The golden age of brunch has arrived in Philadelphia, borne on the menus of chefs who are reinventing the genre.

    All over the city, from Manong in Fairmount to dancerobot and Little Water in Rittenhouse and Rice & Sambal in South Philly, chefs who had long focused on dinner are turning their attention to brunch-specific menus, some available just one day a week. The results are dazzling.

    Customers enjoying drinks and food at the bar at Manong.Tyger Williams / Staff Photographer

    To many in the restaurant industry, the very word brunch conjures up feelings of dread. “Brunch menus are an open invitation to the cost-conscious chef, a dumping ground for the odd bits left over from Friday and Saturday nights or for the scraps generated in the normal course of business,” Anthony Bourdain wrote in his seminal memoir, Kitchen Confidential. And the stigma against the not-quite-breakfast, not-quite-lunch meal, often accompanied by endless mimosas, has endured. Until now.

    For Chance Anies of Manong, brunch is an opportunity.

    Wingko, cassava, and coconut pancakes on Rice & Sambal’s new brunch menu.Kiki Aranita / Staff

    “I love that we’re making Spam,” said Anies. “It’s ironically the first food I got made fun of for eating at school because my dad would make me Spam and rice for lunch as a kid. I had kids calling me ‘Spam.’”

    Anies is also making his own version of the processed meat, a highly labor-intensive activity compared to popping open a can. “We grind pork shoulder and smoked ham, and some other ingredients, then set the farce in a terrine mold to steam. After pressing overnight, we slice them into little Spam squares,” he said.

    Manong’s house-made Spam is served on pandesal, a soft, buttery Filipino bread, in the breakfast sandwich at brunch, served seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. “Pandesal was the thing that got me into cooking, so having an outlet for the recipe I’ve been developing for over 10 years has been a cool full-circle moment,” said Anies.

    Diana Widjojo’s Rice & Sambal on East Passyunk in South Philly has been open for two years, but only recently started serving Sunday brunch. Widjojo had toyed with starting brunch service last year, “but I didn’t market it very well.” She officially restarted brunch two weeks ago because “I thought it would be fun.”

    Rice & Sambal’s brunch-specific snacks, savory items, and sweet dishes are extensive and only served on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (a la carte, no reservations taken). They range from crispy tofu to lumpia (vegetable and bamboo-stuffed spring rolls) to a Sumatran rendang that is cooked far longer than her typical Javanese rendang, so that it’s “spicier and more fragrant — I cook the curry until the coconut milk turns into oil.”

    And then there are dishes like her Indonesian omelet ($17) and Wingko ($12). The omelet is stuffed with fragrant shallots and served with spicy sambal ketchup. The Wingko pancakes are made of cassava and shredded coconut and colored a deep purple with ube. No maple syrup here, but rather a little pitcher of coconut milk and a squeeze bottle of sweet palm sugar syrup are provided for you to decorate your pancakes.

    There are also fun drinks like Happy Soda, served in a wine glass and consisting of coconut-pandan syrup, seltzer, and condensed milk, Indonesian coffee, and numerous tea drinks, including a deeply nourishing beras kencur ($7), made of ginger, turmeric, and rice. There’s excitement, creativity, and joy embedded in all these beverages — it’s a menu that dovetails with a rise in Indonesian cafes in Philadelphia.

    In Rittenhouse, other previously dinner-focused fine-dining chefs are celebrating brunch. Little Water’s Sunday brunch (11 a.m. to 4 p.m.) is spectacular. On the menu, there’s a dish of fried oysters on beef tartare, blanketed in golden hollandaise and tucked in with pickled surprises, sometimes a gherkin, sometimes another pickled vegetable, that you discover through little bites. You can also add caviar to fancy seafood, like Sweet Amalia oysters slicked with Alabama white sauce.

    La Jefa’s brunch is equally marvelous, served Wednesday through Sunday (10 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.). It features Guadalajaran twists on American brunch standards, like chilaquiles tucked into omelets or lengua given the pastrami treatment and layered into a sandwich. You get to wash it down with a beverage menu spiked with corn, tepache, and other fascinating ferments.

    Also in Rittenhouse, dancerobot’s weekend brunch (Saturdays and Sundays 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.), has quietly become an incubator for incredible creativity, led by chef Justin Bacharach and sous chef Christina Betz, but featuring dishes from many other chefs and cooks on staff.

    The sourdough pancake at dancerobot should be shared with everyone at the table.Kiki Aranita / Staff

    Bucks County native Bacharach grew up with classic diner omelets, pancakes, French toast, and bacon, egg, and cheese breakfast sandwiches, but these brunch stalwarts are completely scrambled up at dancerobot, where bacon, egg, and cheese are fashioned into crispy, crusted onigiri, and omelets are omurice, splayed open tableside into a blanket of egg curds, and pancakes are meant to be shared with the whole table.

    “It’s an homage to fluffy Japanese pancakes,” Bacharach said. But his have more depth and oomph. They also have delightfully crispy edges. His sourdough pancakes, by the way, are made with the starter Amanda Shulman, the Michelin star-earning chef who also recently opened a restaurant serving brunch, gave him five years ago.

    The Caesar salad inari at dancerobot is a riff on the “girl dinner” trend.Kiki Aranita / Staff

    Pastry chef Sophie Wieber contributed cinnamon buns served with amazake-cream cheese frosting. Sous chef Drew Kornrumpff conceived a brilliant interpretation of “girl dinner” by stuffing pockets of aburaage, or fried tofu skin, with Caesar salad and topping them with ikura. Everything is original, delicious, and a little wacky.

    Bacon, egg, and cheese onigiri at dancerobot.Kiki Aranita / Staff

    “Brunch is a breath of fresh air,” Bacharach said. “The people are happier, the sun is out.”

    Dancerobot is also leaning into the creativity brunch can offer by teaming up with chef friends in Philly and beyond, hosting brunch club events with Chicago’s Kasama and soon, Middle Child Clubhouse.

    This new era of brunch is whimsical and riveting, a far cry from the dreaded services Bourdain once complained about.

    All these chefs reinventing brunch have one more thing in common: They don’t have time to go out for brunch themselves. “Usually I am too tired to go to brunch,” Widjojo said. “I can’t remember the last time I did, but if I could, I would.”

  • A dozen businesses have opened in Ardmore this year. Here’s a list of what’s new, and what’s on the horizon.

    A dozen businesses have opened in Ardmore this year. Here’s a list of what’s new, and what’s on the horizon.

    A dozen new businesses have opened in downtown Ardmore so far this year, bringing Japanese barbecue, build-your-own salads, and organic dog treats, among other goods, to the Main Line community. New and incoming businesses include mom-and-pop shops, national chains, and expansions of popular Philly-area names, such as decorated Szechuan eatery EMei and New Jersey-based burger chain Gouldsburger’s.

    Downtown Ardmore’s new retailers and restaurants join a collection of recent additions to Ardmore’s Suburban Square, the Kimco Realty-owned outdoor mall that has long been a retail anchor in Philadelphia’s western suburbs.

    Here’s a breakdown of the new retailers that have opened in Ardmore this year, and some others that are on the horizon.

    What’s new?

    OGYU Japanese BBQ

    OGYU Japanese BBQ (60 Greenfield Ave.) is a tabletop cooking Japanese steakhouse experience from Osushi owner Sam Li. OGYU offers an all-you-can-eat, tiered, fixed-price menu, as well as a full bar. Li has opened Osushi locations in Wayne, Ardmore, and Marlton, as well as upscale eatery Hiramasa in Newtown Square. OGYU opened last month.

    Just Salad

    Healthy food chain Just Salad (167 W. Lancaster Ave.) opened in Ardmore in May, adding to the company’s more than 100 locations across seven states. Just Salad serves fast-casual salads, warm bowls, wraps, and smoothies.

    Barizi

    Barizi (29 W. Lancaster Ave.) is a design, home, and gift store offering curated ceramics, textiles, leather goods, vintage furniture, and self-care items. Barizi’s Ardmore store opened in May and is its second after New York City.

    Gouldsburger’s

    Gouldsburger’s (4 Station Rd.), a Jersey-based mini-chain serving up burgers, cheesesteaks, chicken sandwiches, and other fried snacks, opened across from Ardmore’s train station in February. The restaurant has vegan and vegetarian options, and its cheesesteak has even made the ranks of the Inquirer’s favorites.

    Inside OGYU Japanese BBQ in Ardmore. Michael Klein / Staff

    CorePower Yoga

    CorePower Yoga (169 W. Lancaster Ave.), a heated yoga and strength training studio with hundreds of locations across the U.S., opened in Ardmore in April. This is the chain’s third location in the Philadelphia area, after Center City and Northern Liberties.

    Bikini Burger

    Penn Valley resident Mia Robertston opened Bikini Burger (44 Rittenhouse Pl.) in January with the goal of bringing a simple and “really good burger” to the area. Robertson’s Burgers are made with beef from a Lancaster County butcher, can be topped with Cooper Sharp, among other accoutrements, and are never smashed.

    R3 Gaming & Toys

    R3 Gaming & Toys (6 W. Lancaster Ave.) is a toy and game shop built for collectors and “curious minds of all ages.” The store stocks classic toys, board games, puzzles, comics, graphic novels, and other novelties.

    Jersey Mike’s

    Sub sandwich giant Jersey Mike’s (20 Greenfield Ave.) opened its doors in the former Revitalize Aesthetics storefront in March. The sub shop is open seven days a week and offers both hot and cold sandwich options.

    Mila’s Pup Tienda

    Mila’s Pup Tienda (18 E. Lancaster Ave.) is a cat and dog supply store opened in March by Ardmore resident Dayanna Cardenas. Cardenas prides herself on stocking organic treats, durable toys, and products sourced primarily from local brands.

    Mia Robertson, owner of Bikini Burger, makes a cheeseburger at the Bikini Burger in Ardmore. The burger joint is one of a slate of new businesses to open in Ardmore this year. Tyger Williams / Staff Photographer

    Revivéa Health

    Revivéa Health (20 Ardmore Ave.) opened in Ardmore in April and offers various wellness treatments including IV therapy, vitamin injections, and red light therapy. Ardmore is Revivéa’s second local storefront after West Chester.

    Raffs Italian Cuisine

    Raffs Italian Cuisine (65 Cricket Ave.) is the second restaurant of chef and owner Raffael Kupa, who also runs Buona Vita in Somers Point, N.J. Raffs, which opened in April, is BYOB, open for dinner seven days a week, and offers traditional Italian fare.

    Bored Trading Café

    Bored Trading Café (43 Cricket Ave.) is an all-day eatery serving bagels, sandwiches, salads, wraps, smoothies, and burgers, among other items. The cafe held its grand opening in January.

    What’s coming soon?

    Mango Mango

    At Mango Mango (38 Greenfield Ave.), an Asian-inspired dessert chain with locations across the U.S., “mango’s our muse.” Mango Mango serves mango- and non-mango-flavored cakes, waffles, smoothies, ice creams, and teas. Its Ardmore franchise will be opening later this month.

    Vintner’s Table

    Vintner’s Table (24 Cricket Ave.) is an Italian-inspired wine bar affiliated with Folino Estate Winery & Restaurant in Kutztown. The Ardmore location will be the third Vintner’s Table after Phoenixville and Wyomissing. Vitner’s Table has not shared an anticipated opening date yet.

    Chef Yongcheng Zhao preparing a crispy whole boneless sea bass dish at EMei in Chinatown. The restaurant is set to expand to Ardmore. TIM TAI / Staff Photographer

    EMei

    Inquirer food critic Craig Laban says EMei (98 Cricket Ave.) is a “Szechuan feast with few peers in Philly.” The lauded Chinatown eatery, owned by Dan Tsao, is expanding to South Philly and Ardmore in the near future, though the timeline for expansion has been pushed back due to permitting and architecture hiccups.

    Pure Green

    Cold-pressed juice company Pure Green (56 E. Lancaster Ave.) is set to open in Ardmore next year. Pure Green offers superfood smoothies, acai and pitaya bowls, steel-cut oatmeal bowls, sourdough toasts, and cold-pressed juices.

    Calm and Strong Yoga and Pilates

    Calm and Strong (46 Rittenhouse Pl.) is a yoga and pilates studio bringing a variety of sculpt, flow, and strength classes to Ardmore. The studio is set to open this fall.

    This suburban content is produced with support from the Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Foundation and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Editorial content is created independently of the project donors. Gifts to support The Inquirer’s high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.

  • N.J.’s Tom Kean Jr. is back. Can he save a political dynasty?

    N.J.’s Tom Kean Jr. is back. Can he save a political dynasty?

    Rep. Tom Kean Jr. has always felt the mighty weight of his family’s history at the apex of political power in New Jersey, stretching back to the nation’s founding, when his ancestor William Livingston served as a brigadier general with the colonial militia under George Washington and then as the state’s first governor. Since then, the family has churned out two U.S. senators, two governors, and three members of the House — including the embattled scion, who now carries the torch.

    “There is certainly a sense of obligation based on the distinguished service of his ancestors,” says Leonard Lance, a longtime friend, who represented the district in Congress for a decade until 2019.

    But the dynasty is at grave risk today after Kean disappeared for four months, missing 140 votes, with no explanation until Tuesday, when he said in a short speech on the House floor that he had been hospitalized with severe depression.

    The race was tough to begin with for Kean, given the poisonous dislike of President Donald Trump in New Jersey and Kean’s unwavering fidelity to him. Now, Kean’s absence has handed Democrats a potent new weapon.

    How, they ask, can he justify his vote for deep cuts in Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act through the Big Beautiful Bill, which deprived more than 300,000 Jersey residents of health coverage they might have relied on to address the same problem? What would he have done without his own cushy congressional coverage or his vast personal wealth, which he’s valued at a minimum of $12.4 million?

    So far, Kean has declined to address that question.

    New Jersey’s Tom Kean ends his months-long absence from Congress, saying he was being treated for depression

    What about the stock trades he made while absent from Congress? How is it possible, Democrats ask, that he was able to tend to his own finances but not the public’s business?

    “This is the self-serving culture in Washington that New Jerseyans are rejecting, and the kind of behavior they are sick and tired of,” says his opponent, Rebecca Bennett, a former Navy helicopter pilot.

    That one has nuance. Kean has said he knew nothing about the individual trades made by his stockbroker, even before his illness.

    Still, the trades could prove costly for Kean. In his 2022 campaign, he promised to establish a blind trust, and four years later, he still has not done so. Plus, in that campaign, he scorched his Democratic opponent, Tom Malinowski, for his undisclosed stock trades and accused him of insider trading — even though Malinowski offered precisely the same explanation, saying his broker made trades without his input. Why should we trust Kean’s word, but not Malinowski’s?

    Rebecca Bennett hugs supporters in Bridgewater, N.J., on June 2 after winning the Democratic nomination for New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District.Ryan Murphy

    And finally, what about Kean’s pledge of “full transparency” about his illness? What hospital did he use, and what kind of treatment did he receive? Were there complications, like substance abuse? And what’s the risk that this might happen again? A 2022 study published by the National Library of Medicine found that 30% to 85% of those who suffered severe depression have a relapse or recurrence.

    Kean declined to answer questions on his condition. Full transparency, this is not.

    Will any of this cost Kean at the polls in November?

    Dave Wasserman of the Cook Political Report still rates the contest as a toss-up. The district was redrawn after the 2020 Census to strengthen the Republican vote, and while Gov. Mikie Sherrill carried the state by 14 points last year, she squeaked by in District 7 by just 2 points. Kean won by 5 points in 2024.

    “This is definitely not helpful to Kean,” Wasserman says. “The question is to what extent it’s harmful.”

    The damage may be limited, he says, because voters have set opinions about Kean after his four years in Congress and 21 years in the state legislature. And Trump’s standing among college-educated Republicans, like those in Kean’s wealthy suburban district, has not suffered the same drop as it has among working-class Republicans, Wasserman says, perhaps because it was weaker to begin with.

    My bet is on Bennett, whose profile closely tracks that of the popular governor, Sherrill. Both broke barriers as helicopter pilots who served in the Mideast. Both are telegenic moms who call themselves centrist Democrats. And both have the gift of gab.

    But who knows? Wasserman estimates that Republicans will spend about $2 million, and since Bennett is a newcomer, she may be vulnerable to personal attacks. Plus, Democratic primary voters just selected hard-left nominees in two neighboring districts — Adam Hamawy in the 12th and Analilia Mejia in the 11th — and Republicans may see that as an opportunity.

    A N.J. congressional candidate’s ties to a convicted terrorist mastermind deserve a careful look | Opinion

    “She may need to be explicit about where she’s different from nearby Democrats,” Wasserman says.

    And that could prove awkward, says Mike DuHaime, who ran Chris Christie’s campaigns for governor. “It puts her in a weird spot because a bunch of her most ardent supporters probably love those folks,” he says.

    The Kean dynasty, of course, might survive a loss in November. Kean could run again, or a new generation could pick up the torch. But America seems to have grown weary of political families like the Clintons and Bushes. In November, we’ll find out if New Jersey has had enough of the Keans.

    Tom Moran is the author of the Substack Jersey Lowdown and former editorial page editor of the Star-Ledger in Newark, N.J.

  • If the Sixers don’t land LeBron James, who should fill their final roster spot? Here are a few options.

    If the Sixers don’t land LeBron James, who should fill their final roster spot? Here are a few options.

    Coming out of the holiday weekend, the 76ers and NBA at large are still on LeBron James Watch.

    Free agency’s initial wave also is over, with players beginning to officially sign new contracts after the moratorium lifted. The Sixers’ new deals with Dean Wade and Anfernee Simons were officially announced Monday afternoon, as was the blockbuster trade for All-NBA forward Jaylen Brown.

    Those moves leave the Sixers with only a veteran’s minimum contract available to fill their final full-time roster spot. One two-way slot also is available.

    Sixers officially announce Jaylen Brown trade and Anfernee Simons, Dean Wade signings

    It is still possible, however, to find productive players on those types of small deals. Kelly Oubre Jr. joined the Sixers on a veteran’s minimum contract in September of 2023, before three productive seasons. Last year, Dominick Barlow signed a two-way contract in the middle of summer league, before becoming a part-time starting forward and getting converted to a standard deal.

    If James decides to play elsewhere, here is a breakdown of still-available free agents that could fill that spot instead:

    Trendon Watford

    After the Sixers declined the team option for 2026-27 in Watford’s contract, the versatile forward remains uncommitted to a new team. Perhaps he has already signaled his plans to move on no matter what, after he posted Future’s song “Ain’t Coming Back” on his Instagram story shortly after his option was declined. But if he lingers on the market, could a return to Philly be possible? Though Watford was not a consistent member of the Sixers’ rotation, his close friendship with All-NBA guard Tyrese Maxey is a perk.

    The Sixers declined Trendon Watford’s option this summer but he remains unattached to a team. Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

    Bruce Brown

    Brown played a critical role on the Denver Nuggets’ 2023 NBA championship team. Though his return to Denver last season did not feature the same scoring impact, he is still regarded as an offensive connector and played in all 82 games. He averaged 7.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.1 assists last season.

    DeMar DeRozan

    DeRozan, who was reportedly waived by the rebuilding Sacramento Kings on Monday, is still a professional scorer. The six-time All-Star is expected to choose a contender as his next destination after averaging 18.4 points on nearly 50% shooting along with 4.1 assists in 77 games last season. Though deadly from the midrange, the 36-year-old DeRozan has never been a high-volume three-point shooter.

    The Jaylen Brown trade benefits VJ Edgecombe, who will now have the time he needs to develop

    Nick Richards

    If the Sixers are a tad wary of the raw, unpredictable play of Adem Bona (whose $2.3 million salary for 2026-27 becomes guaranteed Tuesday) and free-agency addition Ariel Hukporti, Richards is a capable veteran option at backup center. He averaged 5.8 points and 5.1 rebounds in 14.6 minutes last season split between the Phoenix Suns and Chicago Bulls.

    Guerschon Yabusele had a stellar season for the Sixers in 2024-25 but did not see similar success with the New York Knicks. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    Kevon Looney

    A Bob Myers connection, Looney spent his first 10 NBA seasons developing into a well-regarded big man on the Golden State Warriors dynasty teams. The 30-year-old only played in 21 games last season for the New Orleans Pelicans, but is another beloved locker room presence.

    Nico Batum

    The Los Angeles Clippers declined Batum’s $5.9 million team option last weekend, making him an unrestricted free agent. Sixers coach Nick Nurse (and Joel Embiid) had an affinity for Batum’s veteran savvy during his time with the Sixers in the 2023-24 season, when he swung the play-in game against the Miami Heat with his three-point shooting and even became the team’s designated inbounds passer. But he is 37 years old and feels deep family connections to Los Angeles and the West Coast.

    Matisse Thybulle has been affected by injuries over four seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers after serving as a key defensive cog in Philly. Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

    KJ Martin

    The former Sixer is a non-shooter but hyper-athletic forward who is a lob threat with defensive versatility. He also displayed ability as a small-ball center, and in playing in the short roll alongside Maxey. Last season, he played for the Ningbo Rockets of the Chinese Basketball Association.

    Gary Payton II

    Another Myers connection, Payton has been a physical defender even going back to his college days. The 33-year-old averaged 7.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 73 games for the Warriors last season.

    Amir Coffey

    Coffey boasts prototypical wing size at 6-foot-7 and 210 pounds. He also is a career 38.2% shooter from beyond the arc, including when he connected on nearly 41% on 3.4 attempts in 72 games for the Los Angeles Clippers in 2024-25.

    Ben Simmons

    Obligatory inclusion of Simmons, who recently told Men’s Health that he is attempting an NBA comeback and would consider a return to the Sixers.