Today, NBA free agency negotiating begins, and new president of basketball operations Mike Gansey will look to bolster the Sixers\u2019 roster, but where?<\/p>\n
Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and Paul George remain on max contracts accounting for nearly $155 million of the projected $165 million salary cap. So once again, the Sixers will hope for better health during the 2026-27 season.<\/p>\n
Gansey has started to build the roster by drafting Alabama guard Labaron Philon Jr., while picking up the team options for Dominick Barlow and Dalen Terry.<\/a><\/p>\n But the Sixers still need to address positional needs at wing and in the frontcourt. Gina Mizell breaks down how they could attack those areas in the coming days.<\/a><\/p>\n And while you\u2019re in the free agency spirit, the NHL\u2019s signing period gets underway on Wednesday. The Flyers have pivoted in their so-far elusive quest to land both a No. 1 center and a bona fide power-play quarterback on the blue line.<\/p>\n They won\u2019t be able to plug those holes on Day 1, but that doesn\u2019t mean they can\u2019t find creative solutions to upgrade their roster.<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Isabella DiAmore, @phillysport<\/a>, sports.daily@inquirer.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u2753What do you think of the Flyers first-round draft pick Maksim Sokolovskii? Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Phillies entered Monday\u2019s matchup against the Pirates a season-high 10 games above .500. They\u2019ve all but erased their dismal start. <\/p>\n Despite their 11-7 loss to Pittsburgh<\/a> in the series opener, the Phillies sit 3.5 games behind the Braves for the lead in the National League East. It\u2019s a gap that was as wide as 10\u00bd games in May. Suddenly, it\u2019s a race again<\/a>.<\/p>\n What we\u2019re \u2026<\/p>\n \ud83e\udd4d Discovering: Twin lacrosse stars Brinn and Ava Findora from Downingtown flipped their commitment from Virginia to Clemson. Why?<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83c\udfd2 Seeing: It looks like national media experts weren\u2019t too impressed with the Flyers\u2019 NHL draft, as they didn\u2019t give the team a grade higher than C+.<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83e\udd14 Wondering: What Ben Simmons said in his interview with Men\u2019s Health, which mentioned his desire to make an NBA return \u2014 possibly even \u201cback to Philly.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83e\udd4a Learning: The Joe Frazier statue moved to the Philadelphia Museum of Art after previously being in South Philly for more than 10 years.<\/a><\/p>\n At last year\u2019s Flyers development camp, Porter Martone was freshly drafted and heading off to college, and Denver Barkey and Alex Bump were going into their first full pro seasons. Now, despite playing key roles in the Flyers\u2019 run to the second round of the playoffs, all three are back at camp.<\/p>\n They don\u2019t need to be there, but the trio wants to be a resource for the newer members of the organization.<\/a><\/p>\n The U.S. men have indeed been among the last 16 teams standing at five of the eight World Cups they played in from 1990-2022. With that said, this World Cup isn\u2019t about being one of the best 32 or 16 national teams. <\/p>\n It\u2019s about the mentality of knockout soccer on the sport\u2019s biggest stage, and whether the U.S. players of this era can prove themselves in the way they\u2019ve long told us they can.<\/a><\/p>\n While the news didn\u2019t exactly dominate headlines, Arnold Ebiketie could be a sneaky good signing for the Birds. The linebacker has four years of NFL experience, and his football journey began at two local schools.<\/p>\n While the Eagles\u2019 defensive front is loaded, Ebiketie should be a decent rotational piece. Also, undrafted rookie Jaedan Roberts is among those trying to crack a crowded rotation along the offensive line.<\/a><\/p>\n Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark has been the victim of nine flagrant fouls since she joined the league in 2024, more than anyone else. There\u2019s no doubt that she\u2019s been a target of jealousy and resentment since her arrival.<\/p>\n She is, after all, the greatest asset in the history of women\u2019s sports. The WNBA and its officials should do a better job of protecting her, writes columnist Marcus Hayes.<\/a><\/p>\n What you\u2019re saying about high school sports<\/p>\n We asked: Should high school state playoffs be split between non-boundary and boundary schools? Among your responses:<\/p>\n YES! Archbishop Ryan had a basketball player who lived in Trenton, New Jersey. Enough said. \u2014 Reilly O.<\/p>\n Public schools have the athletes that live within their borders while private schools can recruit the best athletes from within a wide area. Very difficult for the public schools to compete against the major private power house schools such as those in California and Texas. \u2014 Everett S. <\/p>\n We compiled today\u2019s newsletter using reporting from Marcus Hayes, Ryan Novozinsky, Jonathan Tannenwald, Nick Vadala, Gina Mizell, Jackie Spiegel, Lochlahn March, Ariel Simpson, Gustav Elvin, Gabriela Carroll, and Mia Messina.<\/p>\n By submitting your written, visual, and\/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer\u2019s Terms of Use<\/a>, including the grant of rights in Section 10.<\/p>\n That\u2019s it for me this week. Stay cool these next few days. Maria will be in your inbox with Wednesday\u2019s newsletter. \u2014 Bella<\/p>\n