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  • Summer of sports continues

    Summer of sports continues

    After he and Phillies star Bryce Harper unveiled the 2026 All-Star Game logo last July, the team’s managing partner and CEO John Middleton gushed about how “very, very real” hosting the Midsummer Classic felt a year out from first pitch.

    “It was real in Atlanta,” Middleton said, three days after the 2025 All-Star Game was played at Truist Park, home of the Braves. “And became a lot more real this afternoon, with the celebration, and the kickoff and everything else. It’s so much bigger than it was in ’96.”

    Baseball’s All-Star Game was last staged in the City of Brotherly Love three decades ago, at the since-demolished Veterans Stadium, when there was only a home run derby and the game itself to enjoy. The 2026 edition is expected to be a “Rocky”-sized draw, especially with the festivities coinciding with the country’s 250th birthday.

    “It’s great for baseball to be able to, kind of, piggyback right on top of the July Fourth celebration,” Middleton said. “There’s gonna be millions of people in town.”

    The sports fan masses will continue to flood Philly into late summer when two marquee sports events close out August: the University of Pennsylvania hosts the “Tennis Classic” Aug. 23-29, a showcase featuring some of the top women’s professional players; and after a 10-year hiatus, the Cycling Classic returns to Philadelphia on Aug. 30, when top male and female riders cycle through the city and its outskirts — including the famed Manayunk Wall — en route to a dramatic finish on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

    Best of all? The Cycling Classic is free.

    While the FIFA World Cup leaves Philly after this weekend’s July 4 match, there will be lots of places in town showing the Final on July 19 from East Rutherford, N.J. And, lest we forget the Birds. The NFL preseason kicks off Aug. 13.

    The logo for the 2026 Major League Baseball All-Star Game in Philadelphia.

    MLB All-Star Week: July 10-14

    The five-day All-Star extravaganza starts with the HBCU Swingman Classic on July 10. In its fourth year, the Swingman Classic features 50 Division-I players from historically Black colleges and universities, selected by a committee that includes Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr.

    The opening rounds of the Major League Baseball draft follows on July 11 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, while the All-Star Futures Game is played July 12 at Citizens Bank Park.

    The Home Run Derby and All-Star Game round out the festivities on July 13 and 14, respectively, with both events also at the Bank. Diehard Phillies fans can see some of the team’s legends at the Capital One All-Star Village, including scheduled appearances by Hall of Famer Steve Carlton and 2008 World Series champions Ryan Howard, Cole Hamels, and Jimmy Rollins.

    MLB announces full All-Star week schedule for Philadelphia

    “I’m old enough that I was here [in Philadelphia] as an adult in ’76 [the bicentennial],” Middleton had said. “It’s gonna be a spectacular year for Philadelphia.”

    Philadelphia Tennis Classic: Aug. 23-29

    Tennis fans can see some of the top-ranked women’s players compete at the University of Pennsylvania’s Hamlin Tennis Center. The WTA 125 tournament features rising stars and established players in a somewhat compact venue, meaning up-close views of the action from most seats.

    Philadelphia Cycling Classic: Aug. 30

    During his pro cycling career, Freddie Rodriguez rode to great success in this city, winning in 2001 (then called the Philadelphia International Championship).

    “I made a career out of this race. It’s the closest thing we have to the Tour de France,” Rodriguez, 52, said. After a 10-year pause, the premier U.S. cycling event returns to Philly, and Rodriguez will be on the other side this time, as a TV commentator.

    Philly native Eric Robbins, one of the race organizers, said that from the outset, the mission was to not only bring back the event, but eschew public funding (the race is presented by AmeriGas).

    “It was really important to give back to the city,” Robbins, a co-owner of the Philadelphia Cycling Classic said. “All these other wonderful sporting events, there’s a price tag that comes with them. This is an absolutely free event. We’re bringing the stadium to the streets.”

    The Cycling Classic is back, and with it, a reminder of what Philly is all about

    Fans can line the Philly streets and see elite international men’s and women’s riders tackle the 14.4-mile loop that includes the grueling Manayunk Wall. The women’s race is 62 miles total, and the men’s is 120 miles. The race dates to 1985 — then known as the CoreStates — won by Olympic speed-skating gold medalist Eric Heiden. Other iconic riders who have competed in Philly include Tour de France legend Greg LeMond.

    Pro cyclist Robin Carpenter, a member of the Modern Adventure team competing this year, grew up steps from the Manayunk Wall summit and competed in the last edition in 2016, when riders finished on the Wall. Carpenter, 33, said he’s thrilled the race is back, and that the course organizers have restored the Benjamin Franklin Parkway finish.

    “The Wall changed the dynamic of the race a fair bit,” Carpenter said. “Going up the wall every time was always bananas. It is a tunnel of noise. Super loud. The Parkway finish makes the race more open from a competitive standpoint.”

    Rodriguez added that the Parkway finish is comparable to the dramatic last stage of the Tour de France, along the Champs-Élysées.

    “It feels like that,” Rodriguez said. “When it comes to U.S. racing, this is probably our best classic race. It’s right up there with the quality of riders and the quality of the event.”

  • Phillies ace Zack Wheeler ‘upset’ about being pulled early vs. Pirates: ‘I feel like I’ve earned that’

    Phillies ace Zack Wheeler ‘upset’ about being pulled early vs. Pirates: ‘I feel like I’ve earned that’

    Zack Wheeler was hot, and not just because of the heat.

    Wheeler labored through 4⅔ innings Wednesday night in a 10-6 Phillies victory over the Pirates, and upon being lifted after 104 pitches, he walked off mound as if he didn’t hear the crowd’s obligatory ovation.

    “Yeah,” Wheeler said. “I was upset.”

    About?

    “Getting taken out of the game,” he said.

    Trea Turner’s hot bat sets the tone vs. Pirates ace Paul Skenes in Phillies’ 10-6 win

    It was Wheeler’s shortest start since June 16, 2024 at Baltimore and snapped a streak of 53 starts in which he completed at least five innings.

    Did the Phillies’ co-ace — the highest-paid pitcher in baseball this season with a $42 million salary — want interim manager Don Mattingly to give him a chance to get through the fifth again?

    “Obviously,” Wheeler said. “I feel like I’ve earned that.”

    Wheeler said he hadn’t talked it over yet with Mattingly. Asked if he planned to, he said, “I don’t know.”

    Informed by a team spokesperson of Wheeler’s comments, Mattingly, who has steered the Phillies to a 40-19 record since taking over for fired Rob Thomson, deferred a response until Thursday. It’s the first real test of his leadership.

    By not finishing the fifth inning, Wheeler was ineligible to get credit for the win. At the discretion of the official scorer, the win went to reliever Orion Kerkering, who pitched a scoreless eighth inning.

    To be fair, Wheeler had chances to get out of the fifth inning. After getting two quick outs, he gave up back-to-back singles to Esmerlyn Valdez and Ryan O’Hearn. With Wheeler’s pitch count up to 101 and action in the bullpen, pitching coach Caleb Cotham — not Mattingly — made a mound visit.

    Wheeler stayed in the game, and three pitches later, gave up a bloop RBI single to Nick Gonzales. At that point, having matched his season-high for pitches in a start and pitching in oppressive heat (96 degrees at first pitch), Wheeler was lifted.

    Lefty reliever Kyle Backhus hit back-to-back batters to force in a run that was charged to Wheeler, whose final line was four runs, nine hits, one walk, and 10 strikeouts. His ERA inched up from 2.03 to 2.36.

    Phillies’ Brad Keller on track to return before the All-Star break: ‘It’s a night-and-day difference’

    “I thought Wheels hung in there,” Mattingly said. “It was one of those nights that his pitch count got extended early, and he didn’t get ahead in the count as much as I’m sure he would like. He gave up some soft contact for hits that just extended his pitch count. It was one of those nights.”

    Wheeler, 36, has made a wildly successful return after surgery last September in which a rib was removed to relieve a compressed vein near his collarbone. Earlier Wednesday, before a matchup with Pirates ace Paul Skenes, Mattingly suggested Wheeler might actually be underrated for a two-time Cy Young Award runner-up.

    “I don’t think people quite realize how good this guy is,” Mattingly said. “I just don’t think they realize. Within the industry, for sure. But with fans, he’s a quiet guy. There’s not a lot of hype around him. He just kind of just constantly pitches well. And I just want to keep his attention talked about like other guys.”

    First, there might be a fence to mend.

  • USMNT fight past Bosnia and Herzegovina for its first World Cup knockout win in 24 years

    USMNT fight past Bosnia and Herzegovina for its first World Cup knockout win in 24 years

    SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The U.S. men’s soccer team finally ended its 24-year wait to win a World Cup knockout game, though it came at a cost.

    Wednesday’s 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina featured goals by Folarin Balogun and Malik Tillman, but also a red card to Balogun that means he’ll miss the round of 16 matchup against Belgium in Seattle on Monday (8 p.m., Fox29, Telemundo 62).

    When the 11th minute passed, the U.S. had gone the longest it had in any game of this World Cup without scoring a goal. That was a low bar to clear in the big picture, but there also definitely were nerves on both sides of the field. Matt Freese had to make two big stops early, but it took until the 18th minute for the Americans to really test Bosnian goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj.

    Balogun was the first player to find the back of the net, in the 31st minute, and not long after he’d gone down inside Bosnia’s 18-yard box, though without enough contact to earn a penalty kick. He was then frustrated a second time by the offside flag, and that call was also correct.

    The breakthrough finally came in the 45th minute. Tim Ream intercepted a Vasilj clearance and knocked the ball forward to Tyler Adams, who made a backheel flick into space. The ball rolled to Tillman, who turned and played the ball forward toward Balogun. He had some work to do, but a misplay by Bosnian centerback Tarik Muharemović gave the striker room to collect the ball and slot it home.

    As the crowd of 68,827 roared, Balogun celebrated with LeBron James’ “Silencer” dance move. The basketball star — quite a soccer fan himself — returned the compliment on social media right away.

    Balogun then came inches from doubling the lead in first-half stoppage time, at the end of a lovely teamwide sequence. Alas, his close-range flick hit the crossbar and flew out of bounds.

    The U.S. held a 5-1 advantage in shots halftime, a sign of how they’d come into the game but also how many nerves there were.

    France and Paraguay will meet on July 4 in Philadelphia’s last World Cup game

    The game’s first substitutions came in the 51st minute, in a triple-move from Bosnia manager Sergej Barbarez, one of which was star striker Edin Džeko, after pulling up lame. The other moves were tactical, including the much-anticipated arrival of winger Esmir Bajraktarević — a 21-year-old winger who grew up in Wisconsin to parents who fled the Bosnian war of the 1990s.

    Balogun’s ejection came in the 64th, after the video review officials watched him rake the studs of his right cleat down the back of Muharemović’s right calf in a tussle. It looked like a 50/50 challenge at first, but the replays clearly showed a cardinal sin for a soccer player — even if he didn’t intend it. By the time Raphael Claus left the monitor, it wasn’t too surprising that he pulled the red card out.

    The ejection meant Balogun would miss not just the rest of this game, but will miss the U.S.’s round-of-16 showdown with the Belgians.

    Now, it was about playing defense, and every U.S. player did his part. Even Tillman, usually much more of an attacking player, got stuck into a loose ball in the 77th.

    Why the legacy of this generation of USMNT players rested on this game

    Soon after that, the U.S. broke free on a counterattack and Christian Pulisic forced the ball in, but he was clearly offside when Tillman passed to him.

    The biggest break finally came in the 82nd. Stjepan Radeljić held back Sergiño Dest, Claus booked the Bosnian defender, and the U.S. had a free kick on the edge of the 18. Tillman spun it right past Bosnia’s defense and into the net, unleashing a huge celebration from U.S. players and fans alike.

    U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino finally made his first substitutions in the 88th minute, sending in Ricardo Pepi and Sebastian Berhalter for Pulisic and Dest. In stoppage time, Gio Reyna replaced Weston McKennie.

    There were still plenty of nerves from there, including 10 minutes of stoppage time. But the Americans held on, with the crowd cheering every save, block, and sequence of passes — and exhaling as two Bosnian shots in the final moments went inches wide of Freese’s net.

    Then, at the final whistle, there was the biggest unleashing of all. Thirty-two years after the U.S. men played the first World Cup knockout game of their modern era in the Bay Area, they finally delivered the sight that everyone here had waited so long for.

    This generation of American players finally has its biggest World Cup win.

  • Trea Turner’s hot bat sets the tone vs. Pirates ace Paul Skenes in Phillies’ 10-6 win

    Trea Turner’s hot bat sets the tone vs. Pirates ace Paul Skenes in Phillies’ 10-6 win

    When you’re a two-time batting champion in the midst of a three-month slump, everyone looks for the littlest hint of a breakout. A line drive here, a home run there, anything to forecast the inevitable hot streak.

    Trea Turner has heard it since April.

    “When [reporters] ask me if I’m back, I’m like, ‘I don’t know,’” the Phillies’ star shortstop said recently. “Like, I’ve got to do it for three, four days. You could have a good game here or there, but it’s about consistency.”

    OK, then. How about two weeks’ worth of good games? Or three consecutive games with a homer? Or turning on a sweeper from Paul Skenes and hitting it into the left-field seats Wednesday night to power a 10-6 pounding of the Pirates, the Phillies’ seventh win in nine games?

    Phillies’ Brad Keller on track to return before the All-Star break: ‘It’s a night-and-day difference’

    Is Turner finally hot?

    Was it 96 degrees at first pitch?

    “I feel like the last three or four weeks have been pretty solid,” Turner said. “I know how good I am. I know how good I can be, focusing on the last three weeks and getting back to two-strike hitting and scoring runs. I feel like I’ve scored runs at a really good clip because the guys behind me are playing so well.

    “But that’s my job, to score runs, so I feel like the last few weeks have been really good.”

    Interim manager Don Mattingly seems amused by the topic. After Turner doubled, homered, and drove in three runs on his 33rd birthday Tuesday night, Mattingly answered a question with two playful questions: “Is he coming back? Is he going yet?”

    Phillies co-ace Zack Wheeler gave up four runs in only 4⅔ innings Wednesday night.

    But it’s clear Turner has rediscovered … something. He said he has been pleased with his two-strike approach. He’s making better adjustments within a game. After popping up in his first at-bat against Skenes, he ditched his leg kick before the home run.

    Most importantly, Mattingly noted that Turner isn’t swinging at as many pitches out of the strike zone.

    “He’s always going to chase a little bit,” Mattingly said. “But when it’s not in the other batter’s box, you know he’s starting to see the ball and take some closer pitches, foul some balls off, and get to balls.”

    Phillies ace Zack Wheeler ‘upset’ about being pulled early vs. Pirates: ‘I feel like I’ve earned that’

    Add it up, and since June 17, when he was reinstalled in the leadoff spot, Turner is 21-for-60 to hike his average from .216 to .239 and his OPS from .595 to .655.

    It’s still not the production that Turner is accustomed to, but hey, it’s a start.

    “I feel like [the numbers] are not going to look good probably no matter what I do for a while,” he said. “Just try to focus on some good progress and then keep rolling with it and see where they end up at the end of the year.”

    One-stop shopping for the Phillies at the trade deadline again? Here’s three teams that could be a fit

    Turner’s revival is happening at a perfect time. Not only are the Phillies (49-38) closing fast on the division-leading Braves, going from 9½ games out on June 7 to only 2½, but the trade deadline is looming on Aug. 3.

    The Phillies entered play Wednesday with the lowest OPS in baseball from their right-handed hitters (.607). But as much as they needed another bat from the right side, they’re unlikely to be able to acquire one as good as Turner.

    In case any of the 41,766 paying customers forgot after Turner finished fifth in the NL MVP race last season, his tone-setting ability was on display again in the worst start of Skenes’ career.

    A presupposed pitchers’ duel between Skenes and Zack Wheeler turned into a dud. The Phillies thumped Skenes for eight runs (seven earned) in four innings; Wheeler gave up four runs and wasn’t happy to be lifted with two out in the fifth inning after 104 pitches, snapping his streak of 53 starts of at least five innings dating back to June 2024.

    “I feel like I’ve earned that,” Wheeler said.

    The Phillies hit Pirates ace Paul Skenes for eight runs (seven earned) Wednesday night.

    Neither ace exhibited his usual command. And Skenes was hurt by the Pirates’ defense. With the bases loaded in the second inning, Justin Crawford chopped a ball to third baseman Nick Gonzales, whose throw to the plate hit Alec Bohm and rolled away, enabling two runs to score.

    Up stepped Turner, who got a sweeper on the inner half of the plate and pulled it out to left field for a three-run homer.

    Skenes hadn’t allowed more than five runs in any of his previous 72 major league starts. The Phillies hung a five-spot on him in the second inning. Brandon Marsh tacked on a leadoff homer in the third before Bryce Harper’s two-run double in the fourth opened an 8-2 lead.

    It wasn’t the first time the Phillies conquered Skenes. They clipped him for five runs May 17 in Pittsburgh. He has allowed 39 earned runs all season; 12 have come against the Phillies.

    What if the Phillies’ most impactful addition was a resurgent Trea Turner? He’s working to make it happen.

    Their secret?

    “Our club’s not really afraid of anybody,” Mattingly said. “It doesn’t matter who the guy is. We’ve got guys who’ve had success in their career, and you’re not shying away from guys like this.”

    Turner added: “I think we’ve got a good team.”

    The Phillies are on a 109-win pace under Mattingly (40-19) after a 9-19 start that prompted a managerial change.

    And now they’ve got Turner playing like Turner again.

    “Somebody asked me earlier, when do I feel like Trea’s going good,” Mattingly said. “Once a guy gets rolling, I mean, you know it’s there and he finds the field. … Trea’s been going for a while now.”

  • Early reactions to the Jaylen Brown-Paul George trade: ‘The East offseason is crazy’

    Early reactions to the Jaylen Brown-Paul George trade: ‘The East offseason is crazy’

    The 76ers coming back to beat the Boston Celtics in the first round of the NBA playoffs after being down three games to one seemed like the most exciting thing that would happen between the teams this year.

    Until Wednesday.

    The Sixers traded Paul George, two first-round draft picks, and two second-rounders to the Boston Celtics for Jaylen Brown on Day 2 of free agency, and social media has a lot to say.

    The Sixers just turned Paul George into Jaylen Brown and transformed themselves for an unbelievable price

    Here is how fans, experts, players, and even some sportsbooks are reacting to the trade:

    The early favorite

    From fans to experts, the consensus on social media is that the Sixers got more than they gave in acquiring Brown.

    Even some sportsbooks like BetMGM, Caesars, and Fliff are reacting to the trade and calling Boston’s side of the deal lackluster.

    Showing some Brotherly Love

    The trade didn’t just have fans and media talking. Other Sixers and figures with Philly ties have shared their thoughts on the newest addition to the roster.

    While Tyrese Maxey took to X to react, fellow Sixers VJ Edgecombe and Jabari Walker reposted the news on their Instagram stories with Walker captioning the story “scary sight.”

    The Sixers just transformed themselves for an unbelievable price | David Murphy

    And despite their current New York ties, Abdul Carter and Josh Hart shared their thoughts on the acquisition — and the NBA offseason at large. Carter is a Philadelphia native and Penn State product who’s now an edge rusher for the New York Giants while Hart is a former Villanova star who’s now a New York Knick.

    With love from Boston

    Some Celtics fans took to social media to express appreciation for Brown’s time in Boston, especially for leading them to an NBA championship, for which he was named Finals MVP in 2024.

    Others seemingly still are having trouble processing the trade.

    Interesting team dynamics

    Brown and Jayson Tatum being split up opens the door to a George and Tatum duo, which a few people on social media seem to be excited about.

    Others find it more detrimental to Tatum’s career.

    And in Philly, fans are looking forward to seeing the connection between Joel Embiid and Brown following some of the comments Brown made regarding Embiid and his “flopping” after the Game 7 matchup between Boston and the Sixers in the first round of the playoffs this season.

  • The Sixers just turned Paul George into Jaylen Brown and transformed themselves for an unbelievable price

    The Sixers just turned Paul George into Jaylen Brown and transformed themselves for an unbelievable price

    Well, aren’t we all a bunch of idiots?

    So much for the two timelines thing.

    And for the long, arduous process of building a contender piece by piece.

    So much for all of the hand-wringing about Kelly Oubre Jr. and Quentin Grimes and LaBaron Philon Jr.

    And about Mike Gansey, for that matter.

    The 76ers did the unthinkable on Wednesday. They did it to such an extent that it still isn’t thinkable. In fact, it’s barely believable.

    Source: Jaylen Brown traded to the Sixers for Paul George and four picks

    Not only did the Sixers come from out of nowhere to stun the NBA by acquiring Celtics superstar Jaylen Brown, and not only did they do it for a criminally cheap price, but they also somehow managed to ship out the remaining two years and $110 million remaining on Paul George’s contract.

    And, just like that, a new window of title contention has arrived.

    That’s the most important takeaway for Sixers fans. Brown transforms the Sixers in both the short and long term. The 2024 NBA Finals MVP and a sixth-place finisher in regular-season voting this year, the longtime Celtics wing is basically the exact player you would create in a lab if you were dreaming up the perfect star to maximize a team with Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe in the backcourt. He has the size, versatility, and defensive chops to help make up for however much of that they give away at the guard position. He is a straight-line player who can get to the rim through traffic with or without the ball in his hands. He is an adequate and willing three-point shooter who showed signs of being much more than that earlier in his career. He can alternate seamlessly between primary and secondary scoring roles. Basically, he is the exact player the Sixers would have been crossing their fingers to have a chance to draft at some point in order to make the Maxey-Edgecombe pairing a legitimate contender.

    Even if only half of that was true, the Sixers would have still been justified in making this deal. The unprocessable thing about this deal is the mind-bogglingly low price Gansey somehow managed to finagle from a Celtics team that doesn’t make many bad decisions.

    Sixers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey has gotten off to a strong start in Philly.

    Consider a deal that the Lakers and Jazz struck earlier in the day on Wednesday. In exchange for the right to sign restricted free agent center Walker Kessler, a zero-time All-Star who played just five games last season before undergoing shoulder surgery, the Lakers agreed to pay:

    • a 2031 unprotected first-round pick
    • a 2033 unprotected first-round pick
    • two first-round pick swaps

    That’s what the Lakers gave up for the right to sign Kessler to a four-year, $130 million deal.

    Here is what the Sixers will reportedly give up to acquire Brown:

    • a 2031 unprotected first-round pick
    • an additional first-round pick, TBD (initial reports suggest it will either be the Clippers’ unprotected 2028 first-rounder or the Sixers’ 2028 first-rounder, whichever is more favorable).
    • two second-round picks, one in 2028 and the other in 2030

    (It’s worth noting that the Kessler deal was struck by Jazz CEO Danny Ainge, the former Celtics president who once upon a time acquired Brown and Tatum while fleecing teams in the process.)

    Jaylen Brown will partner with Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe to lead a revamped Sixers roster.

    But the real coup de grace is the inclusion of George, whose contract many believed was under water to the point that the Sixers would’ve needed to attach a first-round pick just for some other team to take it onto their books. Maybe that was errant thinking about the rest of the league’s willingness to spend $110 million over two years on a 36-year-old who has played in 78 games over the last two regular seasons and has played in more than 56 games just once since 2019. Whatever the case, the Sixers should be thrilled.

    George is a tidy anchor for such a mind-blowing deal. The Sixers basically traded him for a much better player who is 6½ years younger. The cost for the move was less than what the Raptors traded for 35-year-old Kawhi Leonard (Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected firsts, a pick swap, and change), who is in the last year of his contract and will be able to walk away if the Raptors don’t give him a huge contract extension into his late 30s.

    Even if the Celtics and the rest of the NBA knows or suspects something that the Sixers don’t, even if the trade doesn’t prove to be a game changer, it still doesn’t leave them a whole heck of a lot worse off than they would’ve been over the next couple of years with George.

    Heading into the offseason, it sure looked like the Sixers would need to be in a mode of making the best of things and preparing for the day when George would move on and free up some payroll maneuverability. Instead, they’ve vaulted themselves into the realm of top-end contenders for the next three seasons.

    Dean Wade makes a ton of sense for the Sixers

    On Wednesday evening, FanDuel had the Sixers tied as the fifth favorite for the NBA title at 22-to-1, trailing the Spurs (2.4-to-1), Thunder (2.5-to-1), Knicks (8.5-to-1), and Celtics (14-to-1).

    Their immediate title hopes still hinge largely on the availability of Joel Embiid. The difference now is that they will not need Embiid to be anything close to his MVP prime in order to be taken seriously. Even if he is some lesser form of who he was last postseason, the Sixers can make an argument for having the edge in top-end talent regardless of matchup. Even if Embiid is absent entirely, they almost certainly should be expected to challenge for a top-four playoff seed.

    Are there ways this could go wrong? Sure. The loss of the 2028 pick would be particularly acute for a team that was presumed to need two or three solid drafts to get itself ready for the post-Embiid era. The Sixers’ depth is still a major question mark. They have a conspicuous lack of volume-capable three-point shooting on the wing. We have yet to hear Brown’s thoughts at having been traded to a place like Philadelphia, on a team with two young ball-dominant scorers and Embiid. At the same time, they can always pivot if it doesn’t work.

    There is always risk. The question is the price of it. For the Sixers, there wasn’t much to decide.

  • Phillies’ Brad Keller on track to return before the All-Star break: ‘It’s a night-and-day difference’

    Phillies’ Brad Keller on track to return before the All-Star break: ‘It’s a night-and-day difference’

    Brad Keller knew something was wrong a few weeks ago when he rolled over in bed, reached for the pillow, and felt an ache in his right elbow.

    When he pitched, though, everything seemed normal.

    But the right-handed reliever reached a tipping point on June 14. He threw 32 pitches and gave up three runs in the eighth inning the night before in a Phillies victory in Milwaukee, then woke up and couldn’t straighten his elbow.

    Phillies top prospect Gage Wood selected for MLB’s Futures Game

    So, Wednesday was an important day for Keller. After facing hitters for the first time in 2½ weeks in live batting practice, he was eager to see how his arm bounced back. Keller has been on the injured list since June 16 (retroactive to June 14) with right forearm tendinitis.

    “It’s a night-and-day difference,” Keller said. “Like even just waking up, I remember there would be times where I’d grab a pillow and it would hurt. Today I didn’t have any of that, so I’m really happy with that.”

    Next up: Keller will pitch in a minor league game Friday night, interim manager Don Mattingly said. Depending on how he responds, he could be reinstated from the injured list after that.

    Regardless, the Phillies expect Keller to return before the All-Star break.

    Phillies reliever Brad Keller has a 4.15 ERA in 31 appearances this season.

    “If it continues on this path, for sure,” Mattingly said. “He hasn’t been down very long, and he was throwing fairly quickly. I don’t know why you would need a ton of outings down there. So, yeah, if everything goes good, I think we would get him back before the break.”

    It will represent a boost for a bullpen that has been tested lately. The Phillies signed Keller to a two-year, $22 million contract in the offseason to fortify the bridge to closer Jhoan Duran. In his absence, the bullpen has posted a 4.26 ERA compared to 3.98 before he was sidelined.

    Keller overcame a rocky start and had allowed three earned runs over 12⅔ innings in a span of 13 appearances before the blowup in Milwaukee. Overall, the 30-year-old righty has a 4.15 ERA in 31 appearances.

    “We were kind of pinpointing some things that I was doing, more so [pitch] usage-wise and stuff,” Keller said. “And then there was some other stuff, like some mechanical things that maybe have led to this.”

    One-stop shopping for the Phillies at the trade deadline again? Here’s three teams that could be a fit

    Keller said he began feeling an unusual amount of soreness after back-to-back appearances in Boston in mid-May. It would surface when he played catch before games, subside, and then come back.

    “Last year, I literally was never sore,” he said. “And this year, I was battling with this stuff, and all of a sudden, something mechanically is not right.”

    Keller will return a little less than a month before the Aug. 3 trade deadline and could inform the Phillies’ approach. They have other needs, including a right-handed bat and back-end starter. If Keller pitches well upon his return, it would lessen the need for another late-inning reliever.

    Justin Crawford had three hits in the Phillies’ victory Tuesday night.

    Crawford adjusts

    Justin Crawford hit .322 in the minors, including .334 last season in triple A to win the International League batting title.

    It hasn’t gone as smoothly in the majors.

    Crawford got off to a promising start, then slumped as the league adjusted to him. But he has worked with hitting coach Kevin Long to shorten his leg kick, even eliminating it at times.

    The Phillies still need a right-handed bat. Let’s take an early dive into some options before the trade deadline.

    Over his last 16 games entering Wednesday night, the rookie center fielder was 18-for-48 (.375) with a .400 on-base percentage. He finished with three hits Tuesday night, including a two-run cue shot down the left-field line in the second inning.

    “I’m definitely working on being shorter to the ball,” Crawford said. “Just trying to take a little bit of that extra movement out, making me a tick late on the ball. I’ve definitely been trying to do that a little bit. It’s been good.”

    Gabriel Rincones Jr. remained in the lineup on Wednesday amid his recent slump.

    Extra bases

    Amid a 5-for-38 slide to begin his major league career, lefty-hitting right fielder Gabriel Rincones Jr. remained in the lineup, even against Pirates ace Paul Skenes. “He’s here for a reason,” Mattingly said. “If he doesn’t play [against a righty], then he shouldn’t be here.” … The Phillies moved veteran outfielder Tommy Pham to triple A after two games in the rookie-level Florida Complex League. Pham, 38, signed a minor league contract last weekend. … Thursday marks the Phillies’ last home game before the All-Star break. They will finish the first half with nine consecutive road games in Kansas City, Cincinnati, and Detroit. … Alan Rangel (0-1, 4.50 ERA) is scheduled to start the series finale at 12:35 p.m. Thursday against Pirates righty Jared Jones (1-1, 5.76).

  • Source: Jaylen Brown traded to the Sixers for Paul George and four picks

    Source: Jaylen Brown traded to the Sixers for Paul George and four picks

    The 76ers have officially entered the summer of blockbuster trades.

    They agreed to acquire All-NBA wing Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics in exchange for Paul George, two first-round draft picks, and two second-round draft picks, The Inquirer confirmed Wednesday evening.

    From the Sixers’ perspective, it is a stunning move for new president of basketball operations Mike Gansey to pull off in his first offseason. George’s max contract — still with two years and more than $110 million remaining — was considered difficult to trade given his age and injury history.

    But the Celtics clearly were motivated to move Brown, who finished sixth in last season’s voting for NBA Most Valuable Player and had spent his entire 10-year career with the franchise.

    NBA free agency: Sixers make blockbuster trade to acquire Jaylen Brown, send Paul George to Celtics

    Boston reportedly offered Brown to the Milwaukee Bucks in a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, before the Bucks instead sent Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat. On social media and his popular Twitch streams, Brown publicly expressed displeasure with his name being dangled in trade talks and defended his career accomplishments.

    So the Sixers have swapped out one three-star roster construction for another, linking Brown with All-NBA guard Tyrese Maxey and former MVP Joel Embiid. Brown has three years and approximately $183 million remaining on his supermax contract. But he is 29 years, played in 71 games in 2025-26, and is an elite attacker and shot-maker coming off his best individual season.

    Brown, a five-time All-Star, created an excellent wing tandem with Jayson Tatum that propelled Boston to the 2024 championship and the Finals MVP award that year. Last season, he became the bona fide No. 1 offensive option while Tatum recovered from Achilles surgery, averaging 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists to spearhead the Celtics’ surprise 56-win season to finish in second place in the Eastern Conference. He called it his “favorite” season on Twitch, drawing criticism — or, at least, eyebrow raises — from some outsiders wondering if that was a swipe at his role (or partnership with Tatum) or why he valued a disappointing first-round exit more than a title run.

    Jaylen Brown had a career-year for the Celtics last season and is a five-time All-Star.

    Such every-night responsibility will not necessarily be the case with the Sixers, given Embiid and Maxey both have experience as the team’s offensive centerpiece. Yet it is a seismic win-now swing in an Eastern Conference race already boasting the defending-champion New York Knicks — and that has already been revamped with significant trades in recent days.

    After Antetokounmpo was moved the night before the NBA draft, the Toronto Raptors agreed to re-acquire Kawhi Leonard from the Los Angeles Clippers Tuesday. Elsewhere, LaMelo Ball was traded from the Charlotte Hornets to the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Ja Morant was dealt from the Memphis Grizzlies to the Portland Trail Blazers.

    In the deal, the Sixers lose George, a former perennial All-Star and their splashy free-agent signing in 2024.

    Kelly Oubre Jr. reportedly agrees to a two-year, $17 million deal with the Indiana Pacers

    But George was hampered by multiple injuries his first season as a Sixer, and then last season was suspended for 25 games for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy. He finished 2025-26 strong on both ends of the floor — including in the Sixers’ rally to upset the Celtics in the playoffs’ first round — and said he was looking forward to focusing on basketball training this offseason.

    Free agency began quietly for the Sixers, with forward Dean Wade agreeing to sign a four-year, $39 million contract late Tuesday, The Inquirer confirmed. Things picked up Wednesday, when reserve center Ariel Hukporti agreed to a one-year deal, The Inquirer confirmed, and Kelly Oubre Jr. and Quentin Grimes reportedly agreed to leave the Sixers to sign with the Indiana Pacers and Los Angeles Lakers, respectively.

    Then came the stunning blockbuster trade, making Brown a Sixer.

  • From ‘White Blanket’ defense to his rural roots, here’s what to know about new Sixers forward Dean Wade

    From ‘White Blanket’ defense to his rural roots, here’s what to know about new Sixers forward Dean Wade

    After a slow start, the 76ers‘ first move of free agency came late Thursday night as they signed Dean Wade, formerly of the Cleveland Cavaliers, to a four-year, $39 million deal.

    Last season, the 6-foot-9 forward played 59 games (38 starts) and averaged 5.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 22.3 minutes. With Kelly Oubre Jr. on the move to the Indiana Pacers, Wade could shift into the starting lineup come October.

    Here’s everything you need to know about the Sixers’ new signing:

    Gansey’s guy

    New Sixers president of basketball Mike Gansey has a long history with Wade, so it is quite fitting the former Cavalier is his first free agent acquisition.

    As the Cavaliers assistant general manager, Gansey helped bring Wade in as an undrafted free agent on a two-way deal in 2019. After a year playing mostly for the Canton Charge, the team’s G League affiliate, Wade cracked the Cavs’ rotation in the 2020-21 season. Since then, the Kansas State product has been a key contributor for the Cavaliers, whose role players included Max Strus, Sam Merrill, Jaylon Tyson, and Tyrese Proctor.

    New Sixers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey has a preexisting relationship with Dean Wade.

    Though the Cavaliers boasted stars Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, and, later, James Harden, they relied heavily on “glue guys” like Wade under Gansey’s watch. Cleveland won 64 games in 2024-25 and 52 games last season. Meanwhile, the Sixers have struggled to roster role players who fit around the team’s stars in recent years, something Gansey is hoping Wade can change.

    “It’s not a championship-caliber team right now, but we’re going to work on that,” Gansey said at his introductory news conference. “Obviously get those four, get the big four [Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Paul George, and VJ Edgecombe] together on the floor, but we’re going to do everything we can to bring players in here that fit and that obviously can help.”

    Dean Wade makes a ton of sense for the Sixers | David Murphy

    The ‘White Blanket’

    In Cleveland, Wade was best known for his defense.

    With the Cavs, Wade was tasked with defending players at all positions. During the playoffs, Cleveland dominated defensively with Wade on the court, outscoring opponents by 16.2 points per 100 possessions. Additionally, just five players gave up fewer points per drive than Wade last season, according to the ALL NBA Podcast.

    Wade’s defensive prowess was noticeable against the Raptors in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, when he was the primary defender on Brandon Ingram. Through the first four games of the series, Wade held the Raptors’ leading scorer to 3 of 14 from the floor.

    “As much as y’all talk about us three, me, [Harden], and Evan [Mobley], Dean Wade deserves a bunch of credit tonight,” Mitchell told the Athletic after the Cavaliers’ 115-105 win over Toronto in Game 2. “On both ends of the floor. He’s rolling. He’s screening. He’s defending. He’s doing everything. I know he only had three points, but his impact is extremely high outside of just the scoring.”

    Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (right) acknowledged Dean Wade’s contributions during their time as teammates.

    Mitchell was not the only teammate to take note of Wade’s pestering defense. Former Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson nicknamed Wade the “White Blanket.”

    “For me, it’s easy,” Wade told Cleveland.com in January. “I just get out of their way and let them do their thing. I’m out there focusing on defense, trying to bring some energy, bring an edge, fly around and make the extra effort. Evan [Mobley] and [Jarrett Allen] make it stupid easy to be a good defender.”

    Rural roots

    Wade’s hometown of St. John, Kan. is a bit different from his landing spot in Philadelphia. The rural town is home to roughly 1,200 residents. For reference, Xfinity Mobile Arena has a capacity of 21,000 for Sixers games.

    NBA reveals Sixers’ Las Vegas Summer League schedule, which includes Labaron Philon’s expected debut

    “It’s a small little farming community, but it’s filled with great people who care,” Wade told Abilene-RC.com in 2018. “Everyone loves each other. If you go there, you really understand what it means to have a family environment. It’s a great little town.”

    Added his father, Jay Wade: “It’s rural America. When we need something, we don’t just hop in the car and go down to the Home Depot. We’re 25 miles away from the nearest Walmart.”

    Before carving out a role in the NBA, Dean Wade (left), here defending a pass from Kennesaw State guard Tyler Hooker, had a solid career at Kansas State.

    Wade led St. John to three state titles. During his senior campaign in 2014-15, he was named Mr. Kansas Basketball and the Gatorade Kansas Boys Basketball Player of the Year. That season, Wade averaged 24.8 points, 9.8 rebounds, 3.7 steals, and 3.4 assists as St. John went 26-0. Wade was a finalist for national Gatorade Player of the Year but lost out to Ben Simmons.

    When Wade arrived at K-State, his hometown followed him.

    “There are die-hard [Kansas] fans in this town that have bought season tickets to K-State just to keep watching Dean,” Jay Wade told Abilene-RC.com. “They drive to Manhattan for every game and wear purple.”

  • St. Joseph’s Prep receiver Jett Harrison commits to Ohio State

    St. Joseph’s Prep receiver Jett Harrison commits to Ohio State

    Jett Harrison is following in his older brother Marvin Jr.’s footsteps.

    On Wednesday, Jett announced his pledge to Ohio State on social media. Harrison, a rising junior at St. Joseph’s Prep, is ranked No. 4 by 247Sports’ composite rankings and is the top overall player nationally on the 2028 Rivals300 recruiting list.

    Harrison finished with 15 receiving touchdowns as a sophomore for the Prep, which finished 5-5 last season and lost to La Salle College High in the Catholic League final.

    He is the latest player to join the St. Joe’s Prep-to-Ohio State pipeline. Recently, his brother, Marvin, Kyle McCord, Maxwell Roy, and Isaiah West also chose to start their college careers with the Buckeyes after playing at the Prep.

    Jett is the son of NFL Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison Sr., who played at Syracuse. Marvin Jr. was selected in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft by the Arizona Cardinals.

    Jett Harrison joins defensive lineman Jameer Whyce (Dayton, Ohio) and running back Elijah Newman-Hall (Bradenton, Fla.) as Ohio State’s commitments so far in the class of 2028.