The Sixers made the signing of Ersan Ilyasova official Wednesday night. In 46 games this season with the Atlanta Hawks (40 starts), the 10-year veteran average 10.9 points and 5.5 rebounds in 25 and a half minutes per game. He’ll wear #23, since Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot currently wears his old #7 from last year.

With the signing, the Sixers released Trevor Booker after 33 games. He was acquired in the Jahlil Okafor and Nik Stauskas trade with Brooklyn in December. Maybe they shouldn’t have traded the second round pick for Booker?

The team hopes to rebound from Tuesday’s loss to Miami tonight in Cleveland against future Sixer LeBron James and the Cavaliers.

The Roundup:

Sixers owner Joshua Harris is involved in a White House scandal with Jared Kushner. How delightful.

Richaun Holmes definitely deserves more playing time, and maybe without Booker, that changes:

The logic for playing Johnson over Holmes has been simple enough to track: play the guy who you trust to hold down the defense and let the rest take care of itself. Early in the season, this logic held up well enough, and their advanced numbers panned out as you might expect. Philadelphia’s defense was worse with Holmes on the floor, but their offense was worse with Johnson. With Embiid eating most of the center minutes, it’s a trade-off Brett Brown was willing to make.

But we have reached a point where Holmes being out of the rotation altogether, as he was for most of January and February, just doesn’t seem to be justifiable by any measure. And the solution, frankly, may end up having nothing to do with the guy he has battled for playing time this year.

Yesterday, a Michael Jordan visited the training complex:

(Kinkead: go see Black Panther, it’s a good movie)

Malvern Prep, the school that LeBron was rumored to have visited before getting denied and then brought up again a couple more times, provided some fun of their own:

 


The Flyers look to return to first place in the Metropolitan division tonight as they host Carolina at 7 PM on NBC Sports Philadelphia.

They do so without Johnny Oduya, who’s currently having some visa problems getting from Canada to the United States.

General Manager Ron Hextall was a guest on NHL Network Radio yesterday:

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Some positive news in Lehigh Valley: Phantoms goalie Anthony Stolarz returned to practice for the first time since September.


In Grapefruit League action, the Phillies fell to the Toronto Blue Jays, 7-1. A five-run second inning proved to be the difference maker in this one. Starter Vince Velasquez gave up three runs on two hits in 1 and 2/3 innings. Scott Kingery gave the Phils their only run of the day with a home run in the third.

The team will take on the New York Yankees today at 1:05 PM. Nick Pivetta is scheduled to face CC Sabathia. You can watch the game on NBC Sports Philadelphia + (or MLB Network outside of the Philadelphia area).

A very important announcement from the Phillies:

There’s a “sensitive bus” pitching coach Rick Kranitz is using with his throwers this season. It could backfire.

Expect some creativity with the use of the bullpen this year:

“I think the bullpen here is built up where anyone can be used at any time. It will be fun,” Neshek said. “There will be some growing pains, but that’s the good thing with Gabe. He’s real open to communication. It’s not like last year, where there’s a problem and you have to go in [the manager’s office] five times to make sure you’re on the same page.”


Howie Roseman and Doug Pederson spoke at the NFL Scouting Combine yesterday and provided some interesting quotes.

Kevin takes a look at the Eagles’ upcoming free agents.

If the team decides to trade Nick Foles, could the Arizona Cardinals, who are in need of a quarterback on their roster, be an option?

The Cardinals are a very interesting trade partner, not only because of their dearth of quarterbacks but also because they have four picks in the first three rounds.

The Eagles, meanwhile, pick 32nd, and they won’t pick again until pick No. 131 near the end of the fourth round.

Howie Roseman has stated in the past that impact players are typically found in the first 20 picks. The Cardinals fit the profile of a team with an attractive first-round pick, and several picks in rounds 2 and 3. As such, there a lot of different trade scenarios that could interest both teams.

August 4 will be a jam-packed day for Eagles and Phillies fans.

Honey Badger to Philly?


With the signing of Czech attacking midfielder Borek Dockal, the Union filled their most important need before the start to their regular season on Saturday.


In college hoops, third-ranked Villanova edged Seton Hall in overtime, 69-68. Mikal Bridges recorded a double-double with 23 points and 14 rebounds.

In A10 play, Temple fell to UConn, 72-66, and La Salle took care of Dayton on Senior Night, 71-53.


In other sports news, James Harden embarrassed Wesley Johnson:

Arizona’s Board of Regents will discuss Sean Miller’s contract in a special meeting this afternoon.

Mike Krzyzewski is the highest paid college basketball coach at nearly $9 million.

The Denver Broncos are in talks to acquire Redskins defensive back Su’a Cravens.

It appears the Cowboys are happy a play that didn’t go their way four years ago would go their way if it happened today:

Rob Gronkowski is expected to play with the Patriots in 2018.

One college baseball coach in Texas won’t recruit kids from Colorado because they might fail drug tests due to legalized marijuana.

Soccer superstar Neymar will be sidelined for 2-3 months after surgery on his foot.


In the news, a threat forces two Gloucester County school districts to close for the day.

White House communications director Hope Hicks plans to resign.

Walmart will now require you to be over 21 if you want to buy a gun.

Russia might have new nukes.