Now that Media Day and a pair of practices are in the books, I’m taking any and all questions for the first Sixers mailbag of the 2025-26 season. Happy to talk about whatever is on your mind. Fire away!

Sixers have signed Marcus Bagley to an Exhibit 10 deal and then waived him. He’ll join the Delaware Blue Coats. Played for the Sixers on a pair of 10-days last year.

Kelly Oubre Jr. says a personal focus is creating more. He’s slowing things down and thinks it’s helping him see the floor better.

Kelly Oubre Jr. on Sixers rookie VJ Edgecombe: “I think he has the best upside in his draft class, honestly.”

Kelly Oubre Jr.’s flight routine: • Watch YouTube • Learn something • Play Nintendo Switch • Occasionally: reading, sleeping

Jared McCain is here.

Dominick Barlow finally cleared up the confusion: he went to Saint Joseph High School in Metuchen, not St. Joe’s Prep in Philly. Said an interviewer years ago excitedly asked him about going to the latter and he felt bad about the idea of letting them down. Years of mystery over.

Nick Nurse isn’t sure Trendon Watford is ready for the Sixers’ next practice, but that he definitely could practice at some point in Abu Dhabi.

On backup center, Nick Nurse said “it’s competitive.” Anywhere from 3-5 guys in the mix. Adem Bona, Andre Drummond, Jabari Walker (!) are the main guys he named, then said Dominick Barlow could be an option. Said Drummond is at least 20 pounds lighter than this time last year.

Nick Nurse says Jabari Walker was very good today. Said that like Dominick Barlow, he’s constantly on the glass. “He kind of emphatically snatches them.” Said he told Walker yesterday that he wasn’t seeing it, and then Walker went and did it today.

Nick Nurse says the Sixers’ collective focus, energy and movement stood out to him today. “They were more energetic today than they were yesterday” despite yesterday being an intense practice.

Nick Nurse says Jared McCain will not be going to Abu Dhabi, then makes a Quentin Grimes reference saying “we’re still in contract negotiations” with a player who also won’t be attending. Sounds like everyone else is in. Nurse specified Joel Embiid will be on the flight.

Per Sixers: Paul George (knee) and Trendon Watford (hamstring) did individual work. Planned off days for Joel Embiid and Eric Gordon.

Maxey gets Edgecombe:

This was very fun: Maxey gets by Edgecombe, who almost recovers with an insane block but does force a miss:

Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe and Dominick Barlow are getting a bunch of five-second one-on-ones in. Here’s Maxey guarding Edgecombe:

Guardians with the best walk-off clinch I’ve ever seen

Sixers have waived Igor Milicic Jr., who signed an Exhibit 10 earlier this summer. Should be going to Delaware.

ICYMI: David Bauman, agent for Sixers restricted free agent Quentin Grimes, spoke with @phillyvoice.com at length on Thursday, lamenting how Daryl Morey and co. have handled negotiations. With an Oct. 1 qualifying offer deadline nearing, can the gap be closed? www.phillyvoice.com/quentin-grim...

Asked Nurse if he views Barlow as an option at the four or five. He said definitely the four, not quite sure about center but acknowledged he’s played there before. Said he’s almost exclusively been at the four so far here, but has actually played on the wing some as well.

Nick Nurse says Joel Embiid participated in “quite a bit” during practice today, including live action. “He was moving good and playing hard and had great spirit out there today.”

Nick Nurse says VJ Edgecombe and Dominick Barlow stood out to him in the first official practice of the year. Raved about Barlow’s rebounding and activity. Also mentioned Tyrese Maxey and Adem Bona playing well.

Sixers say Paul George had an individual session on-court today. So did Trendon Watford (right hamstring tightness).

Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey getting shots up after the Sixers’ first official practice of the 2025-26 season:

New: With Quentin Grimes unsigned, his agent argued to @phillyvoice.com that the Sixers haven't substantively negotiated a new deal. "The ball has been in their court all summer long, and they haven't attempted in any way to be serious." The Sixers dispute that: www.phillyvoice.com/quentin-grim...

Sixers have signed Saint Thomas. It’s an Exhibit 10 deal.

New: The first Sixers soundbites of the 2025-26 season! One quote from each person to take the podium here in Camden today inside. I did my best to mix in stuff that is informative with more entertaining and amusing quotes. Dive in: www.phillyvoice.com/sixers-media...

New: Jared McCain's rookie season ended early, and now his sophomore season will start late. We have a timeline: www.phillyvoice.com/sixers-news-...

Three and a half hours later, Media Day is over. All relevant quotes from the roster to Nick Nurse and Daryl Morey are in this thread!

Drummond says Johni Broome/Adem Bona have impressed him. Bona's jumping two inches higher now. Asked Drummond about how he's seen Bona grow over the last year. "There was nothing wrong with Adem's game, it was more his confidence." Difference between then/now: "night and day."

Joel Embiid is kicking off Sixers Media Day a bit early. Everything from the day will be in this thread.

Sixers’ 20-player training camp roster is official. One below the maximum of 21, as expected.

New: Over the last month, I’ve written about each member of the Sixers’ standard roster (plus Quentin Grimes), preparing for their seasons with two key questions and a prediction. If you’ve missed any Sixers player previews, you can get up to speed here! www.phillyvoice.com/sixers-media...

From the lottery to draft night to Summer League to free agency, I'm very appreciative of anyone who read my Sixers coverage during the offseason. Excited for my second full-time season on the beat to begin this morning and hope you'll all be along for the ride!

Happy Media Day!

Here’s the latest I’m hearing on the Quentin Grimes ~situation~. Agent David Bauman told me the Sixers’ formal offer was for four years and $39 million, and he still believes Grimes should command $20-25 annually. So, yeah, far apart. Some sort of one-year deal seems most likely, at the moment. 👇🏻

Sixers make the Jared McCain news official. Still no word on treatment/timeline/etc.

In 2023, Anfernee Simons tore the UCL in his right thumb on opening night (Oct. 25). He returned to action six weeks later on Dec. 6.

Just absolutely unbelievable: www.phillyvoice.com/sixers-news-...

NEW: Unpacking everything we have learned about Quentin Grimes in the last 24 hours. Evaluating options on both sides based on reporting from ESPN/The Athletic, plus info I’ve heard about the talks between the Sixers & their key restricted free agent: www.phillyvoice.com/sixers-news-...

News: Sixers guard Kyle Lowry has officially joined Amazon Prime Video as part of its NBA coverage. He’ll have some studio appearances this season “with increased responsibilities in the future.”

New: Adem Bona has returned to Philadelphia after winning silver in EuroBasket. He excitedly reunited with teammates and coaches on Saturday, then spoke with me + @ginamizell.bsky.social. Bona on his very long summer... and having a lot on his plate this fall: www.phillyvoice.com/sixers-news-...

New: The final Sixers player preview of the summer focuses on... Joel Embiid. Everyone knows the key overarching question here. But what can Embiid do to preserve his health and impact winning at once? What is more important: top-end outcomes or stability? www.phillyvoice.com/sixers-news-...

It is, just very complicated. Also difficult to speculate because there has been no indication (yet?) of which teams would pursue Grimes.

Quentin Grimes’ qualifying offer is worth $8.7 million. The Sixers have $21.6 million in room below the second apron. In my view, the better solution for both parties than the QO would be a balloon deal that keeps Grimes tradable at Sixers’ discretion and gives him extra money.

If the Sixers cannot secure a multi-year deal with Quentin Grimes, it cannot be overstated how important it would be to could get him on a one-year ballon deal with a waived no-trade. If he takes the qualifying offer, their ability to use him as an asset almost certainly vanish.

Shams reports that Quentin Grimes taking the qualifying offer is in play, as is a larger one-year deal where Grimes makes more than that $8.7 million but waives his no-trade clause. Grimes won’t be at Media Day or in Abu Dhabi, Shams says.

ICYMI: Tyrese Maxey is entering his sixth NBA season. “It's actually making me feel old," Sixers President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey said Saturday. What can Maxey to do get better after the first disappointing year of his professional career? www.phillyvoice.com/sixers-news-...