What might have been | Sports Daily Newsletter

Imagine a player, the type of player for whom a team would tank, rejecting the opportunity to play in the NBA and opting instead for their final collegiate season.

It’s hard to imagine, isn’t it? But that’s exactly what Bill Walton did in turning down the Sixers 50 years ago. He went back to UCLA and ultimately was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers, who won a coin flip with the Sixers (they took Providence’s Marvin Barnes with the No. 2 pick), in 1974.

“I was not interested in going to Philadelphia,” said Walton, a native of La Mesa, Calif., who added that if the Sixers had secured the No. 1 pick in 1974 and selected him, he would have chosen to play in the ABA.

On the eve of another franchise-altering draft, a draft in which the Sixers don’t have a pick, our Mike Sielski takes a look way back at a meeting, a letter, a player of historic proportions, and what might have been.

— Maria McIlwain, Inquirer Sports Staff, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

❓In your opinion, what is the biggest Sixers draft regret? Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.

The 76ers have set their eyes on making it to the Eastern Conference finals and beyond in recent years, which has turned their NBA draft assets into a casualty of doing business. That’s why they enter Thursday’s draft without a single pick. But that doesn’t mean they can’t get creative, as Sixers president Daryl Morey is wont to say. So how will they handle the big night? The Inquirer’s Keith Pompey takes a look at Tobias Harris’ market, James Harden’s decision and more.

Next: The 2023 NBA draft will be held Thursday at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. (8 p.m., 6abc, ESPN).

Bryce Harper has never struggled with hitting for power. That’s what makes his drought — 21 without a home run, the third longest outage of his career — not worth worrying about for the Phillies star. “It’s not me talking great about myself. I just feel like the power will come,” Harper said. But it isn’t merely that Harper hasn’t homered since May 25. He has one extra-base hit in his last 10 games, two in his last 13, and four in his last 21. And here’s the really weird part: Harper is batting .301 with a .393 on-base percentage. So he’s getting hits and drawing walks. He just isn’t driving the ball like one of the foremost sluggers in baseball over the last decade. There are several factors in play.

The Phillies and Braves waited about 2½ hours only to have the game postponed Wednesday. It’ll be played as part of a doubleheader in September.

Taijuan Walker has turned things around and been remarkably steady over his past three starts, which is just what the bullpen needs.

Next: The Phillies wrap up their series against the Braves at 1:05 p.m. Thursday (NBC 10).

As a rebuilding team, the Flyers already should have been of the mindset to shoot for a star at the NHL draft.

But now with a second first-rounder, courtesy of the Ivan Provorov trade, Danny Briere and Co. have even more reason to be aggressive. Olivia Reiner looks at how having two picks in Wednesday night’s first round gives the Flyers all sorts of flexibility from a draft and trade perspective.

Next: The NHL draft begins Wednesday (7 p.m., ESPN)

Some of the names on the United States’ women’s World Cup roster are familiar. Megan Rapinoe, Rose Lavelle. Alex Morgan.

Some of the names might not be as famous, but those players — such as 18-year-old Alyssa Thompson, 21-year-old Trinity Rodman, and 22-year-old Sophia Smith — will be expected to shoulder a significant load as the USWNT heads off to Australia and New Zealand to defend its title. Our Jonathan Tannenwald breaks down the entire 23-player roster.

The video announcing the World Cup roster also featured a lot of Philly flair.

José Andrés Martínez’s 90th-minute goal helped the Union salvage a 2-2 tie against Orlando City.

Next: The Union host Inter Miami (sans Lionel Messi for now) on Saturday (6:30 p.m., Apple TV+).

A major deal: This Merion golf pro will compete in the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.

Dream come true: As he waits to hear his name called in the NBA draft, Westtown’s Dereck Lively II reflects on his mother’s impact on his basketball career.

Denmark’s decision: A top local high school football recruit is committed to Penn State.

We asked you: Which Philly teams do you root for and how do you keep up? Among your responses:

I am a big Phillies and Eagles fan. I watch every game and often work my life around being available to watch the games. I have the MLB and NFL apps and get most of my team news from there. I also have the NBC sports app so I can watch Phillies games if I’m not home. I will install an app if I need to to watch a game! — Kathy T.

Back when I lived in the area I was a serious fan of the four major teams, but now living thousands of miles away my main concern are the Phillies and Eagles. I saw the Phillies for the first time in 1948 at Shibe Park at the age of ten and was hooked for life. I also became an Eagles fan at that same age, but I don’t think I saw them in person till I was about 15 or 16. Throughout my 45 years away from Philly living in the western US I have seen both teams play in L.A., San Diego, Orange County, and Phoenix. I have also seen both the Flyers and Sixers play in L.A. and Orange County at the Forum, the Staples Center, and the Pond in Anaheim. My enthusiasm for the Phillies and Eagles is just as strong at 85 as it was at 10. Now though I follow all our Philly teams via The Inquirer rather than in person. — Everett S.

Only the Eagles. I use the Athletic, Inquirer, NFL Network, and ESPN — Stiles B.

We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Mike Sielski, Keith Pompey, Scott Lauber, Alex Coffey, Olivia Reiner, Jonathan Tannenwald, Isabella DiAmore, and Sapna Bansil.