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Asesinan a periodista de Filadelfia que defendía a comunidades vulnerables

Josh Kruger, left, then the Communications Director, the Office of Homeless Services at City of Philadelphia, at a tent encampment in Philadelphia, on Jan. 6, 2020. The journalist and advocate who rose from homelessness and addiction to serve as a spokesperson for Philadelphia's most vulnerable was shot and killed at his home early Monday, Oct. 2, 2023 police said. (Photo: AP/Jessica Griffin/The Philadelphia Inquirer)

Un periodista y defensor de la comunidad LGTBQ+ que surgió de la falta de vivienda y la adicción para servir como portavoz de los más vulnerables de Filadelfia fue asesinado a tiros en su casa la madrugada del lunes, dijo la policía.

Josh Kruger, de 39 años, recibió siete disparos alrededor de la 1:30 a. m. y se desplomó en la calle después de buscar ayuda. Poco tiempo después fue declarado muerto en un hospital. La policía cree que la puerta de su casa en Point Breeze estaba abierta o que el tirador sabía cómo entrar.

“Josh se preocupaba profundamente por nuestra ciudad y sus residentes, lo cual era evidente tanto en su servicio público como en sus escritos. Su inteligencia, creatividad, pasión e ingenio brillaron en todo lo que hizo, y su luz se apagó demasiado pronto”, dijo el alcalde Jim Kenney en un comunicado.

Kruger manejó las redes sociales del alcalde y las comunicaciones de la Oficina de Servicios para Personas sin Hogar desde aproximadamente 2016 hasta 2021. Dejó el gobierno de la ciudad para centrarse en escribir proyectos para medios de comunicación y causas progresistas.

Escribió en varias ocasiones para Philadelphia Weekly, Philadelphia City Paper, The Philadelphia Inquirer y otras publicaciones, ganando premios por su estilo conmovedor y a menudo humorístico.

En su sitio web, se describió a sí mismo como un «ciclista militante» y «un defensor del singular ellos, la coma de Oxford y el Twitter anterior a Elon».

En un comunicado el lunes, el fiscal de distrito Larry Krasner elogió las contribuciones de Kruger a la ciudad.

“Como escritor abiertamente queer que escribió sobre su propio viaje para sobrevivir al trastorno por uso de sustancias y a la falta de vivienda, Josh Kruger levantó a las personas más vulnerables y estigmatizadas de nuestras comunidades, en particular a las personas sin hogar que viven con adicción”, dijo Krasner. «Josh merecía escribir el final de su historia personal».

Con información de AP

Anuncian nueve millones de dólares para apoyar a 52 compañías de teatro latino en EE. UU.

Fotografía de archivo de una vista general de la fachada del teatro Palace de Nueva York (EE. UU.). (Foto: EFE/Andrés) Iamartino

La Latino Theatre Company, una de las compañías de teatro latino más antiguas de Estados Unidos, anunció este lunes que entregará un total de nueve millones de dólares en subvenciones para impulsar a las compañías de teatro latinas en todo el país.

Las subvenciones, que hacen parte de la National Latinx Theater Initiative, impulsada por la compañía de teatro angelina, apoyarán a 52 teatros latinos de ciudades de varios estados, incluidos California, Nueva York, Colorado, Minnesota y Puerto Rico.

Los fondos que se otorgarán provienen en parte de un premio de cinco millones de dólares que recibió la Latino Theatre Company por parte de la Fundación Andrew W. Mellon.

La iniciativa también ha recibido apoyo financiero de la Fundación Ford, el Fondo de los Hermanos Rockefeller, la Fundación Joyce, California Community Foundation y un donante anónimo.

Olga Garay-English, directora de la National Latinx Theater Initiative, dijo al periódico Los Angeles Times que su objetivo es conseguir dinero adicional para alcanzar una meta de recaudación de fondos de 15 millones de dólares en tres años.

La iniciativa se inspiró en el programa Black Seed, reconocido como el primero de su tipo en brindar apoyo financiero a los teatros de comunidades afroamericanas en todo el país, y que ha recibido apoyo de la Fundación Mellon.

“Al igual que con Black Seed, esta es la primera vez que los principales donantes abordan sistemáticamente la perenne falta de financiación y capitalización de las compañías de teatro latinas”, resaltó Garay-English al rotativo.

National Latinx Theater Initiative realizó una encuesta en la que descubrió que los directores artísticos de las compañías de teatro latinas ganan un salario promedio de 13.000 dólares al año, y los directores ejecutivos ganaban poco más de 37.000 dólares al año.

Más del 70 % de los migrantes deportados buscarán oportunidades en Nuevo León

Fotografía de archivo de migrantes que hacen fila para acceder a casa INDI, albergue que ofrece comida y refugio en la ciudad de Monterrey, Nuevo León (México). (Foto: EFE/Miguel Sierra)

Monterrey, México.- Ante las deportaciones que realizará Estados Unidos de migrantes que llegan a ese país por la frontera de Eagle Pass, el Gobierno del estado mexicano de Nuevo León tendrá un reto muy importante debido a que un gran porcentaje de las personas que migran intentarán quedarse en este estado por su desarrollo industrial, consideró un activista en entrevista con EFE.

Alberto Xicotencatl Carrasco, director de la Casa del Migrante de Saltillo, que ha seguido de cerca el problema de la ola de migrantes que ha arribado al norte de Coahuila (estado fronterizo) en las últimas semanas, dijo que “de las personas que saben que no van a poder ingresar a Estados Unidos, más del 70 % van a probar suerte en Monterrey”.

Mencionó que primero para Coahuila va a ser un reto muy importante en cuanto empiecen las deportaciones y luego para Nuevo León porque será a dónde irá a parar el grueso de los que no retornen a sus países de origen.

“Hay una idea de que ahí hay una oferta de empleo adecuada. Entonces creemos que sí hay un reto para ambos estados”, consideró.

Dijo que actualmente se desarrolla el proceso de identificación de quienes pueden ser candidatos al asilo y quienes no.

“Todos los demás, más del 90 %, es muy probable los regresen hacia México”, especificó.

Explicó que el hecho de que los migrantes ingresen a Estados Unidos no quiere decir que van a ser regularizados o que podrán quedarse en territorio americano.

“Más bien los colocan debajo del puente del lado americano y en ese momento empiezan los procesos para revisar caso por caso y cuáles solicitudes de asilo serán aceptadas y cuántos de esos van a ser deportados a su país de origen o a México”, explicó el especialista en temas migratorios.

Comentó que ante la ola de migrantes que arriban a Estados Unidos por la frontera de Eagle Pass ya se decretó en ese lugar una emergencia migratoria.

Reconoció que también en Coahuila la situación se ha vuelto más compleja: “La situación es bastante complicada en el centro y norte del estado de Coahuila”, señaló. Además, detalló que la ruta migrante no pasa por Saltillo porque de Torreón se van a Piedras Negras y luego a Monclova.

“La situación está muy delicada, lo que estamos viendo es que alrededor de mil personas están llegando todos los días a Piedras Negras; familias, niños, adolescentes y niños; son una población vulnerable”, destacó.

Nueva Jersey asigna fondos para ayudar inmigrantes con sus permisos de empleo

(Foto: EFE/Peter Foley/Archivo)

El gobernador de Nueva Jersey, Phil Murphy, informó hoy de que han asignado 2,5 millones de dólares de fondos federales para ayudar a inmigrantes con el proceso de solicitar el permiso de trabajo, anunciado recientemente por la Administración del presidente Joe Biden.

De acuerdo con un comunicado de Murphy, los fondos serán destinados a orientar sobre este beneficio, proporcionar apoyo con la solicitud con la ayuda de organizaciones comunitarias y proveedores de servicios y también crear dos portales para conectar a los inmigrantes con oportunidades de trabajo y a los empleadores con quienes buscan trabajo.

El Departamento del Trabajo ha configurado una nueva página, en inglés y español, (https://www.nj.gov/labor/ayuda/) para los inmigrantes interesados en buscar empleo y para los empleadores.

La semana pasada, la Administración Biden anunció que extenderá el Estatus de Protección Temporal (TPS, por sus siglas en inglés) para venezolanos y migrantes de Afganistán, lo que les permite trabajar y evitar ser deportados.

«Nueva Jersey es un estado que cree en proveer oportunidades equitativas a las personas para construir sus vidas y las de sus familias», dijo el gobernador Murphy en un comunicado.

Afirmó que al ayudar a inmigrantes aptos para conseguir sus permisos de trabajo, «reforzaremos la fuerza de trabajo de nuestro estado».

Recordó que algunos de los recién llegados son reúnen inmediatamente las condiciones para solicitar el Documento de Autorización de Empleo, incluyendo individuos puestos en libertad condicional a través del proceso para los extranjeros que vienen desde Cuba, Haití, Nicaragua y Venezuela o después de haber recibido una cita en la aplicación la Agencia de Aduanas y Protección de Fronteras y presentarla (CBO one) al entrar al país.

Estos individuos no están sujetos a un período de espera; sin embargo, solo un pequeño porcentaje de ellos ha logrado acelerar el proceso, de acuerdo con la Casa Blanca.

Prosecutors reveal a reason for Capitol rioter’s secretive sentencing: His government cooperation

Insurrections loyal to President Donald Trump rally at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. A felony case stemming from the U.S. Capitol riot appears to have been resolved in secret, with the man released from federal custody this week despite no public record of a conviction or sentencing. Pennsylvania resident Samuel Lazar was arrested in July 2021 and had been jailed since then on charges in the Jan. 6 insurrection. There's no public record of a conviction or a sentence in Lazar’s court docket. But the Bureau of Prisons tells The Associated Press that Lazar was sentenced in March to 30 months behind bars for assaulting or resisting a federal officer. (Photo: AP/Jose Luis Magana/File)

A Pennsylvania man’s guilty plea and prison sentence for attacking police during the U.S. Capitol riot has remained under seal for months, but a court filing on Monday reveals a reason for the unusual secrecy: He cooperated with federal authorities after the Jan, 2021, siege.

Prosecutors want to keep certain details of Samuel Lazar’s cooperation under wraps, but they have acknowledged for the first time that he supplied the government with information as part of a plea agreement.

Publicly releasing information that Lazar provided could interfere with ongoing investigations, according to a joint court filing by prosecutors and Lazar’s attorney. The filing, which is dated Friday but was docketed on Monday, also says Lazar “named individuals responsible for criminal conduct who may not have been charged.”

More than 1,100 people have been charged with Jan. 6-related crimes, and hundreds of them have pleaded guilty. But it is rare for records of a guilty plea and sentence to be sealed, even in cases involving a defendant’s cooperation. Court hearings and records are supposed to be open and available to the public unless there’s a compelling need for secrecy.

Lazar, 37, of Ephrata, Pennsylvania, was released from federal custody on Sept. 13 after serving a 30-month prison sentence. His cooperation with the government was discussed at a March 2023 sentencing hearing that was closed to the public, the joint filing says.

A coalition of news outlets, including The Associated Press, on Friday renewed its request for the court to unseal records of Lazar’s guilty plea and punishment. Prosecutors and Lazar’s attorney are asking for 30 days to redact records of his cooperation before they are publicly released.

U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson, who sentenced Lazar, didn’t immediately rule on either request.

In May, Jackson had rejected the initial request from media outlets to release any sealed records that may exist. Jackson said the case law cited by the press coalition “plainly recognizes that there may be circumstances where a need for secrecy can be outweighed by competing significant interests.”

Lazar was arrested in July 2021 on charges that he came to the Capitol on Jan. 6 dressed in tactical gear and protective goggles and used chemical spray on officers who were trying to hold off the mob of Donald Trump supporters.

Videos captured Lazar approaching police lines outside the Capitol and discharging an orange chemical irritant toward officers, an FBI agent said in a court filing. Lazar shouted profane insults at police through the bullhorn, calling them tyrants and yelling, “Let’s get their guns!”

Lazar remained jailed for nearly two years before his sentencing. A magistrate judge who ordered Lazar’s detention concluded that his pretrial release would pose «a concrete, prospective threat to public safety.”

Attorneys for the news outlets questioned why records of Lazar’s guilty plea and sentence remained under seal even after his release from prison.

“The press, the public, and presumably even the police victims of Lazar’s violence on January 6 therefore have no idea how or why this January 6 riot participant, deemed just a couple of years ago to be too dangerous to release, is now free,” the lawyers wrote on Friday.

As recently as last month, the Justice Department refused to say why the case remains under wraps, while attorneys for Lazar did not respond to multiple requests for comment from The AP.

A man suspected of fatally shooting 3 people is shot and killed by police officers in Philadelphia

(Foto: Archivo)

PHILADELPHIA. — Philadelphia police officers on Monday shot and killed a man suspected in a quadruple shooting hours earlier that left three people dead, authorities said.

The quadruple shooting took place shortly before 5 a.m. in the Lawncrest section of northeast Philadelphia. The police department’s interim commissioner, John Stanford, said police responding to a home found three people dead and one person wounded who was taken to a hospital in critical but stable condition.

Three hours later, in the East Mount Airy section of northwest Philadelphia, officers tried to pull over a vehicle reported fleeing the shooting location, Stanford said. The man in the vehicle, believed to be responsible for the shooting, fired at least one round at police, and officers returned fire, hitting him, Stanford said. He was taken to a hospital in critical condition and was pronounced dead a little more than an hour later. One officer had minor injuries to a hand from broken glass.

The names of the suspect and the shooting victims, who Stanford said were related, were not immediately released.

Hurts’ breakthrough passing game resembles 2022, and so does 4-0 start for NFC champion Eagles

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) runs with the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders on Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023, in Philadelphia. (Photo: AP/Matt Slocum)

PHILADELPHIA. — Jalen Hurts won games for the Philadelphia Eagles by margins large and small, with his arms and his legs, with eye-popping playmaking that earned him one of the richest contracts in NFL history.

But it took Hurts until Sunday to achieve a new feat — leading the Eagles to an overtime win.

No matter how late in the game — and Jake Elliott’s 54-yard field goal in a 34-31 win over Washington was about as late as it gets — Hurts and the Eagles find a way to pull out a win.

They are 4-0 for the second straight season, one of two undefeated teams in the league. The other is San Francisco, and an NFC championship game rematch — even in October — doesn’t seem so far out of reach.

Hurts turned in his first true 2022 performance of this season. He threw for 300 yards for the first time this year and connected with A.J. Brown for two touchdowns. Brown, one of Hurts’ closest friends on the team, said he saw a fire in the QB that had been missing.

The Eagles were hardly inspiring over a 3-0 start but were to quick to remind fans, the media — anyone who complained — that 3-0 is still 3-0 no matter how they got there. After gutting out a win over the Commanders, the Eagles feel they ended the first quarter of the season playing like a Super Bowl contender.

“I think a win like this does so much for the spirit of a team because winning is not easy,” Hurts said. “Winning is hard. It’s hard in this league and it’s very hard in this division. In multiple ways, it lights a fire for us to continue to do what we want to do.”

Hurts led the Eagles to their first OT win since 2019. The Eagles have won 21 of the last 22 regular-season games (.957) started by Hurts.

As well as he played, Hurts still hasn’t busted many long plays open on the ground. But like he said about his passing game, the plays and stats will come. Winning is the main thing.

“I think it is reassuring for us,” he said. “I think more so, man, when you feel those moments, they build so much character for you. Just hammering in on that, it builds so much character, and I think that can mold the character of this team to trend forward and continue to grow.”

WHAT’S WORKING

Brown topped 100 yards receiving for the second straight game after failing to hit that mark in the first two games. He also snagged his first two TD catches of the season.

He had nine catches for 131 yards against Tampa Bay and nine catches for 175 yards on Sunday. As Hurts play better, it’s no coincidence Brown’s numbers have skyrocketed.

Brown was the first Eagle to produce 175-plus receiving yards and two TDs in a game since Jeremy Maclin in 2014 at Arizona. He was the first to hit those marks at home since Kevin Curtis in 2007. Brown became the fifth Eagle since the 1970 merger to have 130-plus receiving yards in back-to-back games, joining Maclin (2014), DeSean Jackson (2009, ’10), Mike Quick (1983, ’85) and Harold Jackson (1971, ’72).

WHAT NEEDS HELP

Attention to detail. The Eagles committed 11 penalties after averaging only five each over the first three games. Brown was hit with a taunting penalty after he scored the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter. The Commanders got an extra 15 yards on their final drive and scored the tying touchdown.

“A.J., obviously, was apologetic about that coming off the field,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said. “A lot of emotions in that game. We’ll definitely learn from that. It’ll be a teaching moment from that.”

STOCK UP

All Elliott does is kick long field goals.

Elliott won the game on a 54-yarder in OT, adding to his team record for career 50-plus-yard field goals (22). Elliott also made kicks from 41, 47 and 36 yards. The winner was the longest game-winning field goal by an Eagle in overtime since the 1970 merger. Elliott has converted four times from 50-plus yards this season, one shy of his career high (reached in 2017 and 2022).

“I love it when those situations come down to me,” Elliott said. “I always have.”

STOCK DOWN

Cornerback Josh Jobe, starting for the injured James Bradberry, let Commanders receiver Jahan Dotson get in front of him for the tying touchdown with no time left on the clock in regulation.

INJURIES

RG Cam Jurgens suffered a foot injury.

KEY NUMBER

7 — The Eagles are 4-0 for the seventh time, having accomplished the feat during the 1954, 1981, 1992, 1993, 2004 and 2022 seasons.

NEXT STEPS

The Eagles head to Los Angeles to face the Rams (2-2).

Philadelphia journalist who advocated for homeless and LGBTQ+ communities shot and killed at home

Josh Kruger, left, then the Communications Director, the Office of Homeless Services at City of Philadelphia, at a tent encampment in Philadelphia, on Jan. 6, 2020. The journalist and advocate who rose from homelessness and addiction to serve as a spokesperson for Philadelphia's most vulnerable was shot and killed at his home early Monday, Oct. 2, 2023 police said. (Photo: AP/Jessica Griffin/The Philadelphia Inquirer)

PHILADELPHIA. — A journalist and advocate who rose from homelessness and addiction to serve as a spokesperson for Philadelphia’s most vulnerable was shot and killed at his home early Monday, police said.

Josh Kruger, 39, was shot seven times at about 1:30 a.m. and collapsed in the street after seeking help, police said. He was pronounced dead at a hospital a short time later. Police believe the door to his Point Breeze home was unlocked or the shooter knew how to get in, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported. No arrests have been made and no weapons have been recovered, they said.

Authorities haven’t spoken publicly about the circumstances surrounding the killing.

“Josh cared deeply about our city and its residents, which was evident both in his public service and in his writing. His intelligence, creativity, passion, and wit shone bright in everything that he did — and his light was dimmed much too soon,” Mayor Jim Kenney said in a statement.

Kruger handled social media for the mayor and communications for the Office of Homeless Services from about 2016 to 2021. He left city government to focus on writing projects for news outlets and progressive causes.

He wrote at various times for Philadelphia Weekly, Philadelphia City Paper, The Philadelphia Inquirer and other publications, earning awards for his poignant and often humorous style.

On his website, he described himself as a “militant bicyclist” and «a proponent of the singular they, the Oxford comma, and pre-Elon Twitter.“

In a statement Monday, District Attorney Larry Krasner praised Kruger’s contributions to the city.

“As an openly queer writer who wrote about his own journey surviving substance use disorder and homelessness, … Josh Kruger lifted up the most vulnerable and stigmatized people in our communities — particularly unhoused people living with addiction,” Krasner said. “Josh deserved to write the ending of his personal story.”

More suspects to be charged in ransacking of Philadelphia stores, district attorney says

Shown is the aftermath of ransacked liquor store in Philadelphia, Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023. Police say groups of teenagers swarmed into stores across Philadelphia in an apparently coordinated effort, stuffed bags with merchandise and fled. (Photo: AP/Matt Rourke)

PHILADELPHIA. — Additional suspects will be charged with smashing into stores in Philadelphia last week as law enforcement officials review video of the social-media fueled mayhem, prosecutors said Monday.

More than 70 people already face a range of charges, such as burglary, conspiracy and riot, in the flash mob-style break-ins Tuesday night at dozens of stores including Foot Locker, Lululemon and Apple. All but six of the defendants are adults.

“There was a lot of video from that first evening and evenings that went after that, so we continue to work with (police) on reviewing affidavits, with reviewing evidence that they submit to us,” Assistant District Attorney Clint Orem said at a news conference Monday. «We expect more of those individuals to be charged in the coming days.»

Before the smash-and-grab thefts, a group of protesters — who officials say had no connection to the burglary suspects — peacefully rallied against a judge’s decision to dismiss murder and other charges against a Philadelphia police officer who shot and killed a driver, Eddie Irizarry, through a rolled-up window. The protesters were marching in support of Irizarry’s family. Prosecutors are seeking to have the charges reinstated against the fired officer, Mark Dial.

The thefts and unrest left smashed display windows and broken storefront coverings. Video on social media showed masked people in hoodies running out of Lululemon with merchandise and police officers grabbing several and tackling them to the sidewalk.

Pharmacies, a hair salon, a cellphone store, and and state-run liquor outlets were among the other businesses targeted in several parts of the city, with suspects using social media to organize. One woman with hundreds of thousands of followers on TikTok and Instagram, who livestreamed some of the rioting, is among those charged, and authorities said they are looking for additional ringleaders.

“We are very, very interested in bringing justice to people who view it as their task to encourage others to join them in breaking the law,” District Attorney Larry Krasner said Monday.

Most of the ransacking took place on the night that charges against Dial were dismissed, although six arrests were made the following night.

Philadelphia Sheriff Rochelle Bilal rebuked people who took part in what Krasner called “opportunistic crime.”

“The thieves weren’t walking with the family in support,” Bilal said. “Rather, they were too busy stealing.»

Disgruntled Harden no-show at 76ers’ media day, training camp status unclear after trade demand

Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden (1) calls to teammates during the first half of Game 5 against the Boston Celtics in the NBA basketball Eastern Conference semifinals playoff series, Tuesday, May 9, 2023, in Boston. James Harden skipped the Philadelphia 76ers’ media day and his status for training camp this week in Colorado is unclear because the franchise has yet to meet the disgruntled guard’s demand for a trade.“He's not here today,” team president Daryl Morey said Monday. (Photo: AP/Charles Krupa/File)

James Harden skipped the Philadelphia 76ers’ media day and his status for training camp this week in Colorado is unclear because the franchise has yet to meet the disgruntled guard’s demand for a trade.

“He’s not here today,” team president Daryl Morey said Monday. “He continues to seek a trade and we’re working with his representation to resolve that in the best way for the 76ers and hopefully all parties.”

Morey said Harden was being treated like any other player on the roster and was expected to attend training camp.

The 34-year-old Harden’s relationship with the Sixers has been obliterated following an offseason in which he was fined $10,000 for publicly calling Morey a liar. Harden did picked up his $35.6 million contract option this season in June with the expectation the team would try to trade him. When no deal materialized for the seven-time All-NBA player, he blasted Morey at a promotional event in China.

“Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of,” Harden said at the event. “Let me say that again: Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of.”

Harden has been one of the league’s top players for the past decade, having won three scoring titles and the 2018 league MVP award. He led the league in assists last season.

‘He’s on the roster. We’re excited for him to help him if he chooses that,» Morey said.

Harden is a 10-time All-Star but essentially forced his way with trades out of Houston and Brooklyn and now seems intent on adding the Sixers to the list. It appears playing as the second option behind NBA MVP Joel Embiid and chasing a championship in Philly is no longer seriously on the table.

“We’ll either move James for a player of a caliber that helps our championship contention or for draft picks that will let us go in short order go get a player like that,” Morey said.

Embiid —whose four-year, $196 million extension that takes him through the 2026-27 season kicked in this year — said he remained committed to winning a championship in Philadelphia.

“I think it’s been unfortunate what has been going on,” Embiid said. “The goal is to be together and try to win a championship.”

The Sixers are set to open camp under new coach Nick Nurse, who was hired to replace Doc Rivers, who never led the Sixers past the second round of the playoffs. Harden’s play last season was a pivotal reason why the Sixers’ championship run stalled.

“James is a really good player. We love him on the team,” said Embiid, the two-time NBA scoring champion. “If he’s here, great. We’d love to have him. If not, we’ve still got a job to do.”

Harden, acquired at the 2022 trade deadline from Brooklyn for Ben Simmons, scored 45 points in Game 1 and 42 in Game 4 victories against the Boston Celtics. Harden was 0 for 6 on 3s in Game 2 and Game 6 losses. He scored only nine points in Game 7, and he went scoreless in the second half.

The 76ers already went through a similar situation two years ago when Simmons was unhappy with the franchise and asked for a trade. Simmons missed training camp and made a brief return to practice but never again played a game for the Sixers.

Without Harden, or an able replacement, the Sixers are suddenly well behind in the Eastern Conference after the Milwaukee Bucks added seven-time All-Star Damian Lillard and the Boston Celtics on Sunday pulled off a deal for All-Star guard Jrue Holiday.

Embiid bristled at the suggestion that the Bucks and Celtics are better than the Sixers in the East — “Who said they surpassed us?” The rest of the Sixers have put up a united front that the team can still contend for a championship.

“We have the MVP. We have a really good coach,” guard Tyrese Maxey said. “I feel like we have the pieces around the MVP to really be competitive.”

The Sixers — who haven’t won an NBA title since 1983 or advanced past the second round in the East since 2001 — were set to leave Monday for camp at Colorado State.

“We have a lot of questions,” Morey said. “Obviously, James is the big one.”