The 2025 NBA Draft is fast approaching, and Sixers fans are eager to see who President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey and General Manager Elton Brand will select with the No. 3 overall pick on June 25. It’s a pivotal moment for the franchise, which hasn’t held a lottery pick since 2018, and the team is now in position to add a high-impact player capable of strengthening its championship-caliber core of Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey.
Unlike the Dallas Mavericks, who hold the No. 1 overall pick and are widely expected to draft Duke freshman Cooper Flagg—last season’s breakout star who collected nearly every major individual accolade—the Sixers’ decision at No. 3 remains less certain. Mock drafts vary, with projections linking Philadelphia to a few potential targets as they weigh their options for the third pick.
The latest USA Today mock draft has the Sixers selecting guard VJ Edgecombe out of Baylor. Originally from The Bahamas, the 19-year-old freshman averaged 15.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game last season. At 6-foot-4 and 193 pounds, Edgecombe has made a strong impression during the pre-draft process. According to NBA insider Jake Fischer:
“Edgecombe is said to have impressed with his work ethic, personality and interviews. He went to dinner with Morey and other Sixers higher-ups. Even Tyrese Maxey, sources say, flew in for the occasion. The Sixers are certainly intrigued by what type of defensive complement Edgecombe could provide their All-Star guard, sources say, in addition to his explosive upside on the offensive side of the ball.”
Jeremy Woo, ESPN draft analyst, echoed a similar sentiment in the latest ESPN mock draft, noting that selecting Edgecombe at No. 3 would represent the Sixers taking the best player available—assuming Flagg and Rutgers’ Dylan Harper are off the board:
“Edgecombe has made a strong case as the third-best prospect in this draft: Teams love his combination of overall athleticism and downhill slashing ability and see major upside as he grows more comfortable making plays with the ball in his hands. I’d also make the argument that he offers the best mix of upside and floor at this spot in the draft. His proponents around the league see star potential.”
In Baylor’s second-round NCAA Tournament loss to Flagg and Duke, Edgecombe tallied 16 points and six rebounds.
While Edgecombe may be the best available talent, the ESPN mock draft also weighs how each prospect fits a team’s specific needs. According to ESPN draft analyst Jonathan Givony, the player who might make the most seamless transition into the Sixers’ lineup is Rutgers wing Airious “Ace” Bailey, a dynamic shooting guard/small forward:
“Bailey looks as if he’d be a seamless fit for the 76ers’ roster, able to slide between the shooting guard and power forward positions in a variety of lineup configurations alongside the likes of Tyrese Maxey, Jared McCain, Quentin Grimes, Paul George and Kelly Oubre Jr. The Sixers need a star-level wing to emerge and eventually surpass George and his gaudy contract, which looks increasingly unlikely to age well over the next three years. Bailey’s size, shotmaking prowess and intensity give him significant upside to grow into at 18 years old.”
Bailey, listed at 6-foot-7½ and 202 pounds, averaged 17.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.3 blocks per game last season at Rutgers.
Other potential options for the Sixers—aside from trading the pick—include University of Texas guard Tre Johnson and Duke guard Kon Knueppel.
Regardless of who the Sixers ultimately select, many in Philadelphia are hoping the pick signals the beginning of a turnaround after a dismal season. Despite entering last year as a top-five title contender in Las Vegas preseason odds, the Sixers stumbled to a 24–58 record—the fifth-worst in the league. Offensively, the team struggled across the board, ranking 26th in points per game (109.6), 30th in rebounds (39.8), and 29th in assists (23.2). Much of that decline can be attributed to the wave of injuries that derailed their season, as Embiid, George, and Maxey appeared in just 15 games together.
This year’s draft presents a golden opportunity for the Sixers to re-energize their future and show that last season was merely an outlier. In addition to the No. 3 pick, Philadelphia will also select at No. 35 overall in the second round.
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