The Philadelphia 76ers have a little over a week before the 2025 NBA draft to decide what direction they will be going in for the No. 3 pick in the draft. The Sixers can either make a selection and bring in one of the top prospects in this talented draft or they can trade down and acquire more assets.
The Sixers need an injection of youth into this roster. The 2024-25 team, while supremely talented, was aging and lacked sufficient depth to navigate the rigors of an 82-game season, considering the numerous injuries that decimated the roster. Philadelphia will have plenty of options in this draft to look at.
A mock draft performed by ESPN has the Sixers selecting Baylor star VJ Edgecombe with the No. 3 pick, and provided a little intel on Rutgers star Ace Bailey’s status:
Edgecombe takes over this spot from Ace Bailey in ESPN’s mock draft after a positive visit to Philadelphia, where sources say he made a strong impression in a private workout as well as in meetings with the front office and ownership. He appears to be “the leader in the clubhouse” currently, with Bailey losing momentum after refusing to visit, initially unsatisfied with his search for a proven pathway to development. However, Bailey is scheduled to work out in Philadelphia at the end of this week, and we’ll see if he’s able to sway the tides in his favor.
Surrounding the hyper-explosive Edgecombe with prolific 3-point shooters such as Tyrese Maxey, Jared McCain, Quentin Grimes and Paul George could add another dimension to the Sixers’ offense, especially if the team buys into the development of his passing ability long-term.
Before getting into Edgecombe, the “refusing to visit” report is a bit confusing. Bailey is going to be in town within the week to work out for the Sixers and give them an interview. Either way, and with this latest blurb on Bailey, it’s obvious that there is a lot of division on him. It has been this way for months as he is not a slam dunk option at No. 3.
Edgecombe seems like he is beginning to separate himself for the pick. He is supremely talented, has a maniacal work ethic to get better on a daily basis, and would fit like a glove next to Philadelphia’s stars. He averaged 2.1 steals per game with the Bears and he can shoot the ball a bit. He did shoot 21-for-45 (46.7%) when unguarded on catch-and-shoot 3-point attempts, which shows his potential. If the Sixers can work with him on his jumper, then he becomes an elite all-around player.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: 2025 NBA mock draft: Sixers take VJ Edgecombe with the No. 3 pick