Philadelphia 76ers: 5 rookies Elton Brand might regret passing on

3. Carsen Edwards, 33rd overall pick

Only a handful of prospects were contacted to Philadelphia during the pre-draft process. Carsen Edwards was in that select group, hyped as a perfect fit and necessary target in the backcourt. That made the Sixers’ decision to trade him bittersweet.

In doing so, the Sixers moved up to select Thybulle — the main target since college basketball ended. But Philadelphia also sent Edwards, who slipped further than many expected at 33rd overall, to arch-rival Boston.

Edwards will now compete for minutes in the Celtics’ backcourt, where Kemba Walker is in need of a reserve. There’s a reason fans pinned Edwards to Philadelphia so consistently — his dynamic perimeter scoring would have filled a still-present void in the second unit.

Albeit undersized, Edwards is built like a tank at 6-foot. He’s a bucket connoisseur, mixing deep pull-up range, impressive off-movement shooting and explosive interior finishing. He has the strength to embrace contact and finish through taller opponents at the rim. He’s unique in that sense.

Edwards would have given the Sixers a nice pop in the second unit. Some argued he was the right candidate at No. 24, before Elton Brand made the decision to trade up and select Thybulle. Those reasons alone could make Edwards’ potential success a difficult pill to swallow.