The Philadelphia 76ers are just a week away from making one of their most important decisions yet with the 2025 NBA Draft arriving on June 25. Currently, the franchise owns the third overall pick, giving them ample optionality to make full use of to improve the roster following a depressing campaign this year.
For now, all signs point to the 76ers exercising their right to select third in this year’s draft, which is probably the most sensible move to make given the current state of the franchise. Philly has invested a ton on its win-now cause, and having the ability to bring an elite young prospect into the fold is one hell of an advantage on their part to give them a better fighting chance to build a sustainable roster.
However, there is definitely a trade-off if they push through with their position. In selecting a high draft pick, the 76ers will need to part with some desired pieces to make room for the rookie they will be bringing in. And if we are to guess, this will probably seal the fate of this very important free agent.
The 76ers are sure to miss out on Guerschon Yabusele if they pick third in the draft
According to Jake Fischer (subscription required), the 76ers’ current financial profile and current pecking order in the 2025 NBA Draft will make it extremely tough to retain Guerschon Yabusele, who has become one of the biggest priorities for the franchise this offseason.
”With a trio of Sixers veterans — Kelly Oubre Jr., Andre Drummond and Eric Gordon — all expected to soon activate the player options in their respective contracts for next season, it looks as though it will be increasingly challenging for Philadelphia to re-sign beloved big man Guerschon Yabusele. The former first-round pick from France, who played last season on a minimum deal, is projected to have a strong market in free agency.”
To make life even tougher for the front office in this regard, picking third means the 76ers would have to factor in a relatively sizeable contract — enough to compel them to make rather meaningful concessions this summer.
Yabusele, who is coming off an impressive campaign in his first season back after a long stretch of absence from the NBA, will surely fetch more lucrative offers this offseason. The Frenchman showcased his sheer versatility and reliable two-way skill set this year, playing all frontcourt positions to fill a massive void for the injury-laden 76ers.
Even better, the burly forward proved that his much-improved play from his Europe stint can certainly translate well into the NBA hardwood. His three-point shooting was consistent all season long, and he displayed impressive decision-making skills despite a non-prominent role on the offensive end.
Losing Yabusele, which appears to be inevitable at this point, could be problematic for the 76ers, especially since the team already lacks size and functional depth at the forward positions. Hence, the front office should be ready to scout the market for viable alternatives, lest they risk running the same weaknesses that doomed them this season.