With the selection of V.J. Edgecombe, the Philadelphia 76ers are nicely set up for the long term and now possess one of the best back-courts in the NBA on paper. However, the 76ers aren’t done yet. Philadelphia has a chance to patch up the biggest hole on its roster – forward depth – with the 35th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft tonight. Five players would be excellent additions to the 76ers’ formidable young core.
1. Rasheer Fleming
Shockingly, Saint Joe’s forward Rasheer Fleming wasn’t selected in the first round, but he may be one of the first players to greet Adam Silver on stage tonight. If Philadelphia is lucky enough for him to fall, it would be getting a colossal front-court remedy. Between his deadeye spot-up shooting, athleticism, length, and defensive versatility, Fleming could immediately be thrown into the rotation.
This past season, he averaged 14.7 points per game on 39% shooting from the arc along with 8.5 rebounds per game and 2.5 stocks per game. The 20-year-old is heading into the NBA listed at approximately 6’ 8 barefoot and 232 pounds with a 7.5 wingspan.
2. Maxime Raynaud
If the 76ers want to acquire a rim-protecting big to balance out their loaded guard room, Maxime Raynaud could be available. He provides adequate floor-spacing at the five position, lengthy rim protection and help rotations, along with passing chops. He and Adem Bona would supply Philadelphia’s front-court with much needed length and defensive pop.
The 22-year-old spent four seasons at Stanford and averaged 20.2 points on 34.7% shooting from deep this past year. He also recorded an imposing 10.6 rebounds per game and 1.4 blocks per game. Raynaud is labeled at 7’ 0 without shoes and 237 pounds with a 7’ 1 wingspan.
3. Ryan Kalkbrenner
Similarly, Creighton center Ryan Kalkbrenner is another intriguing option to build up center depth. He’s also a solid floor-spacer and facilitator, but a more polished, efficient finisher than Raynaud. The 23-year-old is elite as a drop defender against pick-and-rolls, which would be perfect alongside the bouncy help defense that Bona provides.
Kalkbrenner posted 19.2 points per game on 68.4% true-shooting, 8.7 rebounds per game, and 2.7 blocks per game. He’s listed at 7’ 1 barefoot and 257 pounds with an impressive 7’ 6 wingspan.
4. Noah Penda
Noah Penda would add a unique element to the 76ers’ front-court that they haven’t possessed since P.J. Tucker wore red, white, and blue. At the four, he’s a sound passer, who can make connective swings and play within the flow of an offense. Penda is also a quality point-of-attack defender with solid instincts. The perimeter shooting will need to develop before he can become a key contributor in a postseason setting.
With Le Mans Sarthe Basket, Penda notched 10.2 points per game on 44% shooting from the field alongside 5.1 rebounds per game and 2.6 assists per game. He measured in at 6’ 7 without shoes and weighed 242 pounds with a 6’ 11.50 wingspan.
5. Adou Thiero
While he projects as more of a guard/forward combo, Adou Thiero would be a quality addition to the 76ers. Like Edgecombe, Thiero would provide contagious defensive intensity as he’s a physical defender with a touch of versatility. At this stage of his career, he’s a non-shooter, doing most of his damage inside the arc. Thiero is a raw prospect, but if he can smooth out his edges, Philadelphia could have a stellar two-way forward on its hands.
In his first and last season at Arkansas, he posted 15.1 points per game on 60.5% shooting from two-point range, 5.8 rebounds per game, and 1.6 steals per game. Thiero is 6’ 6 barefoot and 218 pounds with a 7’ 0 wingspan.