The Philadelphia 76ers will be picking third in the 2025 NBA Draft, opening the curtain for them to make a very solid addition to the roster this offseason. It could not have been more timely, especially in light of the year-long mess they turned in this campaign as they finished the season with a 24-58 record, the fifth-worst win-loss card in the entire association.
Given their meager footing for now, the 76ers may not even be reckoned as contenders even next season, but that is not their immediate concern at this very juncture. First, the franchise has to hit on its draft pick this year, which touts a pretty strong cast of rookies looking to make their mark in the league right off the bat.
Unlike the first two selections, which already seem to be set in stone even with the draft still more than a month away, the 76ers still do not have a single prospect they are leaning toward picking, which speaks volumes to the litany of options they have with pick number three.
Having said that, there is a certain road they can take with their selection, much to the chagrin of many around the franchise.
The 76ers are on the verge of making a huge mistake
With the 76ers still operating under a resounding win-now mandate, their win-now disposition could come at odds with their approach to the draft. Put simply, the front office could very well decide that the best way to maximize their lofty pick is to dispose of the same to lure in an established player who can help them from the get-go.
Alas, it seems like Daryl Morey and his crew have already entertained that very thought. According to The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie, the 76ers are expected to listen to trade offers for the third overall pick.
While this is not surprising at the very least, this is nevertheless teetering with doom. The 76ers, after all, have every reason possible to keep their pick as doing so will allow them to add a potential franchise cornerstone for the future and a much-needed reinforcement for their winning cause next season without breaking the bank.
Trading this pick, which will most likely involve a star exchange, would mean that the team is comfortabel parting with a rpized asset for more established talent — right when they do not need any more infusion of the same given their star-studded roster, at least when healthy.
Hopefully, this is nothing more than due diligence for the Philadelphia 76ers, which are actually well-positioned to contend next season, health permitting, if they add an elite young prospect to their abundantly talented nucleus.