76ers' new team-building strategy is in full affect after latest draft report

For nearly a month, there’s been an intense debate on whether the Philadelphia 76ers should draft Ace Bailey or V.J. Edgecombe with the third overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Some have pointed to Bailey’s upside as a three-level scorer, while others have raved about Edgecombe’s promising two-way potential. At last, a report has come out that states where the 76ers’ head is between these two prospects and the Edgecombe faithful can now rejoice.

The 76ers like V.J. Edgecombe

On Marc Stein’s Substack “The Stein Line”, Jake Fischer reported that Edgecombe is perceived as the prime candidate to be selected with the third overall pick, who visited Philadelphia last week. However, Fischer stated that there’s an expectation that the 76ers will work out Ace Bailey at a later date, and a few hours after this report, the two parties are scheduling a private session.

“Edgecombe is said to have impressed with his work ethic, personality, and interviews,” Fischer said. “He went to dinner with Morey and other Sixers higher-ups. Even Tyrese Maxey, sources say, flew in for the occasion. The Sixers are certainly intrigued by what type of defensive complement Edgecombe could provide their All-Star guard, sources say, in addition to his explosive upside on the offensive side of the ball.”

Fisher also noted that the 76ers are the only team that Edgecombe has worked out with that the media is aware of. Several teams reportedly believe that the Baylor product may not participate in more workouts league-wide, but it’s still early in the draft process. 

What does this mean?

It seems that Edgecombe is currently in the lead as far as who the 76ers would select with the third overall pick. The fact that Philadelphia may be the only team he works out for has to count for something. While many are concerned that the 76ers’ guard rotation could become too crowded if he is drafted, his tantalizing point-of-attack defense would add an extra element to their already talented backcourt. It’s also not a coincidence that both teams in the NBA Finals have multiple guards who can execute at a high level

It is interesting how Philadelphia worked to schedule a meeting with Bailey after Fischer's original report. After the 76ers' workout with him, they may become just as intrigued as they are with Edgecombe. While each prospect is very different from each other, either would be an excellent addition to Philadelphia's youth movement. When it comes to the draft process, no one truly knows what a team’s motive truly is until it’s on the clock.

Fischer said that the only aspect of the 76ers’ draft plans that is certain is that they will be selecting a prospect in the early stages of the lottery. One Eastern Conference executive told him that they could see Philadelphia either keeping the third overall pick or trading down a few spots. No matter what the 76ers do, they must continue to build up their young core, especially with the uncertainty looming around Joel Embiid and Paul George.