The Philadelphia 76ers landed VJ Edgecombe in the 2025 NBA Draft, and he looks like a future star with his energy and two-way impact. Looking back, would they make the same decision again? What if Dylan Harper had still been available to draft?
The 2025 rookie class has been exceptional throughout their debut seasons, with Edgecombe being no exception. The top four of Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, Edgecombe and Kon Knueppel have been excellent throughout the year, and all look like future All-Star selections. This is a special class.
Vj Edgecombe has been fantastic
The 76ers certainly have little regret, even with Knueppel putting up a dazzling shooting season for the Charlotte Hornets that will likely win him Rookie of the Year. Edgecombe has been phenomenal for the 76ers, starting 67 games for a playoff team and averaging 16.1 points, 5.7 rebounds and four assists per game. His 1.4 steals per game lead the class.
He and Edgecombe form the backbone of a dynamic backcourt that the 76ers hope to have in place for a very long time. They did not "lose" the 2025 NBA Draft, especially not when they consider some of the failed picks at No. 3 throughout NBA history, including their very own strikeout with Jahlil Okafor.
Would they make the same decision given the chance to go back? Perhaps not; Knueppel has been very good, and his shooting is special. But what if the decision was not between Knueppel and Edgecombe, but rather 6'6" point guard Dylan Harper and Edgecombe?
That's the decision before Philadelphia in the 2025 NBA Re-Draft we ran on another Fansided site, Hoops Habit. Resetting the board and going back through the lottery, which picks would change? All of them?
Would Philadelphia draft Harper or Edgecombe?
In the re-draft, Cooper Flagg went first once again to the Dallas Mavericks, and then Kon Knueppel went second to the San Antonio Spurs. That alternate timeline would have Daryl Morey and the 76ers on the board deciding not between Edgecombe and Knueppel, as they did in real life, but instead between Edgecombe and Harper - this time with the hindsight of their rookie seasons to inform their decision.
Edgecombe has played a larger role for his team than Harper has, who is coming off the bench behind De'Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle for the Spurs. That doesn't mean that Harper hasn't been playing a key role, however, as he is an every-night rotation guard for a team on track to win 60 games.
Harper is scoring a more modest 11.5 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game, and his outside shooting has been shakier than Edgecombe's. Defensively, both look like future impact players, although Harper's size and length play in his favor on that end of the court.
Where Harper is truly special is attacking the basket. He takes over half of his shots from within 10 feet of the basket, and he shoots a robust 66 percent at the rim, something that is typically only true of big men. Attacking the rim not only yields high-percentage looks for Harper, but it sets up passes to open 3-point shooters.
The 76ers draft Dylan Harper
In the re-draft, the 76ers decided to take Harper, adding size and on-ball dynamism to the backcourt next to Tyrese Maxey, who could slide to his more natural shooting guard position. There is no true wrong answer deciding between the two, but Harper's fit and upside are perhaps slightly more alluring to the Philadelphia front office.
This is obviously a hypothetical, and the entire organization is thrilled with Edgecombe. It is easy to defend Philly making the same selection once again.
The primary takeaway is just how good these three guards have been to start their careers, and odds are they will be battling for All-Star and All-NBA spots with one another for many years to come.
Dylan Harper to the 76ers? It's an alternate timeline that would cause a lot of shockwaves, and probably also a lot of wins.