The Philadelphia 76ers are expecting great things from rookie VJ Edgecombe next season. The Baylor star, whom the team drafted with the third overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, is expected to have a major role right off the bat as part of a loaded backcourt that profiles as one of the best ones in the entire league.
Alongside Tyrese Maxey, Jared McCain, and presumably Quentin Grimes, Edgecombe will help the team tout an even more well-rounded and aggressive scoring attack. During his brief Summer League stint, the Bahamian guard flashed his ability as a three-level scorer, giving the 76ers another talented player who can crank up the pressure on opposing defenses.
Having said that, it is difficult to dispute the fact that there remains some degree of overlaps with those four players. All of them project as score-first guards who do the most damage with the ball in their hands. As a result, playing time may not always be ample for all of them, except for Maxey of course.
But for Edgecombe, there is another obstacle that could actually prove to be detrimental to him getting ample minutes next season from within the roster.
The 76ers could give priority to Quentin Grimes over VJ Edgecombe
While he is still technically a free agent, Grimes will inevitably sign a new deal to return to the 76ers. And even though that contract is expected to be a short-term one, there is a vital reason why the coaching staff would give him priority when it comes to minutes and role.
It would be in the team’s best interest to showcase Grimes as much as possible in hopes of making him an even more appealing trade chip. Combining trade feasibility, market price, and league perception, he may be the best trade asset they have on the roster.
Hence, while it could mean that Edgecombe will, say, be more of an 18 to 22 minute player than a 24-28 one, the 76ers almost have to give Grimes as many court time as they can.
Of course, that will give the Baylor star lesser chances at putting up stellar scoring numbers and being in the running for the Rookie of the Year award, but that is the minor price to pay given their circumstances and the inarguable logjam in the backcourt.
Having said that, VJ Edgecombe does not need to be eye-popping from the start. There is a process to things for a rookie, and this is a perfect reason for the 76ers to ease him into the NBA.