The Philadelphia 76ers are just a couple of weeks away from making a very important call in the 2025 NBA Draft. Currently, the team is in possession of the third overall pick, but as expected, the front office does not seem content with just standing pat and waiting for June 25 to come anticlimactically.
For now, the league-wide expectation is that the 76ers will not overcomplicate things and just make an outright selection at No. 3. Names like Ace Bailey, VJ Edgecombe, Tre Johnson, and Khaman Maluach have been floated around as prospects the front office is keeping an eye on, but following a recent reporter, the team’s brass appears to be going for something bigger.
According to Hoops Hype’s Michael Scotto, the 76ers have engaged the Spurs about potentially trading up for the second overall pick ahead of the draft. San Antonio, who made a huge leap to end up with the No. 2 selection, is widely believed to be zeroing in on Dylan Harper, who has long been considered the second-best prospect in this year’s draft class.
But if we’re being real here, are the 76ers not just setting up fans for a huge disappointment?
The 76ers are plotting an unrealistic plan to get the second overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft
In theory, that the 76ers are setting into motion a plan to move up in the draft is a great sign. Harper, after all, would have been the top pick in other draft classes. Even better, he would fit right into the team’s dynamic, especially next to Tyrese Maxey in the backcourt.
Having said that, it takes two to tango. The Spurs have not signaled any indication that they would be amenable to such a trade framework. So far, what has only been reported is that Philly is angling to offer up their own selection (plus other asset/s to sweeten the pot) for a move up the draft pecking order.
In addition, there is not a lot of compelling reasons for the Spurs to part with the second overall pick to get anything the 76ers can offer instead of commencing a bidding war in order to get more win-now help in the form of an established star, especially with Victor Wembanyama already knocking on the doors of being a top-five player in just his sophomore campaign.
Of course, the 76ers stand to massively benefit if they do get their hands on the foremost right to pick Harper, but fans got to temper their expectations as reports thus far have indicated that this is a one-sided venture.
But no matter what happens, the Philadelphia 76ers have undeniable optionality this time around, which is a great thing to have to mitigate the fact that currently, they are in a state fo flux and complete uncertainty ahead of the 2025-26 season.