The 2025 NBA Draft is only slightly over a week away, and the Philadelphia 76ers will soon make an all-important decision that could very well dictate the trajectory of the franchise moving forward. Currently, they are slated to pick third — an eviable position to be in given the quality and depth of talent highly anticipated from this year’s crop of incoming rookies.
So far, the 76ers have signaled various positions surrounding their draft strategy, but even at this juncture, it is perhaps a safer bet to say that the front office will resort to doing the simplest thing out there — plainly picking third overall. There are a bevy of options for them given their unique blend of future-oriented assets and win-now commodities, but a trade before the draft seems nebulous for now.
In conjunction with their projected stance, Philly is believed to have zoomed in on two, elite prospects from this year’s draft — Rutgers star Ace Bailey and Baylor standout VJ Edgecombe. A couple of other names have been floated around as possible choices for the 76ers, but in all likelihood, their chances of going wayward from those two are remote at best.
The 76ers finally take an important step forward with Ace Bailey ahead of the 2025 NBA Draft
Edgecombe, who is deemed by pundits as the more NBA-ready prospect compared to Bailey, was recently reported to be the favorite to land in Philly come June 25. However, the 76ers are keeping a flexible position, and in fact, have already scheduled a workout with the erstwhile hard-to-please camp of the Rutgers alum.
According to Jake Fischer (subscription required), the 76ers have scheduled a private workout with Bailey, who is still widely seen as the third-best prospect in most mock drafts. This is definitely a welcome development for the 76ers, as the front office should now be able to get a closer look on one of the most intriguing rookies in the draft.
Despite questions about his decision-making, defensive aptitude, and individual shot creation, Bailey packs so much skill in his lengthy frame that it would be hasty for the 76ers to commit to Edgecombe with complete resolve. Equally important as well is the fact that Philadelphia needs more size at forward, and fit-wise, Bailey offers a more seamless offering.
Pending the outcome of this workout, the Philadelphia 76ers are most likely still torn between the two prospects. Edgecombe would definitely arm the team with an NBA-ready skill set that could instantly contribute next season, but Bailey arguably has a higher ceiling. At his best, he could even turn out to be a potential franchise cornerstone.