The Philadelphia 76ers will soon be on deck to make their most important decision yet this year. The 2025 NBA Draft is now commanding full attention with the conclusion of the Finals, and at this point in time, all front offices are likely exhausting all of their efforts into ensuring that they get in the best position to add a potential star to their respective rosters.
At present and most likely moving forward, the 76ers will stay put at No. 3, where they will have a wide range of options available to them. Reports about the team’s preferred prospect are starting to get firmer, and it is becoming increasingly probable that Daryl Morey and his crew will settle with Baylor standout VJ Edgecombe and usher him in as the newest rookie star in the city.
Having said that, there are also some whispers among the drafting circles about Morey and the 76ers brass keeping an open stance on the wide pool of prospects they will choose from. Most notable of those “alternatives” is Rutgers product Ace Bailey, who has drawn a lot of flak as of late due to his and his camp’s utter refusal to work out for any team.
The 76ers can ace the 2025 NBA Draft if this huge gamble pays off
Nevertheless, the stars are inarguably aligning for Philly to not draft Bailey. However, given how the race for him could possibly unfold, the 76ers have a big opportunity to make the most out of their unique situation.
Bailey’s camp clearly has a destination in mind, but the 76ers can bypass that fact and go ahead with picking him anyway. After all, Bailey is still reckoned by most draft experts as the third-best prospect in this year’s draft.
The thinking, however, is that the 76ers will select him to the effect that they can then commence a fishing expedition. A lot of teams should have strong interest in making a play for a high-ceiling prospect like Bailey, and by snagging him at No. 3, they get to examine and choose from the prospective offers they would get with Bailey on the table.
The risk, of course, is that the 76ers may not even be able to eventually obtain the prospect they truly want if another team proceeds to pick that player and does not signal any degree of interest in trading for Bailey with their selection and other assets to sweeten the pot.
However, given Bailey’s promise, it seems extremely unlikely that no team — especially those in the 4-8 range — will try to even put forth an offer to acquire him.
This gamble may give the Philadelphia 76ers a lot of puzzling looks on draft night, but this is exactly the kind of risk they have to take if they truly want to get resourceful and make the most out of their current assets. If they have the balls to pull the trigger on this one, they should not hesitate.