Baylor phenom is the perfect alternative for the 76ers if they turn down Ace Bailey

Six days removed from the Philadelphia 76ers obtaining the third overall pick, excitement has quickly turned into passionate debates across the fandom. While Philadelphia is fortunate to have its 2025 first-rounder, there is no clear-cut prospect to select, assuming Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper are off the board. As a result, many have made a compelling case for Ace Bailey due to his untapped potential. However, there is another prospect that may be too intriguing to pass up on, regardless of the potential backlash the 76ers may receive. 

That prospect is a 6 4’ 193-pound guard from Baylor who goes by the name of V.J. Edgecombe. He’s entering the upcoming draft projected as a top-four to five pick due to his tantalizing ability on both ends of the floor, with fans calling him the adopted brother of Amen and Ausar Thompson. Edgecombe confirmed this notion at the NBA Draft Combine on Wednesday, where he notched 40 inches on his maximum vertical leap.

Edgecombe was a one-and-done for the Bears this season, where he averaged 15 points per game on 55.2% true-shooting, 5.6 rebounds per game, 3.2 assists per game, and 2.1 steals per game. His performance led him to win the Big 12 Rookie of the Year and earned him honors on the All-Big 12 Second Team and the Big-12 All-Freshman Team. Accolades aside, the 19-year-old phenom played a pivotal role in Baylor’s presence in the NCAA Tournament, where it fell to the Duke Blue Devils in the second round. 

Within that loss, Edgecombe managed to utilize an off-ball screen to cut towards the rim, and after receiving a lofty pass, he rose and recorded an emphatic throw-down. This lethal mixture of athleticism and off-ball activity is exactly what makes Edgecombe so appealing to any team selecting in the lottery range. 

Edgecombe is a defensive monster

However, Edgecombe’s explosiveness is utilized for much more than highlight-reel-caliber possessions. His physical tools serve him best on the defensive end, where he shines as a high IQ free safety who can effortlessly read passing lanes, blow up rim pressure with swift help rotations, aggressively navigate screens, and jar the ball loose defending off the point-of-attack. This culmination of defensive prowess rewards Edgecombe with plenty of one-man transition opportunities. 

Since the departure of Ben Simmons, the 76ers have lacked a high-level defensive playmaker, and Edgecombe cleanly fits that bill. Daryl Morey has spoken at length about how he wants to build a more athletic and youthful supporting cast around Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George, and the selection of Edgecombe would be a great start. While Bailey would also fit this vision, Edgecombe encapsulates it, and his defensive upside is higher than that of Bailey’s.

Off his defense alone, Edgecombe would be a seamless fit in Nick Nurse’s defensive scheme that encourages perimeter defenders to guard intensely and force turnovers in order to push tempo. Edgecombe also showcased his ability to play in zone coverage, which Nurse also likes to roll out depending on the matchups. However, the Baylor product tends to be a bit over-aggressive and gambles for steals and struggles defending front-court players. This may limit his immediate impact in Philadelphia, but those point-of-attack issues are very fixable.

Another wrinkle of Edgecombe’s defensive skill set, powered by his motor, is his rebounding on both ends of the floor. He ranked second amongst Big-12 guards in rebounds per game and 18th overall in a list that was dominated by front-court players. Edgecombe also snared two offensive boards per game, which would be a luxury for the 76ers, who’ve ranked in the bottom 10 in total rebounds per game since the 2021-22 season. Philadelphia has gotten bullied off the glass by guards such as Josh Hart, so having someone to combat him would be a luxury. 

Edgecombe's offense is where the concern lies

There’s no disputing Edgecombe’s ability to lock up, as he is widely believed to be arguably the best defensive backcourt player in his class. The talking points surrounding Edgecombe’s potential stem from his weaknesses as an on-ball creator. I’ve mentioned all the strengths that come from Edgecombe’s athleticism, but there is one drawback to his God-given ability, which is his ability to attack defenders off the bounce. 

Edgecombe tends to over-utilize his athleticism to maneuver past defenders, which won’t always work against elite NBA defenses, especially with the double-big renaissance. The 19-year-old had no problem splitting defenders at the college level, but when encountering pairings such as Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein of the Oklahoma City Thunder or Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen of the Cleveland Cavaliers, he may struggle. He shot just 43.6% from the field in his lone collegiate season. 

The next step for Edgecombe in this regard is to develop a tighter handle and more finesse-based moves, which he started to do at Baylor. Edgecombe often punished drop coverage with runners, but his pull-up game will need to drastically improve so that defenses don’t form a wall at the rim. Edgecombe shot a discouraging 25% on pull-up jumpers this past season. However, he isn’t even 20 years old yet, and that is a skill that can be improved in a matter of one to two seasons. 

Still, Edgecombe made his biggest impact offensively by moving without the ball. His bread and butter was movement shooting with sprinkles of back-door cutting, which needs to be further explored at the NBA level. During his Bears tenure, Edgecombe knocked down 47.6% of his three-pointers off screens, and he flashed the ability to attack close-outs when the opportunity presented itself. Gone are the days in the NBA where players can be a one-trick pony, so this variety of off-ball skills is essential for Edgecombe to carve out an offensive role.

Bailey or Edgecombe?

The biggest drawback to the 76ers drafting Edgecombe is the notion that they roster enough guards between Maxey, Jared McCain, and likely Quentin Grimes. This further strengthens the argument for Philadelphia drafting Bailey as he fills a positional need on top of his grave upside. However, Edgecombe supplies a different impact from Maxey and McCain, namely quality perimeter defense, size, and rebounding. If it makes the anti-guard crowd feel better, Edgecombe can also play small forward, depending on the matchup.

The Baylor talent has also shown some playmaking chops between making basic reads off pick-and-rolls and using his rim pressure to generate weak-side advantages. At a base level, Edgecombe is already a 3&D menace with sound spot-up shooting and havoc-wreaking defense. Philadelphia would have a loaded guard room, and deploying McCain and Edgecombe off the bench would provide a devastating two-way punch that can’t be replicated by many teams.

However, when it comes to choosing between him and Bailey, I would choose the latter. A lot of what Edgecombe offers, the 76ers already have with Grimes, who is yet to turn 25 years old. Acquiring Bailey would set Philadelphia up with much-needed front-court depth, and he’s no slouch as a two-way off-ball weapon himself. While Edgecombe is likely to provide a bigger impact right away, Bailey possesses a higher ceiling due to his progressing talents as a three-level scorer.