The Philadelphia 76ers were widely lauded for making the choice to select VJ Edgecombe in the 2025 NBA Draft. However, it was not always an easy choice for the front office, especially since a lot of draft heads were pretty high on then-Rutgers star Ace Bailey, who ended up getting selected by Utah at No. 5.
Philly initially signaled that it would strongly consider drafting Bailey. However, the rangy forward’s camp itself reportedly implored the 76ers not to select him in the draft. Coupled with some more histrionics from his party that ultimately ended up striking a lot of nerves, Daryl Morey, Elton Brand, and company made the safer choice in Edgecombe.
Now, Bailey is off to a slow start with the Jazz. While his numbers (10.4 points on 43.8 percent shooting) are nowhere near disastrous, he has not stood out in the way people expected. Some had him as an early favorite to win Rookie of the Year under the premise that he will have way more leeway to put up numbers in Utah, but that has not been the case at all. Heck, the 76ers probably saw this coming.
Ace Bailey has not been a standout rookie and the 76ers know why
The players selected above Bailey — Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, VJ Edgecombe, and Kon Knueppel — are basically shoo-ins to make the All-Rookie First Team. Meanwhile, Bailey has had a pretty short leash in Utah, and he has definitely not helped himself in that regard.
Bailey has displayed some brilliance as a shot creator, but too often he finds himself not being a factor anywhere else. His playmaking is virtually non-existent as the 76ers probably envisioned, and his defense has been shaky at best.
In comparison, Edgecombe has continued to impress a lot of people with his solid production across the board. He had already overcome the proverbial rookie wall, and now looks the part of a clear-cut centerpiece for this franchise in the future.
Even with Bailey not telling the 76ers to pass up on him, Philly’s brass could have done it anyway. There were always some problem areas with Bailey despite his lofty ceiling, and the Jazz are seeing it now.
Of course, the Jazz are not panicking in any way. This is still a rookie with tremendous potential. But if anything, this only proves that the 76ers made the right choice last summer. Suffice to say that they are very happy with Edgecombe.