The NFL draft has come and gone, meaning that the next draft relevant for Philly sports fans is the NBA Draft, set for June 24. This time last year, there were virtually no expectations for the Philadelphia 76ers to participate in this year’s draft as they were expected to be without a pick in the first or second round.
It’s a big difference a year makes. The Sixers experienced a tumultuous season, finishing with a 24-58 record, the fifth-worst record in the entire league. Not much positive can be said about that, but a bottom-six finish does give Philadelphia a decent chance at retaining their first-round pick, which is owned by the Oklahoma City Thunder, unless that pick lands among the first six picks in the draft after the lottery.
The Sixers currently have a 63.9% chance of retaining their first-round pick, a 42.1% chance of landing a top-four pick, and a 10.5% chance of winning the first overall selection in the NBA Draft. All of that will be determined on Monday, May 12, when the NBA commences its draft lottery, which will decide where all 14 teams that failed to make the NBA playoffs will draft come June 24.
Ahead of the draft, here’s a look at some of the potential names the Sixers could target, should they retain their pick:
Tier one: The consensus top pick
The undisputed top pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Cooper Flagg, is a near-perfect prospect. Calling him the most impressive prospect since Victor Wembanyama would not be overly impressive, but when you consider how few names would appear above Flagg between Wemby and LeBron James, the image becomes a bit clearer.
Flagg is above average in nearly every aspect of the game and has shown elite defensive potential. The only true knock on Flagg is whether he has the will to become a top-15 player in the NBA. Few have the talent, fewer still have the heart to be truly elite.
Credit to Flagg, as the year progressed, he appeared increasingly comfortable as the unquestioned star of a loaded Duke recruiting class. However, the NBA is a different animal.
Tier two: Could go No. 1 any other year
In almost any other draft class, Dylan Harper would be discussed as the favorite to be selected with the first overall pick. Unfortunately for him, Cooper Flagg appears to be a generational talent.
Harper is no slouch by comparison, boasting truly elite size (6’6″, 6’10” reported wingspan, 215 pounds) and athleticism mixed with some of the most impressive finishing ability seen by any college player, let alone a freshman guard. His jumpshot is a work in progress, finishing his freshman season shooting 33.3% from three, but his ability to work inside will buy him time to develop that outside shot.
Defensively, Harper is a work in progress, but his size and athleticism, paired with defensive flashes in his single season at Rutgers, signal that he could reach high-end levels of performance on that end.
Tier three: Can they reach their high ceilings?
VJ Edgecombe
Like Harper, VJ Edgecombe’s athleticism is a tremendous trait. Drawing comparisons to Victor Oladipo, his above-the-rim activity, quick first step, and investment in playing hard-nosed defense have painted a portrait of an extremely well-rounded, high-level player, should he reach his potential.
To do so, Edgecombe will have to improve his shot consistency and his shot versatility, but his floor seems rather reliable as a quality sixth-man to low-end starter at the absolute worst.
Ace Bailey
Ace Bailey once rivaled Cooper Flagg in conversations as the potential top pick in the draft. One season at Rutgers later, and he’s fighting to hold on to a top-four position in the draft. Bailey’s potential is sky-high thanks to his size, athleticism, and shot-making profile, but there remain many questions about whether or not Bailey is capable of rising from good to great.
Poor shot selection, tunnel vision with the ball in his hands, poor assist-to-turnover ratio, low free-throw rate, these flags became increasingly more red during Bailey’s time at Rutgers. The hope is that, alongside true NBA talent, Bailey will be able to rely more on his teammates and not feel the need to force so many shots from the deep-midrange to perimeter.
Tier four: The leftovers
Kon Knueppel
Possibly the best pure shooter in this draft, Kon Knueppel would fit like a glove on nearly any team. While his lack of athleticism leaves a bit to be desired and lowers his potential as a two-way wing, his size and strength should help make him a capable defender and a legitimate 3&D threat.
Derick Queen
A versatile, offensively skilled big man, Derick Queen is projected to be a flawed combo big at the next level. The main question is how to minimize his weaknesses while maximizing his strengths. As a defender, Queen is not a rim protector, but may have room to grow as a perimeter defender, making him a potential option as a rather large power forward next to Joel Embiid. To do so, he will have to improve his shot quality and quantity from deep and his ball-handling ability at the very least.
Could that make him a fit for Philadelphia with the fifth or sixth pick? Time will tell.
Khaman Maluach
A potentially elite defensive anchor, Khaman Maluach utilizes his elite, Wembanyama-like size to defend both in the paint and along the perimeter. Unfortunately, he provides very little on the offensive end of the floor, and his defensive skillset is still rather raw, making him an investment the Sixers may have little interest in considering the development of Adem Bona and the hopeful return of Joel Embiid.
Tre Johnson
A high-level athlete and shot maker, Tre Johnson is electric to watch. Critics will point to his shot selection as a limiter on his potential—Johnson has as much potential to shoot you out of a game as he does to shoot you back in, but whether his true ceiling is as potential starter a bouncy scoring threat off the bench, Johnson will find a place in the league moving forward.
