The Philadelphia 76ers are officially in possession of the third pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. With the big day a little over a month away, now is the time when speculation will rule around what the Sixers will do with their pick.
A day after the team officially retained its pick, Nick Nurse made an appearance on the Mike Gill Show on 97.3 ESPN, where he spoke about the team’s plans with the third pick, among other Sixer-centric topics.
When asked if there was a specific player he thought of initially after landing the third pick, Nurse spoke candidly about having a “couple” of names in mind, suggesting in the process that the team has decided to narrow their list down to three and will select according to which player remains.
“I think there’s certainly a couple in my mind that are on there. Now that we’re at three, [that] is when you can really dial in again… They all know who’s going number one, and then we get one team that can pick one of the two other guys that we want. So if we have a couple, we’re in good shape.”
The operative phrase is “the two other guys that we want.”
Nurse is referring to Cooper Flagg as the presumed first overall pick. After that, it can be likely assumed that one of the two other players Nurse mentions is Rutgers guard Dylan Harper, the consensus second overall pick. So the question remains, who is the third player? That is the ultimate question heading into draft night.
The likely candidates
Since the start of the year, Ace Bailey and V.J. Edgecombe sat near the top of draft boards. That remains the case today as the presumed conversation at three has been between the two impressive wings.
Both players are equipped with shortcomings that are particularly difficult to overcome.
Bailey struggles with an overreliance on tough shots, a lack of ability to create for his teammates, and an inability to both make his way to the rim and draw contact. He also came in a solid inch-plus shorter than reported at Rutgers.
Meanwhile, Edgecombe was far from automatic as a pull-up shooter this season, and struggled at the rim as well, raising concerns about his shot creation ability and potentially his upside.
Still, there is plenty to like about both players. Bailey’s shot-making shows elite potential, he has the highest scoring upside in the entire draft, is a capable and willing rebounder, and has legitimate two-way potential, though he can occasionally get lost on that end. Edgecombe, though his ceiling may not be as high as Bailey’s, is perhaps the most electric athlete in the draft, measured better than expected at the NBA combine, and boasts a versatile shot profile with a reassuring shooting form.
Both players could be well argued based on their ability, but there is also the intangible factor, something Nurse also spoke about.
“[I] want somebody that competes to win, toughness, works, somebody understands that this is a grind and a job, and you got a lot of time to get better and a lot of time in the gym, and a good teammate. Man, we want somebody that wants to compete, to win and be part of a great organization.”
One’s mind immediately flies to Edgecombe, who has perhaps showcased the most intensity among the draft’s top prospects. It should be noted though that Bailey is no slouch as a competitor.
Despite concerns about Rutgers’ subpar season, it’s important to understand the context of the team’s situation, which Bailey admittedly agreed to join. Bailey and Harper are not without blame for the season’s failure, but neither can be considered among the chief reasons.
Who is Nurse talking about?
Before getting to the prediction, it’s worth noting that a surprise decision by San Antonio to select anyone but Dylan Harper, considering their current wealth of guard talent, would potentially turn this scenario on its head, but that would simply add Harper back into the equation. Anyway, back to the show.
Either player meets the criteria Nick Nurse laid out, but the expectations around Bailey’s elite-level potential could elevate him above Edgecombe in the Sixers’ eyes. The team has a hard and fast approach to target the best player available.
Edgecombe should not be written off as the “safe” pick just because he has a perceived high floor. Ace Bailey’s size and shot-making ability simply elevate his potential, though there should be legitimate concerns about him reaching those heights.
If Nurse and the Sixers believe they can unlock Bailey to his fullest, which NBA-level spacing and teammates would go a long way toward, they could easily convince themselves that they would be adding another budding young star.
Prediction: The Sixers Draft Ace Bailey with the third overall pick
