Philadelphia 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey took to the radio waves to discuss the Sixers’ initial feelings after the team moved from the fifth to the third overall pick during the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery.
“We feel very comfortable about the player who will be there,” Morey told the Fanatic’s Andrew Salciunas and guest Amy Fadool. “It was definitely a celebration day and a high drama day that all Philly fans and everyone in the front office and coaching staff went through.”
Immediately, Morey suggested that the Sixers will not only make their selection, but that they seem to have an idea of who they will be selecting, something head coach Nick Nurse similarly did that same day when speaking to 97.3 ESPN.
Morey was asked to confirm that the organization’s plan was to take a player with the third pick, which he did.
“Yeah, that’s the plan, I think,” Morey said. “To get a high upside player that we also think can contribute right away is a big deal, and we feel like three is a great spot to be.”
Morey also once again addressed the team’s general draft philosophy, signalling that once again, the team will target the best player available, whoever they decide that is.
“Our free agency won’t play into who we draft. We’re going to go with the best player there, which is why we’re excited about how good the top of the draft is, and then we’ll have to work around who we who we draft in free agency, but if you look at the history of the league, the mistakes are made when you when you don’t just take the best player there.”
While some Sixers fans may be frustrated at the lack of commitment to avoid drafting another guard, Morey’s point rings true. Had the team drafted for need last season, Jared McCain would not be a Sixer today; I think we can all agree on what an injustice that would be. In 2020, the Sixers had a lead guard in Ben Simmons, and yet, despite the team’s greatest need being a sharpshooting wing, Morey and the team selected Tyrese Maxey, a guard who fell out of the lottery due to shooting and size concerns, yet boasted a tremendous amount of potential. Need I say more?
So, who is the best player available at three?
The Sixers appear to be rather high on Rutgers guard Dylan Harper should he fall, according to Nick Nurse’s aforementioned comments, but what if there are no surprises and Harper and Flagg are both off the board?
The likely options are Ace Bailey or V.J. Edgecombe, though perhaps Tre Johnson and the absolute show he’s put on at the combine could have something to say about that.
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