The 2025 NBA Draft is now just a month away. While the first and second picks are assumed to be spoken for, it has consistently been said that the draft truly starts with the Sixers‘ selection at No. 3.
Looking at the latest reporting around the league, Philadelphia continues to at least signal its desire to add young, promising talent. The organization has said so directly when asked, and while you cannot take everything the team says as absolute—situations are fluid, and gamesmanship is a major part of negotiation after all—it is worth noting just how consistently they maintained this position.
With that said, let’s look at the options that will potentially be available for the Sixers at both the No. 3 and No. 35 in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Sixers 2025 mock draft
The rules for today are simple. For this mock draft, the Sixers will be retaining both the third and 35th picks in the 2025 NBA Draft. They may change in future mock drafts, but for this year’s first edition, we’re keeping things simple.
With the third pick…
One could spin a wheel and perhaps have better odds at predicting who will be selected with the third pick in the upcoming draft. Still, despite the shortcomings in just about every prospect’s game, at least those predicted to be available at No. 3, the leading candidate seems to be Rutgers wing Ace Bailey.
Yes, he’s the most polarizing player in the draft for a reason. Yes, yes, we know about the shooting. Some think he’s the next Kevin Durant, others think he’s simply another wanna-be Kobe, taking difficult shots simply to prove that he can make them.
In Philadelphia, alongside Tyrese Maxey, Paul George and Joel Embiid, Bailey’s role will look tremendously different than it has at any stage for him so far. He simply will not out-touch any of those three, health permitting, and will not be afforded the opportunity to take whatever shot he wants while the opportunity for clean looks will rise exponentially for him.
In short, there are concerns about the shooting, but they should not be the main topic of conversation with Bailey.
Instead, let’s shift focus to half-court shot creation. Bailey’s lack of strength and handling create issues in the half-court, particularly his now well-documented struggles attacking the rim. But just how dire is the situation?
There will be no blaming Rutgers for Bailey’s lack of production. Committing to the Scarlet Knights was a decision Bailey made, and the consequences of that decision are his to bear. However, it should be stated, for the sake of accurately discussing Bailey’s shortcomings, that Rutgers’ lack of supporting talent was a detractor. Not only did it lead to a lack of spacing while stunting potential playmaking opportunities for Bailey, but his teammates constantly struggled to find him en route to the rim.
A tremendous strength of Ace Bailey’s game is his ability as a cutter, making the most of his size and athleticism to manufacture easy buckets. Unfortunately, this ability was frequently underutilized due to the rest of his supporting cast, outside of Harper, of course, proving below par in the passing game.
Playing alongside the likes of Tyrese Maxey, Jared McCain, Quentin Grimes, Paul George, and even Joel Embiid should be a tremendous upgrade in many ways for Bailey, including the increased opportunity for easy buckets off-ball both in catch-and-shoot situations and as a cutter.
Defensively, many have overlooked Bailey, who, thanks to his size and athleticism, has the makings of an impact defender at the NBA level. While he lacks the lateral quickness necessary to be a lockdown defender at the point of attack, he has enough to be an effective on-ball defender and off-ball rim protector.
His shortcomings on the defensive end came in lapses of focus, not desire, and that’s a very important distinction. Under the tutelage of a coach like Nick Nurse, Bailey would have the opportunity to not only improve his focus but also his ability on the defensive end, as Kelly Oubre and Tyrese Maxey have already. Bailey’s natural gifts and sharper defensive instincts already give him a leg up on both of them while also giving him a far more impressive ceiling as a defender.
For Bailey to reach his true ceiling, he’ll need to add strength, which is quite common for an 18-year-old prospect, improve his handle, and his decision-making. However, to simply make a noticeable impact on the game, Bailey is not far off.
Player comparison:
Floor: Michael Porter Jr./Jabari Smith Jr. hybrid
Ceiling: Rashard Lewis 2.0
With the 35th pick…
Ace Bailey has been one of the draft’s more polarizing players, as has senior prospect Cedric Coward, who has the widest margin of where he could be selected. A flirtatious spring between remaining in the draft or transferring to Duke ultimately resulted in Coward turning down the Blue Devils in favor of going pro after a particularly impressive display at the NBA’s Draft Combine. Now, Coward can be found ranging between the 14th and 40th pick in the upcoming draft.
Showing off elite length, verticality, and shot-making ability, Cedric Coward, to the right team, is perhaps a first-round talent now, though some teams remain skeptical of Draft Combine darlings. There are reasons why Coward could very well be selected in the second round, but he should not fall past No. 35 in this writer’s opinion.
Offensively, the immediate attraction to Coward is his ability as a shooter. His great court awareness allows him to earn open looks off the catch, relocating from spot to spot a la Jared McCain (or, you know, Steph Curry). The more off-ball movement shooters the Sixers can collect, the better, and Coward certainly fits that bill while also offering value as a spot-up shooter.
As a defender, Coward is more “impactful” than “good.” He won’t be confused with Alex Caruso. On-ball, he can lose his man at times, but he also knows how to use his size to his advantage. Coward pairs quick hands with an elite wingspan to both poke the ball free from his assigned man while also defending passing lanes, frequently intercepting the ball. If that’s not a Nick Nurse guy, I don’t know who is.
You may ask, “Zach, if Cedric Coward is so good, why would he be available in the second round?” To which I would say, “Great question, reader,” and refer you to the league’s instance that the best ability is availability.
Coward played just six games for Washington State before suffering a season-ending injury. Before that, he started in just 34 games for Eastern Washington between his junior and senior years. Prior to that, Coward played for the Willamette University, a Division III School in Salem, Oregon.
The tape simply isn’t there for most teams to commit a premium asset. The 35th pick is far easier to gamble with in such a high-risk, high-reward situation.
Philadelphia may ultimately have to trade up to acquire Coward, which they should heavily consider. But, if teams decide there’s ultimately too much risk in such an unproven player, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better option for the Sixers at No. 35.
Player comparison:
Floor: Jarace Walker
Ceiling: Khris Middleton
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