The 2025 NBA Draft is inching ever closer, and the Sixers’ decision regarding the third pick is still far from certain.
Ace Bailey continues to have the support of a strong contingent of Sixers fans and former players who strongly believe in the young forward’s future, but many find themselves unable to buy in so quickly due to Bailey’s legitimate flaws.
Meanwhile, all signs in Philadelphia continue to point in every direction. The Sixers have made it clear previously that they hold interest in several prospects within the top 10, but that does not mean every player is a candidate to go at No. 3. Trading down remains a very real option for Daryl Morey especially if another team is far more bullish on Ace Bailey than the Sixers.
As for who that could be, there have already been rumors listing the Washington Wizards and the Brooklyn Nets as potential trade-up candidates, with the Houston Rockets joining that list as a candidate to either trade up or out.
Then there’s the New Orleans Pelicans. In the wake of the latest rumors surrounding Zion Williamson, who knows what direction they will take? Despite a previous rumored commitment to Williamson, could the plans of the newly named President of Basketball Operations, Joe Dumars, have suddenly changed in favor of a potential rebuild or retool? After all, what was true yesterday is no longer true today.
Sixers 2025 mock draft
The rules for today are simple. For this mock draft, the Sixers will be looking to trade down, while looking to pick up an additional draft asset. I say this in contrast to the idea of trading down and acquiring a player as a part of the deal, which will be an idea revisited in a future mock.
For today, the Sixers trade back with their division rivals, the Brooklyn Nets, in a move that allows them to recoup not one, but two additional draft assets.
PROPOSED TRADE
Nets Receive: No. 3 pick, Ricky Council IV, a 2027 second-round pick (More favorable of GOS and PHX [via WAS]), and a 2029 second-round pick (via PHI)
Sixers Receive: No. 8 pick, No. 19 pick and a 2028 first-round pick (the least favorable of BRK, NYK, PHI and PHX after a swap with NYK)
Why would both team’s make this trade?
Brooklyn gets the opportunity to organically swing for the fences in hopes of a star at No. 3, whether they believe that to be Ace Bailey, Tre Johnson, or whomever, that’s now their choice to make. They do so by condensing a couple of their many picks in the 2025 NBA Draft (four first-round picks, five total at this moment) on only give up one additional, likely unimportant, future first-round pick while stockpiling on future second-round picks. Plus, flyer on a young affordable prospect never hurts.
As for the Sixers, the opportunity to move down from No. 3 to No. 8 in a draft where many feel the talent difference in that range is negligible, while picking up an additional first-round pick in this draft and another in the future is too rich to pass up. Sliding down five spots still provides Philadelphia with the opportunity to draft a difference maker while allowing the team to further their plans of making the roster younger, bigger and more athletic.
Philadelphia also saves $2.6 million against the cap, which, in this day and age, is critically important.
With the eighth pick…
Last week’s mock draft (found here) saw the Sixers take the ever-polarizing Ace Bailey. This week, Philadelphia may not be swinging for the fences, but Kon Knueppel should not be overlooked because of his high floor. While seen by many as a “safe” pick, Knueppel also projects among the cleanest-fitting prospects alongside Philadelphia’s current roster.
Knueppel is by far the best shooter in the draft class, but his game goes far beyond his silky smooth jumper. Perhaps his most valuable strength, outside of his shot, is the literal strength of his lower body and the way Knueppel uses it.
The combination of his functional lower-body strength, paired with a high IQ basketball game, impeccable balance, and strong footwork, allows him to thrive as a three-level scorer. As impressive as Knueppel was outside the arc, he was equally so inside, shooting 62.1% at the rim, in the halfcourt—an important distinguisher as it eliminates transition buckets. Altogether, Knueppel shot 62.3% at the rim.
While a lack of general size and athleticism may cause some concerns that Knueppel can find the same success at the rim against stiffer NBA-caliber competition, the combination of increased spacing and Knueppel’s clear skill level should allow him to overcome those concerns.
Where legitimate questions remain is on the defensive end.
Knueppel had luxuries at Duke that few others were lucky enough to enjoy, sharing the floor with defensive stalwarts Cooper Flagg and Khaman Maluach. Ideally, playing alongside a healthy Joel Embiid would provide a similar impact, but the odds of Embiid returning to his All-Defensive team level of play are unlikely, meaning that Knueppel will be forced to prove himself as a defender at the next level, even in Philadelphia.
With the nineteenth pick…
Philadelphia has gotten younger and more athletic after selecting Kon Knueppel; check and check. There are still size issues that plague Philadelphia, which, assuming they will be unable to retain Guerschon Yabusele, are without a true power forward. While we’re living in the age of supposedly position-less basketball, the need for skilled players with size was evident all throughout last season.
Rasheer Fleming measured in at a solid 6’8.25″ (w/o shoes) with an elite 7’5.25″ wingspan, posting similar measurements to former Nick Nurse big man Chris Boucher, but with an extra 30 pounds of strength. Boasting a similar motor and ability as a spot up shooter, Fleming has the traits that have made Boucher a long sought after name for Sixers fans while possessing the potential to grow into a quality starter if progresses as expected.
Fleming has to sure up his handle and passing ability to become a player that a coach can be confident playing in the closing minutes of a tight game, but he already possesses enough of a skillset to impact the game from Day 1, something Philadelphia would rely on.
With the thirty-fifth pick…
Philadelphia may not be looking to add three rookies to its roster on draft night, especially after the most recent rash of prospects decided to return to college. Still, especially after trading away Ricky Council and with the futures of Lonnie Walker IV and Jared Butler being uncertain, should the right player be available, selecting once again at No. 35 could prove beneficial.
The Sixers have already added a well-rounded sharpshooter and an impact defender with size with their first two picks in the draft. Adding an additional sharp-shooter like Koby Brea or Chad Lanier is an attractive concept, as is betting on a behemoth of a big like Hans Yang or Rocco Zikarsky.
While you can never have enough shooting and size, the same is true for perimeter defenders, which is where Arkansas’ Adou Thiero comes into the picture. A fierce competitor and staunch defender with eye-popping athleticism, when looked at squarely through that lens, it’s difficult to see why such a player could be available at No. 35.
What completes the picture of Thiero is his lack of offensive ability in the half court, both as a creator and a shooter, and also his general tendency to overcommit on both sides of the ball. His comparisons to current (but in this case former) Sixer Ricky Council are understandable and go far beyond a shared alma mater.
Council’s career has showcased some impressive highlights and some frustrating lowlights. If the Sixers were to move off of Council, as they do in the aforementioned mock trade, why would they want a near replicant?
First, there’s what both players do well. Last season, Thiero shot 63.6% at the rim, compared to Council’s 61.3%, both impressive numbers. As the Sixers continue to transform their roster, one consistent theme as been improving the team’s pace. It was a calling card of Head Coach Nick Nurse last season and will likely remain a core aspect of the team’s offense, at least until we see the return of Joel Embiid in a consistent capacity.
Thiero’s competitive nature, defensive prowess, and extreme athleticism are all shared traits that Council also possesses.
To be clear, this isn’t some savior complex, “I can fix him-type” self-denial. Thiero’s concerns are legitimate, but he boasts all of the positives of Ricky Council’s game with a bit more potential to iron out the smaller details. For instance, his shot mechanics are far ahead of Council’s today, let alone from a couple of years ago.
While at this point, we’re certainly not comparing anything significant, the opportunity to retry the Ricky Council experiment with a player who is a bit further ahead on both ends is enticing.
Thiero has already received a second-round guarantee, which is not surprising for those who watched him at Arkansas. With the 35th pick, Philadelphia could have another developmental wing on hand.
