Two weeks remain until the 2025 NBA Draft, and as has been the case since the lottery results were finalized, all eyes are on the Sixers and the third overall pick, as many believe, “the draft starts with Philly at No. 3.”
As the NBA world awaits word on if and who the Sixers will select with the third pick, a new report from The People’s Insider, otherwise known as Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, has linked an apparent top contender to Philadelphia with some particularly detailed information.
According to Fischer via the Stein Line:
“The prime candidate at No. 3, at this juncture, appears to be Baylor freshman guard VJ Edgecombe, who sources say visited with the Sixers last week. There’s an expectation that Philadelphia will bring in Rutgers’ Ace Bailey down the road, but I have not heard of a workout that Bailey has scheduled to date.
“Edgecombe is said to have impressed with his work ethic, personality and interviews. He went to dinner with Morey and other Sixers higher-ups. Even Tyrese Maxey, sources say, flew in for the occasion. The Sixers are certainly intrigued by what type of defensive complement Edgecombe could provide their All-Star guard, sources say, in addition to his explosive upside on the offensive side of the ball.
“Edgecombe’s workout with the Sixers is the only known visit for the Bahamian national teamer, sources say. Several teams are of the belief he might only work out with Philadelphia, although it’s still very early in the draft process.”
That’s a fair bit to digest.
Among the most notable info-bites is the news that the Sixers and Edgecombe have not only met, but the explosive prospect has worked out for the Sixers, which is, according to Fischer, his only known workout/visit to date.
However, to be lame and unexciting: Working out for a team, especially if it winds up being your only private workout, is a strong indicator of interest, but not an absolute indicator.
During his predraft media availability, now-Sixers star Tyrese Maxey told reporters that the only team he had a private workout with was the New Orleans Pelicans. Come draft day, New Orleans selected Kira Lewis with the 13th pick, and Philadelphia became Maxey’s NBA home after the team selected him with the 21st pick.
Last year’s rookie sensation, Jared McCain, stated on Paul George‘s podcast that the only team he privately worked out for was his hometown Sacramento Kings. Clearly, that didn’t mean everything as the Kings selected Devin Carter with the 13th pick (must be something about that number), and McCain fell to 16, where the Sixers excitedly made the selection.
So we’ve established that a private workout does not imply exclusivity. What history also shows us is that the inverse is not necessarily true either, which brings us to Ace Bailey.
The second notable piece of information is that there is no word on the Sixers having met with Bailey, who is, by many, the formerly presumptive third pick, whether or not Philadelphia ultimately trades the pick.
Just as there cannot be an overreaction to the potential of Edgecombe exclusively working out for Philadelphia, the same is true for the Sixers not (yet) working out Bailey. It’s not uncommon for a team to draft a player without holding an individual workout with said player, though admittedly, it typically happens later in the draft.
The aforementioned cases of Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain are prime examples. In stating that their only private workouts were with teams not named the Philadelphia 76ers, we can infer that neither player had a private workout with the team prior to the draft.
*Update
Well that was fast.
Just a few hours later, and it looks like the Sixers and Bailey are now in the process of scheduling a workout, according to Fischer.
Now, to get to the meat of the report.
What stands out above all else is not the news of Edgecombe’s workout with the Sixers or that they’re the only team he’s worked out for thus far. What’s most noteworthy is that Edgecombe has reportedly impressed so well between interviews and his workout with the team that President of Basketball Operations, Daryl Morey, along with other high-ranking Sixers officials, held a dinner meeting with Edgecombe, for which Sixers star Tyrese Maxey flew out specifically for.
Since the Sixers secured the third pick, it’s been far from difficult to connect them to Edgecombe. The very day after the lottery, Sixers Head Coach Nick Nurse took to the radio waves and hinted at the team’s potential plans, or at the very least, their type of player.
“[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,” Nurse said on the Mike Gill Show on 97.3 ESPN. “Man, we want somebody that wants to compete, to win and be part of a great organization.”
It’s not hard to read that and immediately envision VJ Edgecombe.
The front office clearly feels that Edgecombe is worth considering with the third pick, which is evident by the team bringing in Tyrese Maxey, who may very well be on his way to becoming the face of the franchise.
Finally, it should be noted that Fischer’s report seems to almost rule out the possibility of the Sixers trading down for Edgecombe, as the section involving Philadelphia was immediately followed by reports that the Charlotte Hornets and Washington Wizards, who hold the fourth and sixth picks respectively, are both high on Edgecombe, with the Wizards hoping to trade up to secure him.
The idea of Philadelphia trading down is surely still a possibility, but it seems unlikely they could do so and still land Edgecombe.
When the time comes to make the selection, Philadelphia will select who they consider to be the best player available. If that is Edgecombe, expect them to confidently make that selection at three.
If you, as an NBA franchise, have your sights on a player you are confident is the most capable of helping your team to its ultimate goal, winning a championship, then you select that player when you can get him. Simple as that.
