The 2025 NBA Draft is just two days away, and time is running out until Daryl Morey and the Philadelphia 76ers must decide what to do with the third pick in the draft. The past two weeks have seen a flurry of rumors, from the Sixers‘ meeting with VJ Edgecombe to the team scheduling a workout with Ace Bailey and, of course, the eventual cancellation of that workout.
As the days continue to count down, we’ve come to the final entry in our Sixers Mock Draft series. In this edition, smoke turns into fire as the Philadelphia 76ers make their selection.
Sixers 2025 mock draft
Recent rumor dumps began with what might be the most pertinent news of all: VJ Edgecombe’s workout, meeting, and subsequent dinner with the Sixers, for which Tyrese Maxey flew out to participate.
As one continues to follow the tea leaves, the lack of an Ace Bailey workout followed by the rushed scheduling of said workout that was eventually cancelled, the consistent word that San Antonio is settled on Harper at No. 2, and the recent report by PHLY Sports’ Kyle Neubeck that a trade down is, at this moment, unlikely for the Sixers, the favorite at this point seems clear.
With the third pick…
As a player, Edgecombe fits many of the needs for the Sixers, who are making a concerted effort to add young, athletic, cost-controlled, two-way talent. While his shortcomings are apparent, shooting struggles in the half court, including at the rim, a lack of a diverse shot profile, and a lack of ball-handling ability, there are a few reasons to be optimistic about Edgecombe’s growth in those areas.
A high shot release and consistent shot mechanics, paired with his relative success at the free-throw line, bode well for his potential development.
Defensively, Edgecombe is not a question. His ability, effort, IQ, and wingspan, which were unveiled as surprising positives at the NBA’s Draft Combine, allow him to thrive both on and off the ball in a way that the Sixers have not had since Andre Iguodala, though his measurements are more comparable with that of Cleveland Cavaliers wing Isaac Okoro.
Almost as important as his on-court ability is the heart with which Edgecombe approaches the game. Philadelphia has added several players in recent years, Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain being the most well-known, who maintain a consistent and seemingly unending work ethic.
From a personality standpoint, VJ Edgecombe is a picture-perfect fit for what the Philadelphia 76ers are looking for. A tireless worker who leads others by his example, Edgecombe has reportedly “made a strong impression” on the Sixers organization during his private workout and the meeting that followed.
ESPN’s Jeremy Woo had some less encouraging details about the workout: “While sources say Edgecombe appeared nervous during his private workout in Philadelphia and did not shoot the ball particularly well in an unnatural one-on-one setting, he made a strong impression in interviews and meetings, something the front office values more highly.”
Ultimately, Woo landed with the same sentiment of the Sixers placing more stock in Edgecombe’s intangibles than any perceived nerves the 18-year-old may have exhibited at his only NBA workout.
In VJ Edgecombe, Philadelphia would have another impressive workhorse in the stable. As the 2025 NBA Finals have shown, an elite competitive drive is as important as nearly any individual skill.
Player comparison:
Floor: Isaac Okoro
Ceiling: Victor Oladipo
With the 35th pick…
Last season, second-round rookie Adem Bona made his mark and improved far ahead of schedule, proving himself as a solid backup center. Unfortunately, the uncertainty of Philadelphia’s current center situation, that is, the health of Joel Embiid, means the Sixers must invest more assets in the center position than otherwise.
In steps Penn State’s Yanic Konan Niederhauser.
As fantastic as Bona was last season, there are two areas in which he—and, for that matter, the rest of the Sixers’ centers—came up a bit short. Rim protection and floor-stretching.
Niederhauser is not an automatic candidate to improve the Sixers’ spacing, though some have speculated his mild willingness to shoot from range, paired with his soft touch, indicates promise in a jumper development. The major aspect of the game in which Niederhauser can make an impact, especially early on, is as a rim protector.
Bona was prolific as a shot blocker last season, especially toward the end of the year, but shot blocking alone does not protect the rim. Niederhauser’s size, 7 feet with a 7 feet, 3 inches standing reach, combined with his smooth footwork and shot-blocking instincts, make Niederhauser a potential candidate to become the complete package as a rim protector, should he continue to improve his total court awareness.
Player comparison:
Floor: Jaxson Hayes
Ceiling: Daniel Gafford
