The 2025 NBA draft is vitally important for the Philadelphia 76ers. What will the 76ers do with the No. 3 overall pick amid swirling rumors?
Analyzing What The Philadelphia 76ers Could and Should Do With 2025 No. 3 Draft Pick
Philadelphia, the third-oldest team in the 2024-25 season, saw its seven-year playoff run come to an end this past season. The 76ers with the fifth-worst record in the NBA at 24-58. Granted, several key Sixers suffered injuries, with Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Paul George, Eric Gordon, and Jared McCain being ruled out for the season in or before March. Embiid, Maxey, and George missed a total of 133 combined games.
As a result of all the injuries, Nick Nurse was forced to use an incredible 54 different starting lineups. His most commonly used lineup was together just four games.
Given all the moving parts for the 76ers, it is no surprise the 76ers ranked in the bottom third of the league in most major categories. The Sixers were 26th in scoring and 21st in scoring defense.
Philadelphia has 12 players under contract with a salary cap hit of $177.34 million. As it stands now, the 76ers are $10.5 million below the NBA’s luxury tax and $30.4 million under the second apron. However, there are upcoming decisions by both the organization and players.
Upcoming Decisions
Philadelphia holds cheap team options on Jared Butler, Lonnie Walker IV, and Justin Edwards. Butler was excellent for the 76ers after they got him from Washington at the trade deadline. The 24-year-old guard averaged 11.5 points, 4.9 assists, and 1.1 steals in 28 appearances for the Sixers.
Edwards, a Philadelphia native, and Walker (Reading, PA) also provided a punch offensively for the 76ers. While the 76ers may be interested in keeping all three players, they may decline the options to give them a little flexibility and then re-visit their status later in the offseason.
Meanwhile, Kelly Oubre Jr.($8.3 million), Eric Gordon, and Andre Drummond ($5 million) hold player options. Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer believes that Oubre will exercise the option. Jake Fischer of The Stein Line has also reported that Oubre, Gordon, and Drummond will exercise their options.
Quentin Grimes, who was arguably the 76ers best healthy player at the end of the season, is a restricted free agent, and Guerschon Yabulese is an unrestricted free agent. Kyle Lowry is also slated to be a free agent this summer. Additionally, Adem Bona has a partially guaranteed contract that fully guarantees on October 19, while Ricky Council’s $2.2 million contract doesn’t guarantee until January 10
Grimes and Yabulese?
Fischer said that the Sixers are interested in re-signing Grimes and Yabulese.
Grimes made $4.2 million this season, although the 25-year-old guard is due for a raise. Grimes, known as a 3-and-D wing, had a career year, compiled 21.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.5 assists in 28 games with the 76ers after the trade with Dallas.
After being out of the NBA for five seasons, Yabulese demonstrated that he is an NBA player this past season with the 76ers. The 6-8 forward averaged 11.0 points, 5.6 boards, and 2.1 assists with shooting splits of 50.1/38/72.5. He made $2.08 million this past season.
What Should The Sixers Do With The No. 3 Draft Pick?
The reason that the No. 3 draft pick is so important for the 76ers is multi-fold.
Given the intel, let’s say that Oubre, Gordon, and Drummond do indeed exercise their player options. Moreover, let’s say the 76ers decline the option of Butler, Walker, and Edwards.
In that case, Philadelphia would have nine players under contract with a salary cap hit of about $170 million. Adding the No. 3 overall pick and a $9.2 million salary would mean the Sixers have 10 players with a salary cap hit of $179 million. This includes Adem Bona and Ricky Council IV, who have nonguaranteed deals.
The 76ers have the first right of refusal on Grimes, and they own his Bird rights. Grimes has a qualifying offer value of $6.3 million. However, the 25-year-old guard is likely to receive interest from other teams, and he will likely receive a $12-t0-$15 million per year deal.
Yabulese also should receive interest from other teams. The 76ers do have two exceptions to use this summer: bi-annual ($5.1 million) and mid-level ($14.1 million) exceptions.
Let’s imagine that Philadelphia re-signs both players. Grimes receives a three-year, $38 million deal ($12.3 million this year), while Yabulese signs a two-year, $10 million contract ($5 million this season).
That would mean the 76ers would have 12 players under contract with a salary cap hit of over $197 million. Therefore, the Sixers would be approximately $10 million below the second apron.
The 76ers would need to sign at least two more players with that $10 million. The Sixers own the No. 35 pick in the 2025 draft.
Philadelphia could have more room, as the 76ers will likely look to make one or two trades. Gordon and Drummond are the players most likely to be moved as salary dumps. It is also possible that the 76ers would trade Oubre.
Implications For 2026-27 Season
Philadelphia entered last season with expectations of competing to be one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference following the signing of George and the emergence of Maxey. However, Embiid was never fully healthy, and George ultimately played just 41 games.
George struggled offensively in his first season in Philly, but he still is a quality two-way player. Embiid’s knee was an issue for the 31-year-old as he was not the same player as the former NBA MVP had been. Meanwhile, Maxey continues to grow and is on the verge of becoming a superstar in his own right.
Philadelphia was 6-5 in games that the 76ers three superstars started together. The trio was on the floor together for just 294 minutes, and the 76ers were outscored by 0.6 per 100 possessions. This is to say that there is still hope this threesome pairing can work.
So, what does this have to do with the Sixers No. 3 draft pick? A lot.
Let’s suppose everything works out next year, and Philadelphia is a serious contender in the East once again. That would mean Maxey, Embiid, and George were healthy and played well.
I bring this up because of Philadelphia’s future salary cap issues. The 76ers could face a similar situation to Boston this year.
If Sixers 2026-27 Is A Disaster?
Philadelphia has six players, including Bona and Council, under contract for the 2026-27 season. Embiid will earn $59.5 million in the first year of a three-year extension next season. Embiid, George, and Maxey would account for $154.4 million, with George having two years left on his deal.
McCain and Council have team options. Those two, plus Bona, Grimes, Yabulese, and the No. 3 pick, theoretically also in tow, would increase the total to about $190 million for nine players. That would be the Sixers around $12 million below the luxury tax threshold and $34 million short of the second apron. They are unlikely to have a first-round selection in 2026 or 2028.
If Philadelphia struggles or Embiid and/or George can’t stay healthy, the Sixers may decide to go in a different direction. Let’s say Embiid and George may have significant time this year. The Sixers will likely look to move on from both, and it is unlikely they could get equal value. That would make it even more critical for the Sixers to hit with this year’s draft.
2025 Draft Rumors
Philadelphia has three options. The 76ers could use the No. 3 pick themselves, they could trade down 0r could trade up.
According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, Philadelphia and San Antonio have discussed swapping the No. 2 and No. 3 picks.
“The 76ers have engaged with the Spurs about potentially moving up to the No. 2 pick,” Scotto said. “For now, the Sixers have zeroed in on four NBA Draft prospects with the No. 3 pick, including a private workout last week with VJ Edgecombe and Ace Bailey visiting Philadelphia next week.”
It makes little sense for Philadelphia to move up one spot, as the 2025 draft is very deep. It would also likely cost the 76ers too much in future assets. There is an exception to this line of thinking. Unless the 76ers are concerned, the Spurs may take the player that they want or prevent another team from moving into the slot.
Moving Down makes a little more sense, especially if the 76ers are really concerned about Embiid’s and George’s ability to stay healthy. Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports indicated that New Orleans is interested in trading up from its No. 7 spot.
“League sources continue to cite the Pelicans as a team aggressively looking to move up in the draft,” O’Connor said. “With most front-office executives believing Bailey is the target of new general manager Joe Dumars.”
Washington is another team to keep an eye on, per Fischer. The Wizards have the No. 6 and 18 picks and are reportedly intrigued by Edgecombe.
What The 76ers Should Do With The No. 3 Pick
Philadelphia has talent. Maxey, George, and Embiid are obvious stars and are under contract for years to come.
Oubre is a borderline starter, while Yabulese, assuming he re-signs with the Sixers, is a top-8 rotational player. After the season he had, Grimes made himself a rotational player for the upcoming season, and McCain showed real potential before his season abruptly concluded.
With Grimes’ status up and in the air, the 76ers should stay at No. 3. Cooper Flagg will be the No. 1 overall pick. Dylan Harper is currently considered the No. 2 pick, but there are reportedly concerns about his shooting.
“Harper has a high floor with the skill, poise, and playmaking instincts to dictate the game at his pace,” O’Connor said. “He isn’t an ideal fit, though, next to De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle because of questions about his jumper. Harper made only 36.8% of his catch-and-shoot 3s and just 28.7% of his dribble jumpers as a Rutgers freshman. Fox and Castle are more interior-focused guards, too, and so is Jeremy Sochan in the frontcourt. How many shaky shooters can the Spurs really put around Victor Wembanyama? No matter what the Spurs are signaling ahead of the draft, I’m not convinced taking Harper is Plan A.”
VJ Edgecombe Is The Player For The 76ers
If San Antonio passes on Harper, that will theoretically leave him available to the 76ers, assuming they take Edgecombe. However, I believe Edgecombe is the pick for the Sixers.
Edgecombe is long and highly athletic, with an unbelievable skill set. While the 19-year-old’s game is far from a finished product, he is versatile and a lockdown defender. He is also a three-level scorer with a high motor who is a reliable 3-point shooter.
Plus, Edgecombe would solidify the 76ers backcourt for years to come. If Grimes returns as well, the 76ers defense could be one of the best in the league.
Trading Down Is Intriguing
Now, if New Orleans offers Philadelphia a trade similar to the one O’Connor proposed, the Sixers should seriously consider it.
O’Connor’s proposed trade: Pelicans send the seventh pick, a 2026 Pacers 1st (top-4 protected), and Herb Jones to the Sixers for the third pick and Kelly Oubre (player option).
Jones would be a significant upgrade over Oubre defensively, but he comes at a slightly higher cost and doesn’t offer the same offensive capabilities as his counterpart. So, to move down four spots. The Sixers would likely need a little more, perhaps Karlo Matkovic, Antonio Reeves, or Brandon Boston Jr.
In this scenario, O’Connor has the 76ers selecting Khaman Malauch. Malauch would be insurance for Embiid. Here is what O’Connor said about Malauch:
“Maluach is capable of erasing shots at the rim and shadowing quick guards on the perimeter. These skills would make him an intriguing fit alongside Joel Embiid early in his career in double-big lineups. Plus, he could serve as a backup, too. Beyond dunking lobs, he’s a work in progress on offense with a lack of seasoning as a screener, shooter, and creator. But he displays a shooting touch that hints at a much higher upside, not too different than Embiid when he entered the NBA.”
Philadelphia could also decide to go with Kon Knueppel, Kasparas Jakucionas, Carter Bryant, or Derick Queen in this scenario.
Photo Credit: © Zachary Taft, Imagn Images
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