Draft rumors continue to circle around what the Sixers will do at No. 3
Everyone hold on to your hats, leverage season is in full swing.
While the position the Sixers have put out publicly is that they are happy with their spot with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, there still has been plenty of chatter that they could trade out of it.
Rafael Barlowe reported recently that Philadelphia could be shopping the pick around. That topic came up again when he went on Kevin O’Conner’s podcast to discuss the draft. Opening the show with what the Sixers should do, not only did trading the pick come up, but a potential suitor did as well.
“Personally if I’m Philadelphia, I’d be very very open to trading down. I’ve heard the Pelicans at No. 7 like Ace Bailey. Joe Dumars there sounds like he really likes Ace Bailey, could try to trade up to No. 3 to Philly or No. 4 with Charlotte,” said O’Connor around the 5:37 mark of the show.
This is a part of O’Connor’s belief that Duke center Khaman Maluach is who the Sixers should select. Drafting a big man might be a good idea for this franchise, but the consensus at the moment is the third pick is a bit high for Maluach to go. With the seventh pick, the Pelicans are a good spot for the Sixers to slide down a bit and still get the guy they liked.
“That, to me, is the best case scenario for the Sixers, as you trade down four spots from 3 to 7, New Orleans gets their guy in Ace Bailey and then at No. 7 you can probably still get Maluach there. I would imagine he’s still going to be there,” said O’Connor.
It’s hard to make much out of any leaks this time of year, but this is at least the second report that the Pelicans really like Bailey. On the In the N.O. podcast (around the 43:00 mark), Shamit Dua also said that New Orleans is high on the wing from Rutgers.
It certainly isn’t easy to filter through all the smokescreens, but if the Sixers want to move down in this draft, it looks like there will be trade partners for them to do so.