Marc Stein and Jake Fischer came off the top rope with another late-night, Sixers-heavy slop drop.
We’re now officially less than a week away from the NBA draft, and speculation is heating up with numerous scenarios and rumors swirling. Marc Stein and Jake Fischer remain some of the most reliable sources when it comes to Sixers-related developments, and their latest edition of The Stein Line is packed with insights.
Kicking things off with draft-related news, Stein and Fischer highlighted two prospects: Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper.
The Stein Line has learned that Ace Bailey is scheduled to fly into Philadelphia on Thursday for a much-anticipated visit with the Sixers.
Philadelphia holds the No. 3 overall pick and Bailey, to this point, has not worked out for any team, adamant in his belief that he will fall no lower than No. 3 in next Wednesday’s Round 1 proceedings despite recent suggestions that he could indeed drop some.
The Rutgers forward is expected, as seen with Flagg in Dallas, to focus on meetings with team officials on his first day in Philly before proceeding to an on-court workout at the team’s facilities Friday.
One source briefed on the situation told The Stein Line that the Sixers, one week out, appear most likely to hold firm at No. 3 as it stands … emphasis on as it stands. League sources say that Philadelphia is indeed still trying to move up a spot, but San Antonio continues to convey that it plans to hold on to the No. 2 overall pick for the widely expected selection of Rutgers’ Dylan Harper.
Ace Bailey’s workout with the Sixers has been on the calendar for a few days now, but what stands out is the growing belief — either from Bailey himself or his camp — that he won’t fall past the No. 3 pick on draft night. Interestingly, the Sixers remain the only team currently scheduled to bring him in. Up until now, most of the buzz around Philadelphia’s draft interest has centered on Baylor wing VJ Edgecombe. Whether this meeting with Bailey shifts the team’s thinking in the final stretch remains to be seen.
Update: Bailey abruptly canceled his workout with the Sixers.
News of Philadelphia reaching out to San Antonio first surfaced a few days ago via HoopsHype’s Mike Scotto. Since then, things had gone relatively quiet — until now. In this latest update, Stein reports that the Sixers are still actively trying to move up one spot in the draft, presumably to target Harper. Multiple recent reports suggest the Spurs are leaning toward selecting Harper at No. 2 despite potential concerns about his fit in an already crowded backcourt.
Is this posturing, or do the Spurs genuinely believe Harper is the best player on the board by a wide enough margin to justify overlooking fit concerns? We’ll get a clearer picture in the coming days.
Historically, the Sixers have taken a fairly measured approach when it comes to offering assets in trades. But this might be the rare case where they should be aggressive if they truly believe Harper is their guy. He projects as an excellent fit alongside Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain, and he would come with the benefit of a cost-controlled contract for four seasons. With that kind of long-term upside, this is exactly the type of move that warrants taking a bigger swing in negotiations.
Outside of the draft, Stein also touched on several of the Sixers’ impending free agents, offering insight into how the team might be approaching its salary structure moving forward.
By simply staying at No. 3, Philadelphia would introduce an $11.1 million salary onto its books for 2025-26. So the Sixers expect to operate near (or maybe even above) the second apron for this upcoming campaign, sources say, as they prepare to give Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey another shot to try to contend for a championship after they managed to appear in just 15 games (7-8) together this season.
Sources add that re-signing restricted free agent-to-be Quentin Grimes continues to be a priority in Philadelphia.
With a trio of Sixers veterans — Kelly Oubre Jr., Andre Drummond and Eric Gordon — all expected to soon activate the player options in their respective contracts for next season, it looks as though it will be increasingly challenging for Philadelphia to re-sign beloved big man Guerschon Yabusele. The former first-round pick from France, who played last season on a minimum deal, is projected to have a strong market in free agency.
Barring a dramatic move involving Maxey, Paul George or Joel Embiid, the Sixers are on track to be an expensive team. It’s a safe bet they’ll be operating near the second apron. With that said, I do have reservations about Daryl Morey — who’s widely regarded as a CBA expert —willingly committing to life under the strict constraints that come with the second apron, especially with a team that has major question marks as a contender.
Quentin Grimes has long been viewed as the Sixers’ top free-agent priority. Early reports indicated that Oubre, Drummond and Gordon are all expected to pick up their respective player options, adding roughly $16 million to the payroll. Once you factor in the salary for the No. 3 pick ($11.1 million) and a new deal for Grimes, it becomes clear that there may be little room left, if any, for a potential contract with Yabusele.
Oubre, Drummond and Gordon each have until June 29 to decide on their respective player options. If Yabusele remains part of the Sixers’ plans, they could explore moving one or more of that trio to create additional financial flexibility. Doing so could help carve out more flexibility for Yabusele while also giving the front office some breathing room beneath the second apron.
With the draft rapidly approaching and free-agency decisions looming, the Sixers are entering a pivotal stretch that could define their long-term trajectory. Whether it’s making an aggressive move up the board for Harper or navigating the financial puzzle around their pending free agents, Morey and the front office have major decisions ahead. The next few weeks will offer a clearer picture of how bold this team is willing to be in its pursuit of contention.