With the 2025 NBA Draft rapidly approaching, the picture at the top of the board is beginning to sharpen, though significant intrigue remains, particularly surrounding the Philadelphia 76ers’ pivotal No. 3 pick and the future of highly-touted prospect Ace Bailey. While the consensus top two selections appear largely locked in, the decisions made just after could trigger ripple effects across the lottery and beyond.
It’s important to remember that mock drafts are speculative, drawing upon team needs, financial considerations, and prevailing rumors rather than concrete, sourced information. Nevertheless, they offer a valuable look at potential outcomes as teams finalize their draft boards. Let’s dive into the latest projections, exploring potential trades and key players, including a close look at the Sixers’ situation.
The Expected Top Two: Flagg and Harper
At the very top, there’s little debate.
No. 1 Overall: Dallas Mavericks select Cooper Flagg, F, Duke. Widely regarded as a generational talent, Flagg possesses a rare combination of skill, production, and basketball IQ for his age. Evaluators highlight his cerebral approach and two-way impact, projecting him as one of the most complete prospects in years. He’s an unselfish playmaker and versatile forward whose defensive prowess is just as notable as his scoring and shooting potential.
No. 2 Overall: San Antonio Spurs select Dylan Harper, PG, Rutgers. Harper joining Victor Wembanyama is seen as a near certainty by many scouts. Despite ongoing questions about his jump shot, he is considered the consensus clear No. 2 talent. Harper is praised for his composure, court vision, and ability to control the game’s tempo, drawing comparisons to players like Cade Cunningham. While the Spurs have recently added guards like Stephon Castle and De’Aaron Fox, creating a potentially crowded backcourt that needs floor spacing around Wembanyama, having three stellar guard options is a positive challenge they’ll likely figure out how to leverage.
The Sixers’ High-Stakes Decision at No. 3
The real drama begins at No. 3, held by the Philadelphia 76ers. All signs currently point towards a specific direction, but the situation remains fluid, especially concerning Rutgers star Ace Bailey.
Projected Pick: VJ Edgecombe, SG, Baylor. Based on reports emerging from Philadelphia and Camden, the momentum strongly favors Edgecombe as the Sixers’ selection. He is an explosive athlete, a disruptive defensive playmaker capable of generating steals (averaging over 2 per game in some projections), and a dangerous scorer in transition. Edgecombe fits the mold of an “electric wing” with a turbo-charged motor. However, his development areas include becoming a more consistent shooter and significantly improving as a ball-handler to effectively score against set defenses and unlock his star potential. The Sixers’ win-now window alongside Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey could make Edgecombe’s initial fit ideal, allowing him to focus on complementary roles and defensive impact without needing to be an immediate on-ball creator. Yet, his offensive upside will be something the team needs to see develop over time. He’s drawn comparisons to a prime Victor Oladipo.
The Ace Bailey Question: Ace Bailey, often ranked as the No. 3 prospect himself, presents a fascinating alternative. Recent news surfaced that Bailey canceled a planned visit and private workout with the Sixers just days before the draft, a move reported by ESPN. This follows a pattern, as Bailey has reportedly declined meetings with multiple teams holding high lottery picks. However, despite the cancellation, the Sixers have not reportedly ruled him out or dropped him from their board. President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey has a history of selecting players, such as Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain, without conducting private workouts, suggesting this cancellation may not be a definitive disqualifier.
Bailey is described as a “ridiculous shot-making machine” with the confidence of a classic “bucket-getter,” capable of hitting contested jumpers and showing flashes of dynamic wing scoring (shooting 34.6% from three on high volume in some analyses). Yet, he’s also labeled a “high-variance bet” needing refinement in areas like shooting consistency, raw shot creation skills, playmaking, defense, and discipline. His camp reportedly believes he is a top-three player and desires significant playing time early in his career. They also seem to anticipate a team trading up for him if he falls past the Sixers at No. 3 or potentially the Hornets at No. 4.
While the Sixers need immediate contributors for their win-now timeline, making a developmental prospect like Bailey a potentially tricky fit compared to a more polished defender like Edgecombe, the possibility of drafting the player they view as the best talent available remains.
Trade Winds: Could a Team Move Up for Bailey?
The dynamic around Ace Bailey, combined with teams potentially looking to acquire assets or specific player archetypes, fuels speculation about lottery trades. If the Sixers pass on Bailey at No. 3, it’s highly probable he won’t slide far, as teams with picks slightly lower might see him as too tantalizing a prospect to pass up.
Original Mock Trade Scenario: One common projection sees the New Orleans Pelicans trading up with the Charlotte Hornets to secure Bailey. In this scenario, Charlotte could send the No. 4 and No. 33 picks (plus a player like DaQuan Jeffries) to New Orleans for the No. 7 and No. 23 picks (plus Jose Alvarado). This allows New Orleans to acquire the “polarizing 18-year-old shot-maker” they’ve reportedly shown interest in (with Joe Dumars’ name mentioned in rumors), adding a dynamic wing talent who could potentially fill a void left by others on their roster. Charlotte, in turn, gains draft capital and a quality backup guard without completely depleting their depth.
Alternative Sixers Trade-Down Scenario: Another compelling possibility, explored in different mock drafts, involves the Sixers trading down from No. 3 themselves, often with the Pelicans. A proposed structure could see the Sixers sending the No. 3 pick (potentially with other assets like Andre Drummond and Ricky Council IV) to New Orleans in exchange for the No. 7 pick and a proven player like defensive wing Herb Jones. For the Sixers, trading down could allow them to acquire a player who immediately addresses a key need (perimeter defense with Jones) while still adding a promising talent at No. 7 (where players like Tre Johnson or Khaman Maluach are often projected). For the Pelicans, this move allows them to specifically target Ace Bailey at No. 3. This trade-down strategy could make sense for the Sixers if they believe the top talent after Flagg and Harper isn’t an ideal fit for their immediate needs and they can acquire a valuable piece and a slightly lower-variance prospect by moving back.
These trade possibilities highlight the potential fluidity of the draft board, particularly if Ace Bailey is available after the second pick.
Key Picks and Trades Beyond the Lottery Buzz
Beyond the top handful of picks and the potential Bailey-centric trades, this mock draft projects other notable selections and moves shaping the first round:
Sixers Acquire Center Depth? Should the Sixers trade down to No. 7 (as in one scenario), they could target Duke’s Khaman Maluach, a 7’1″ center with a 7’7″ wingspan and elite defensive tools, offering rim protection and mobility as a potential contingency plan or skilled backup for Joel Embiid.
Brooklyn’s Aggressive Moves: The Nets are projected to make multiple moves, potentially trading Cameron Johnson and picks to move up into the lottery (e.g., acquiring Toronto’s No. 9 pick and RJ Barrett) to secure a top international prospect like France’s Noa Essengue, an athletic wing with high upside. They could then target other high-upside guards like BYU’s Egor Demin, a jumbo-sized playmaker at 6’9.5″.
Chicago Targets Center: The Bulls could trade up slightly (e.g., sending No. 12 and No. 45 to Houston for No. 10) to secure Maryland center Derik Queen, aiming to find their center of the future behind Nikola Vučević.
Phoenix’s Durant Deal: A significant projected trade sees the Suns sending Kevin Durant to San Antonio for assets including the No. 14 pick (plus Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson). Phoenix then uses the lottery pick to address their center need with Georgetown’s Thomas Sorber, known for his impressive 7’6″ wingspan. They could then look for point guard depth later in the first round with players like France’s Nolan Traoré.
Boston Addresses Needs: The Celtics could utilize assets like Sam Hauser and a second-round pick (e.g., trading No. 32 to Utah for No. 21) to move up and address needs, potentially targeting a center like Michigan’s Danny Wolf or adding shooting with players like Tennessee’s Chaz Lanier.
Other notable prospects projected in the first round include Texas shooter Tre Johnson (seen as the draft’s “purest scorer”), Duke wing Kon Knueppel (a polished, high-IQ forward), South Carolina forward Collin Murray-Boyles (a high-motor, analytic darling), UConn wing Liam McNeeley (a pure perimeter sniper), and Florida State forward Jamir Watkins (a disruptive defender with rising stock).
The Sixers’ Second-Round Option
Holding the No. 35 pick in the second round, the Sixers have another opportunity to add talent.
Projected Pick: Drake Powell, SG/SF, North Carolina. Powell is seen as a strong fit for the Sixers’ mold, possessing dynamic athleticism and significant pedigree. While some see him potentially going higher, his versatile defensive potential aligns with team priorities.
- Alternative Target: Jamir Watkins, F, Florida State. Another prospect frequently linked to this range, Watkins is described as a disruptive, positionally versatile defender with fluid athleticism. His size, length, finishing ability, and potential as a secondary playmaker make him an appealing option for a team looking for useful role players.
- www.phillyvoice.com
- sports.yahoo.com
- www.si.com
- sports.yahoo.com
- phillysportsnetwork.com
Looking Ahead
With the draft just days away, the final shape of the lottery remains uncertain. While Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper seem set at the top, the Philadelphia 76ers’ decision at No. 3 is the pivotal point. Will they stay put and take VJ Edgecombe? Will they draft Ace Bailey despite the pre-draft visit cancellation? Or will a trade, possibly involving Ace Bailey and teams like the New Orleans Pelicans, completely shake up the top of the 2025 NBA Draft board? All possibilities are on the table, promising an intriguing draft night.
