The 2025 NBA draft for the Philadelphia 76ers will be focused mostly on the No. 3 pick as the Sixers will be looking to add one of the top players in this draft. After a disastrous 2024-25 season, Philadelphia was granted the No. 3 pick and will look to add one of the top young players in a draft loaded with talent.
The Sixers have two picks in the draft and now is the time for a mock draft for Philadelphia for both selections (3 and 35). President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey was able to coax a second-round pick from the Dallas Mavericks in the Quentin Grimes-Caleb Martin trade back at the February deadline as Philadelphia looks to get younger.
Now is the time for a mock draft 2.0 for the Sixers for both rounds of the 2025 draft:
Round 1, pick No. 3 overall: VJ Edgecombe, Baylor
2024-25 stats: 15.0 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 3.2 apg, 2.1 spg, 43.6% FG, 34% 3FG
Many will be clamoring for Rutgers star Ace Bailey, and he very well may be the pick at No. 3, but Edgecombe could be the better player. He is supremely athletic, able to take any defender off the dribble, and attack the basket, and he is more than solid defensively as he is aggressive at the point of attack and can create turnovers. He is an outstanding worker, and even though there are some finishing issues at the basket, he is somebody who can contribute on both ends right away. He has a better shot selection than Bailey and played within a system in order to help contribute on the offensive end.
In terms of his catch-and-shoot ability, a skill needed on a team with Joel Embiid on it, he shot 45-for-124 (36.3%) on catch-and-shoot 3s per Synergy Sports. However, he did shoot 21-for-45 (46.7%) when unguarded on those attempts. It shows that he can knock down and open look should it be needed. That shows he has a lot of shooting upside for his position and should be a great option.
Other options: Ace Bailey, Kon Knueppel, Tre Johnson
Round 2, pick No. 35 overall: Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton
2024-25 stats: 19.2 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 1.5 apg, 2.7 bpg, 65.3% FG, 34.4% 3FG
A 5-year player in college, Kalkbrenner stands at 7-feet tall so if the Sixers are thinking size, then he's their man. He is skilled around the basket, can step out and knock down a shot--which helps when he can just shoot over anybody--and has some good passing skills. There is a chance he sneaks into the first round as a late pick, but there is also a good chance he is there at No. 35 for Philadelphia.
One can argue that the Sixers should not go after another big man when considering they just selected Adem Bona in the 2024 draft, and Andre Drummond figures to opt into his option for 2025-26, but Kalkbrenner offers legitimate size. An issue for Philadelphia at times has been playing smaller centers behind Embiid (i.e. Bona) and Kalkbrenner is somebody who has the size to play the position while also having the finesse with his post moves and 3-point shooting.
Other options: Chaz Lanier, Johni Broome, Cedric Coward
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: 2025 Philadelphia 76ers 2 round mock draft 2.0: best fits at 3 and 35
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