Philadelphia’s Draft Mission in 2025 – the Sixers are approaching the 2025 NBA Draft with real urgency. After a turbulent season, Philadelphia is armed with the No. 3 overall pick. The franchise is keenly aware that Joel Embiid won’t be at his peak forever, and every move now carries weight.
That same urgency drives the city’s fanbase. For some die-hard fans, pursuing a title is worth any cost – in the past, fans even took out Philadelphia loans for sports lovers to afford playoff tickets and witness championship moments in person. With that kind of passion on the line, Daryl Morey and his team are seeking a player who can help alongside Embiid and Tyrese Maxey immediately yet also become a key reason why fans continue to come.
Rutgers freshmen Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper are high on the list, and Baylor’s VJ Edgecombe, Texas’s Tre Johnson, Duke’s sharpshooter Kon Knueppel, and Duke’s big man Khaman Maluach also figure in their plans. Each player has different strengths and weaknesses. So… What are the predictions?
Ace Bailey is a 6‑foot‑10 forward from Rutgers whose size and skill have scouts buzzing. He moves like a guard, shooting threes and mid‑ranges and finishing at the rim with ease. His 7‑foot wingspan lets him block shots and frustrate ball‑handlers when he locks in on defense.
Still, Bailey is raw. He often drifts off the ball, stands in the wrong spots, and gets beaten on backdoor cuts. At about 200 pounds, he’s too skinny to hold position against stronger players and struggles to fight through screens. For the Sixers, Bailey’s upside is huge: a tall wing who can space the floor and defend would fit perfectly alongside Embiid and Maxey. However, he seems not to be ready to contribute right away.
Dylan Harper stands out as perhaps the most ready-for-the-NBA guard in this class. At 6′5″, he averaged 18.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game as a freshman at Rutgers, showing the poise of a veteran lead guard. He sees the floor clearly, makes the right passes, and uses smart footwork and hesitation moves. Harper even scores efficiently inside when defenders crash. Veteran draft analyst Fran Fraschilla even remarked that “Dylan Harper is a ridiculous offensive talent…hate to say he’s a more athletic Cade Cunningham…but Dylan may be”.
Harper’s biggest downside is his outside shot. He made just 33.3% of three‑pointers and 75% of free throws in college, and he can be reluctant to trust his right hand. NBA coaches will push him to improve shot selection and become more balanced in his finishes. For the Sixers, Harper would be a near-perfect fit. He can handle the ball and run the offense, freeing Tyrese Maxey to play off the ball.
If the Sixers want an instant spark on both ends, Baylor’s V.J. Edgecombe is hard to ignore. At 6′5″, he crushed the Big 12 as Freshman of the Year, averaging 17.8 points and 2.1 steals while earning a reputation as the class’s top athlete. His first step and leaping ability turn defenses inside out. He hunts the ball, jumps passing lanes, and locks down guards.
Still, he’s raw in the half‑court. If teams clamp him in isolation, he struggles to break defenders down or make advanced plays. Durability is a question, too: can he sustain this frenetic style over 82 games? For Philly, he could step right into a role similar to Matisse Thybulle’s but with far more offense. If the Sixers want a ready‑made glue guy who can guard 1–3 and score 15–18 points a night, he fits perfectly.
Tre Johnson is a 6′6″ scoring guard from Texas who averaged nearly 20 points per game as a freshman. He’s a deadly shooter, hitting about 39–40% from three, both off the catch and off the dribble, and a smooth mid‑range scorer. His polished footwork, jab steps, and pump fakes help him create space, while an 88% free‑throw mark shows his elite touch. Tre moves well without the ball. In transition, he can run the wing or attack the rim with crafty finishes.
Still, he has clear drawbacks. He can get tunnel‑visioned, forcing tough shots instead of finding teammates, and his overall field‑goal rate sat around 43%. He’s not explosive, so he doesn’t often draw free throws, and at roughly 190 pounds, he can struggle to finish through contact. Defensively, he’s below average. In Philly, Tre would bring instant offense off the bench or in spot minutes, but pairing two undersized, defense‑light guards could create mismatches.
Kon Knueppel might be the safest prospect among the Sixers’ potential targets. A 6’6” swingman from Duke, Knueppel is an elite shooter and skilled all-around offensive player. Knueppel is arguably the best marksman in this draft class. He hit about 40–41% of his threes as a freshman. There’s been discussion of whether Knueppel has enough upside to warrant the No. 3 pick for Philly. Duke insiders noted that “when Knueppel drew two defenders off screens, he made snappy decisions and found open teammates for layups or kick-out threes.”
However, the main drawback is athleticism and defense. He is not a particularly quick or bouncy athlete by NBA standards. When you think of comparable players, maybe someone like Luke Kennard or Bojan Bogdanović comes to mind – excellent shooters who are solid secondary creators but not number-one options on a team. Knueppel will have to prove he can handle the athletic jump; otherwise, he could top out as a supporting piece. For the 76ers, Knueppel presents a very interesting case.
Khaman Maluach is a 7′1″ Duke freshman with a 7′5″ wingspan and 250 lbs. In 21 minutes, he averaged 1.3 blocks and 6.6 rebounds, rates that project to roughly 2.5 blocks and 12 rebounds per 40 minutes. When you combine massive size + mobility + shot-blocking, you get a potentially elite defender. Statistically, he was among the most efficient interior defenders in the nation and held opponents to about 45% at the rim. He moves well for his size, able to hedge and switch on pick‑and‑rolls without getting lost. But he didn’t shoot threes, hit only 67% of free throws, and lacks a mid‑range game, meaning he needs easy looks to score. Foul trouble is also a risk, as he picked up three fouls in limited minutes.
The Philadelphia 76ers find themselves at a crossroads in this draft. The Sixers face a big choice. Yet, one thing is certain: Philadelphia will be adding a fresh young talent that Sixers fans can get excited about. The Sixers have spent years in “win-now” mode, but now they also get to “win later” by investing in a future star. Stay tuned, and don’t miss any moment of this decision to Philadelphia screens.
