Philadelphia 76ers Prepare for 2025 NBA Draft with No. 3 Overall Pick
The Philadelphia 76ers are gearing up for the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft, aiming to secure a promising talent. The team, having faced a season marred by injuries and unmet championship aspirations, improved their draft position by two spots during last month’s lottery, landing the coveted No. 3 overall pick.
Fans can tune in tonight at 8 p.m. on ABC, ESPN, and the ESPN app to catch the first round of the draft. The second round will follow on Thursday at the same time, available through ESPN and its app.
With two picks in hand—No. 3 in the first round and No. 35 in the second—the Sixers are poised to make impactful decisions. They successfully retained their pick from the Oklahoma City Thunder, who recently clinched the NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers. This retention means that the Thunder will now have rights to Philadelphia's first-round pick in the 2026 draft, which is top-four protected due to a previous trade involving Al Horford.
As they approach the draft, the Sixers have narrowed their focus to four potential targets, although specifics remain undisclosed. Among these prospects, Rutgers guard Dylan Harper stands out as a potential trade-up target, projected to be selected second overall by the San Antonio Spurs. Reports indicate that discussions between the Sixers and Spurs have occurred, but San Antonio is likely to retain their position and select Harper.
Other candidates on Philadelphia's radar include Baylor guard VJ Edgecombe, Rutgers forward Ace Bailey, Duke forward Kon Knueppel, Texas guard Tre Johnson, and Duke center Khaman Maluach. Edgecombe appears to be a frontrunner for the Sixers, while Bailey recently canceled his scheduled workout with the team, raising questions about his viability as a target. Knueppel and Maluach may serve as options should the Sixers consider trading back.
The franchise has experienced mixed results with the No. 3 overall pick in past drafts. Their most notable success came in 2014 when they selected Joel Embiid from Kansas, who later became an NBA MVP. However, in 2015, they picked Jahlil Okafor from Duke, leading to a crowded center situation alongside Nerlens Noel.
Historically, the Sixers have selected third overall four times. In 1995, they chose Jerry Stackhouse from North Carolina, and in 1988, Charles Smith from Pittsburgh—who was immediately traded to the Los Angeles Clippers for Hersey Hawkins and a future first-round pick.
In 2017, Philadelphia traded their No. 3 pick along with a future first-rounder to the Boston Celtics to draft Markelle Fultz from Washington; Boston subsequently selected Jayson Tatum with that pick.
The current draft order for the top picks is as follows: Dallas Mavericks at No. 1, San Antonio Spurs at No. 2, Philadelphia 76ers at No. 3, Charlotte Hornets at No. 4, Utah Jazz at No. 5, Washington Wizards at No. 6, New Orleans Pelicans at No. 7, Brooklyn Nets at No. 8, Toronto Raptors at No. 9, and Houston Rockets at No. 10.
As anticipation builds for tonight's draft, all eyes will be on how the Sixers leverage their position to enhance their roster for the upcoming season.
