VJ Edgecombe appears to have put himself in pole position to be selected by the Philadelphia 76ers with the third overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
The freshman guard out of Baylor reportedly impressed Sixers staff during a recent workout. His explosiveness and upside as a playmaker are likely intriguing for a Sixers roster that has multiple high-level shooters and shot-makers on the roster.
“Edgecombe takes over this spot from Ace Bailey in ESPN’s mock draft after a positive visit to Philadelphia, where sources say he made a strong impression in a private workout as well as in meetings with the front office and ownership,” ESPN’s Jonathan Givony reported. “He appears to be “the leader in the clubhouse” currently.”
Givony continued.
“Surrounding the hyper-explosive Edgecombe with prolific 3-point shooters such as Tyrese Maxey, Jared McCain, Quentin Grimes and Paul George could add another dimension to the Sixers’ offense, especially if the team buys into the development of his passing ability long term.”
Edgecombe has the size and athleticism to fit into Nick Nurse’s rotation. He would provide a new dimension for the offense and could evolve into an All-Star level talent. Philadelphia must fully commit to giving him playing time to help him reach his full potential.
Mock Draft Sees Sixers Take Edgecombe
In a recent mock draft from Adam Aaronson of the Philadelphia Voice, the Sixers selected VJ Edgecombe.
“A trade down still seems very possible, but if they stick and pick Edgecombe may very well be the guy,” Aaronson wrote. “…The people who would advocate against taking Edgecombe this high would point to the fact that he is a true guard like Maxey and Jared McCain, while someone like Bailey could play alongside the team’s two current long-term building blocks.”
Aaronson continued.
“There are also extremely valid concerns about the extent of Edgecombe’s offensive upside; he is a decent shooter but not a great one and lacks the requisite ball-handling skill to be a consistent on-ball scorer right now. Edgecombe is a dominant transition scorer but has a ways to go putting the ball in the basket against set defenses.”
Edgecomb played in 33 games this past season. He averaged 15 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists, shooting 43.6% from the field and 34% from deep.
Edgecombe Is Sixers’ Prime Candidate
According to Jake Fischer, via the SteinLine Newsletter on Wednesday, June 11, Edgecombe has become the Sixers’ “prime candidate” with the third overall pick.
“The prime candidate at No. 3, at this juncture, appears to be Baylor freshman guard VJ Edgecombe, who sources say visited with the Sixers last week,” Fischer wrote. “…Edgecombe is said to have impressed with his work ethic, personality and interviews.”
The only drawback to drafting Edgecomb is the potential logjam at the guard position. Philadelphia already has Maxey, McCain and potentially Grimes. However, Edgecombe’s upside could be too good to ignore. His ability to play with or without the ball should allow him to fit into multiple lineups and rotations.
If the Sixers keep their pick, Edgecombe would be a strong addition to the rotation, both now and in the future.
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