Philadelphia 76ers draft big board 3.0: The best fits at No. 3

USA Today

28-05-2025

Philadelphia 76ers draft big board 3.0: The best fits at No. 3
The Philadelphia 76ers were rewarded with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft following a tough 24-58 season. The Sixers entered the season with championship expectations, but injuries decimated the roster and derailed any chances the team had at seriously contending for a title.
As they head into this draft, there are plenty of options for the Sixers to look into. The goal for them is to get younger and add a player who can help them bounce back and turn things around. Philadelphia should be looking into every option in order to take the next steps forward toward title contention.
Here is the second draft big board with the draft now just four weeks away. If one wants to see big board 1.0, it can be seen here and 2.0 can be seen here. With that said, let's get into big board 3.0:
1. VJ Edgecombe, Baylor
2024-25 stats: 15.0 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 3.2 apg, 2.1 spg, 43.6% FG, 34% 3FG
Previous ranking: 2
Many will be clamoring for Ace Bailey, and he will be a top option for Philadelphia, 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 that end right away.
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.
2. Ace Bailey, Rutgers
2024-25 stats: 17.6 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 1.3 apg, 1.3 bpg, 1.0 spg, 46% FG, 34.6% 3FG
Previous ranking: 1
Let's get one thing straight: Bailey is not Kevin Durant. It doesn't mean he isn't going to be a good player, but he is not Durant. He has good measurements with star potential, but the knock on him is that he settles for bad shots and the fact that Rutgers did not make the NCAA Tournament. Despite having Bailey, and Dylan Harper, the Scarlet Knights finished 15-17 and barely made their own conference tournament in the Big 10. With that being said, Bailey figures to be a great NBA prospect with his length, finishing ability, and athleticism.
In terms of his catch-and-shoot percentages, he shot 36-for-93 (38.7%) on those opportunities from deep. He shot 29-for-66 (43.9%) on those attempts while he was guarded. It shows that he has the skill and the want to take and make tough shots. There is a lot to like about his game, but there are some rough edges he needs to smooth out.
3. Kon Knueppel, Duke
2024-25 stats: 14.4 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.0 spg, 47.9% FG, 40.6% 3FG
Previous ranking: 4
Knueppel has shot up draft boards and when considering the Sixers could use another playmaker, he makes a lot of sense. Either way, if the Sixers are thinking spacing and elite shooting, then Knueppel should be their guy. He has a high basketball IQ being able to navigate off screens to get himself open for looks, he competes on the defensive end, and he is an underrated passer. There are defensive limitations so he may not grade out as a starter in some cases, but he is for sure a rotation player in this league due to the shooting ability.
He shot 77-for-178 (43.3%) on catch-and-shoot 3s and was an impressive 36-for-84 (42.9%) on those attempts while guarded. He cannot do the things Bailey, Edgecombe, or Tre Johnson can do, but Knueppel should be on the radar of president Daryl Morey and Co. should they decide to trade down and add to the depth of the roster--which is another need for this group.
4. Tre Johnson, Texas
2024-25 stats: 19.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 2.7 apg, 0.9 spg, 42.7% FG, 39.7% 3FG
Previous ranking: 3
Johnson has his flaws, but scoring and shooting certainly aren't one of them. He has an ability to light up the scoreboard at any moment by taking defenders to the basket, being able to knock down tough 3s, and he can shoot off the catch or off the dribble. If the Sixers are thinking a microwave scorer, then Johnson should be their guy. One can argue that he isn't worthy of a No. 3 pick, but he has skills that will translate to the NBA level.
As mentioned, he shot 51-for-125 (40.8%) on catch-and-shoot 3s. He was 32-for-77 (41.6%) on those attempts while guarded. Even off the dribble, he shot 38-for-99 (38.4%) on those 3-point attempts. He is an electric player and the Sixers should certainly give him a look before they decide on a player with this selection.
5. Jeremiah Fears, Oklahoma
2024-25 stats: 17.1 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 4.1 apg, 1.6 spg, 43.4% FG, 28.4% 3FG
Previous ranking: Not ranked
These NBA Playoffs have shown the value of having three ball-handlers on the floor at times. One has to believe the Sixers are watching the playoffs with the idea that they can get to that level if they can bring in another ball-handler in the lineup. Fears fits that mold as somebody who can get the job done on the offensive end by running the offense and making things go smoothly.
Fears was able to produce good numbers in the tough SEC and improved as the season wore on. Overall, he shot 36.1% on catch-and-shoot 3s and is an elite passer out of the pick-and-roll. If the jumper continues on an upward trajectory, then he is going to stick in this league for quite some time. The Sixers could always use another player with a high IQ to make life easier for the stars and Fears fits that mold.
6. Khaman Maluach, Duke
2024-25 stats: 8.6 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 0.5 apg, 1.3 bpg, 0.2 spg, 71.2% FG
Previous ranking: 5
Maluach would be an option for Philadelphia should it want big man depth behind Embiid. With that being said, the Sixers do expect veteran Andre Drummond to exercise his player option for 2025-26 so he figures to return, and there is already young big man Adem Bona who made a name for himself as a rookie. However, Maluach stands at 7-foot-2 and the Sixers could always use some more size off the bench which has been an issue in the past.
With that being said, Maluach is a bit raw offensively as he limited to putbacks and lob dunks off the pick-and-roll. While he does have soft hands to make all of this work on the offensive end, the Sixers would need him to add some type of jumper to his game. Philadelphia needs versatility out of its big men and Maluach would have to add to his game in order to stick.