76ers rumors: ESPN labels ‘leader in the clubhouse' for No. 3 pick in new mock draft
The post 76ers rumors: ESPN labels 'leader in the clubhouse' for No. 3 pick in new mock draft appeared first on ClutchPoints.
With the Philadelphia 76ers having the third overall pick in the NBA Draft, there have been many discussions wondering who will eventually be the selection come June 25. While there seems to be options as the prime candidate for the 76ers, the latest ESPN Mock Draft gives its pick and speaks on the ongoing debate between the two players.
Advertisement
After Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper, who seem likely to be the first two picks to the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs, though anything can change, it's usually been Ace Bailey getting the nod at three.
The narrative has changed with Baylor's VJ Edgecomb, who has reportedly made a 'strong impression in a private workout,' did well in meetings, and is considered to be 'the leader in the clubhouse' as the third pick, per ESPN's Jonathan Givony.
'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,' Givony wrote. 'He appears to be 'the leader in the clubhouse' currently, with Bailey losing momentum after refusing to visit, initially unsatisfied with his search for a proven pathway to development. However, Bailey is scheduled to work out in Philadelphia at the end of this week, and we'll see if he's able to sway the tides in his favor.'
76ers looking at VJ Edgecombe out of Baylor
Chris Jones-Imagn Images
Though there have been some rumblings with the 76ers moving up to the No. 2 pick, the options at No. 3 are no doubt a difficult one, since both are highly talented players. However, Givony reports that the feedback about Bailey was 'not all that positive' coming out of the NBA Combine, leading to the debate with Edgecombe, as has also been reported by ClutchPoints' Brett Siegel and Jake Fischer.
Advertisement
'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,' Givony wrote. 'Especially if the team buys into the development of his passing ability long-term.'
'Should Edgecombe not be selected here, most teams expect him to be drafted one pick later by Charlotte at No. 4,' Givony continued. 'But he has also worked out in front of Washington in the predraft process, an indication there might be some trade scenarios in play with the Wizards moving up, potentially as high as No. 3.'
It remains to be seen what Philadelphia decides to do at No. 3 on June 25 when the NBA Draft begins, but all in all, the team is looking to improve after finishing with a 24-58 record, which put them 13th in the Eastern Conference.
Related: Jared McCain responds to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander being called 'free throw merchant'
Related: Jared McCain's honest reaction to Thunder-Pacers NBA Finals
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
35 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Adam Schefter offers bold prediction for T.J. Watt, Steelers extension
Adam Schefter just threw his name in the T.J. Watt contract prediction hat — offering a bold take on the future of the edge rusher market. On Tuesday's episode of ESPN's Unsportsmanlike, Schefter compared Trey Hendrickson and T.J. Watt — arguably the two biggest defenders seeking contracts right now — to the deals of Raiders DE Maxx Crosby and Browns DE Myles Garrett: Advertisement "Hendrickson, Watt, I think they'll be in the Crosby, Garrett range," Schefter said. "Somewhere in there. Micah Parsons, I expect to become the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history. That's the deal that I expect to trump the other deals." Watt signing a deal between Crosby's $35.5 million per year and Garrett's $40 million per year is the bed the Steelers made for themselves after failing to extend him last season on a "hometown discount" — as his brother J.J. Watt so eloquently described it. For up-to-date Steelers coverage, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like. This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers' T.J. Watt extension receives prediction from Adam Schefter
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
LeBron James Praises FIBA's Toughness But Questions If NBA Fans Want To See That Level Of Physical Play For 82 Games
LeBron James Praises FIBA's Toughness But Questions If NBA Fans Want To See That Level Of Physical Play For 82 Games originally appeared on Fadeaway World. LeBron James is no stranger to international competition. As a three-time Olympic gold medalist and former Team USA leader, he's logged countless minutes under FIBA rules and now, he's offering a thoughtful take on how that rugged, physical brand of basketball stacks up against the NBA's high-octane product. Advertisement On the latest episode of Mind The Game, the podcast he co-hosts with Steve Nash, LeBron dove into one of the league's more hot-button debates: should the NBA adopt certain FIBA rules? "There are couple of things In FIBA I actually like, when it comes to rule and obviously I've played a lot of FIBA games being part of Team USA. The physicality that you're allowed to play with is awesome... But do fans really want playoff-level physicality for a full 82 games?" It's a fair point. In FIBA competition, defenders are allowed to use their bodies more freely, post play is rougher, and officiating tends to let players battle through contact. For LeBron, that kind of intensity is thrilling in short bursts, like in the Olympics or World Cup. But stretched across an entire NBA season? That's where the excitement could turn into exhaustion, for both players and viewers. Advertisement James also pointed out specific FIBA rules he finds intriguing, like their approach to goaltending. Under FIBA regulations, once the ball touches the rim, it's fair game. Players can swat it off or tip it in, as long as it's no longer on the way up. He also spoke fondly of the 40-minute game format, a staple of FIBA play. Still, he made it clear that overhauling the NBA's foundational structure would be a complex undertaking. And while some have called for more zone defense freedom, like in FIBA, where defenders aren't penalized for camping in the paint, LeBron drew the line there. Instead, LeBron advocated for a pragmatic approach: testing experimental rules in the G League and Summer League before bringing them to the NBA. Ultimately, though, LeBron reaffirmed his love for the NBA's current formula. His message was clear: FIBA's style has its strengths, but the NBA's balance of finesse and freedom is what makes it special. Still, a little experimentation wouldn't hurt. Related: LeBron James Tied At First Place For The Most NBA Finals Games Lost Ever This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jun 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Analyst Claims Caitlin Clark Will Become Most Popular U.S. Athlete, Already More Famous Than All but 3 NBA Stars
Analyst Claims Caitlin Clark Will Become Most Popular U.S. Athlete, Already More Famous Than All but 3 NBA Stars originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Some of the most frequently treaded topics in sports, like who is or is not a superstar (for instance, Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers), or which player is the greatest of all time between Michael Jordan, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant can grow tedious quickly based on the shallow nature of those discussions and how frequently debate shows on television and radio regurgitate them when in need of content. Advertisement But sometimes discussions about popularity and fame can find compelling lanes to occupy, such as when debating where a female athlete like Indiana Fever point guard Caitlin Clark stacks up in the pantheon of professional sports figures in the United States. Fox Sports analysts Colin Cowherd, of "The Herd" and Nick Wright of "First Things First" delved into that conversation on Wednesday, June 18. The two came out of the discussion agreeing that Clark is already in the upper echelon of all athletes -- male and female -- across all of American sports and that she could potentially elevate to No. 1 on that list in a few years time, once a small handful of players who outrank her in that regard retire. "I've decided that [Clark's] star can't be up high enough," Wright said during a guest appearance on Cowherd's show. "Once Steph [Curry] and LeBron [James] retire, will there be an active American athlete, that's not a quarterback, that's more famous than her?" Advertisement "No," Cowherd responded. "No, there won't." "I think she will be more famous than every baseball player -- she might already be, in this country -- every hockey player, all of the U.S. Men's National [Soccer] Team and every football player that isn't really Patrick Mahomes and maybe Lamar [Jackson], Josh [Allen] -- like, there's only a few," Wright continued. "And I think she's already more famous than every NBA player but [Kevin Durant], Steph and LeBron. And I don't see any of those [other] guys catching her. I think she is a supernova of fame and talent." "And it is not anti-Angel Reese or the WNBA to acknowledge [Clark] is the Tiger [Woods] of 20 years ago on the [PGA] Tour," Cowherd added. "The ratings disappear [when Clark is not playing]. It's nothing against the WNBA. [Clark] literally is changing the entire league economy." Related: WNBA Announces Several Punishments for Fever-Sun Brawls Involving Caitlin Clark This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
