The Philadelphia 76ers may be preparing to shake up the 2025 NBA Draft in a major way.
According to Senior NBA Insider Michael Scotto, the Sixers have “engaged with the Spurs about potentially moving up to the No. 2 pick.”
“The 76ers have engaged with the Spurs about potentially moving up to the No. 2 pick. For now, the Sixers have zeroed in on four NBA Draft prospects with the No. 3 pick, including a private workout last week with VJ Edgecombe and Ace Bailey visiting Philadelphia next week.”
The news comes just days after Philadelphia hosted top prospect VJ Edgecombe for a private workout and scheduled a visit with Ace Bailey for the following week, who are among the favorites to join the Sixers.
Currently slotted at No. 3 overall, the Sixers are exploring ways to leapfrog into a more favorable position and that could mean a major pivot in their franchise’s trajectory.
Philadelphia’s interest in the second overall pick is more than just draft board maneuvering. It could signal a deeper strategy: retooling around youth. After a disastrous 2024-25 campaign that ended with a 24-58 record, the Sixers’ big three experiment of Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey looks increasingly unsustainable.
Embiid missed most of the season due to injury, Paul George struggled with consistency and health, and Maxey, while promising, battled his own setbacks. The season quickly spiraled into a lost cause.
Now, with the opportunity to draft back-to-back foundational pieces, Philadelphia may be leaning toward a long-term reset. Moving up to No. 2 could mean the Sixers are targeting Dylan Harper, a consensus top-2 prospect behind Cooper Flagg, who is expected to go No. 1 to the Dallas Mavericks.
Flagg’s stock is untouchable, but Harper offers the kind of two-way versatility and star upside that could fit any roster. If the Sixers are able to land Harper and retain their No. 3 pick, they could walk away with two elite prospects from a highly touted class, a franchise-changing outcome.
It would also raise questions about their immediate future. Would this be the beginning of the end of the Embiid era?
Could the Sixers be quietly laying the groundwork for a post-Embiid future built around Maxey and two blue-chip rookies? Or is this merely a retool, not a rebuild, as the front office seeks to inject youth and athleticism around their current core?
The Spurs, for their part, already have Victor Wembanyama and may not view the No. 2 pick as essential to their rebuild timeline.
If they can slide down one spot, pick up an additional asset, and still land a top-tier talent like Ace Bailey or VJ Edgecombe, it could be a win-win. San Antonio also has a track record of valuing long-term flexibility over short-term gains.
For the Sixers, this isn’t just about jumping up one spot, it’s about positioning themselves to own the draft. In a post-Process era that’s been defined by heartbreak and what-ifs, this could be a chance to reset the board and define the next era of Sixers basketball.
With the draft fast approaching, all eyes will be on whether this bold play materializes. And if it does, Philadelphia may finally be ready to turn the page, with or without their franchise centerpiece.
