According to Sam Vecenie, the Philadelphia 76ers will listen to offers for the #3 pick in the upcoming NBA draft.
Did a write up on what I’m hearing from folks in Chicago at the combine this week. Unsurprisingly, way more focus is on overall roster building league wide versus the prospects on court.
Stuff on Spurs, Bucks, 76ers at 3, and point guard prospects.https://t.co/A2XSLaz0oQ pic.twitter.com/xd8AQP4sG7
— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) May 16, 2025
From Vecenie:
Philadelphia is also expected to be aggressive in how it looks to utilize its luck in winning the No. 3 pick.... It’s expected that the Sixers will listen to offers for No. 3, but it’s unclear whom the team would take if it stays.
This is good news for the Utah Jazz if they’re interested in potentially moving up. Vecenie even mentions the Utah Jazz as a team that would be a team that should think about moving up. Vecenie writes:
Ultimately, I wonder if the best option might be to see if there is a team that wants to jump ahead of the Charlotte Hornets, Utah Jazz and New Orleans to take a flier on Bailey or Edgecombe. For instance, would Brooklyn look at a deal in the ballpark of Cam Johnson, No. 19 and No. 27 for Kelly Oubre Jr., Andre Drummond and No. 3?
Would the Sixers listen to offers like that? If so, the Jazz have a high-level asset that could be more interesting to the Sixers if they are interested in Lauri Markkanen. Here’s what a potential trade could look like to the Sixers.
In this trade, the Utah Jazz take on Paul George, who had a disappointing season and is now 35 years old. His season ended with injury, and it’s not likely that he will do anything but continue a downturn in his career. He is podcasting more, though.
To sweeten this deal, and because Utah probably doesn’t need another three rookies to come into camp this season, Utah sends their #21 pick to the Sixers, who can use that on a potential backup center to back up Joel Embiid. The Sixers then have a great complementary piece to play alongside Tyrese Maxey, Jared McCain, and Joel Embiid.
For Utah, they keep their #5 pick and get that #3 they so badly needed. It allows the Jazz to pick Ace Bailey at #3 and then take either VJ Edgecombe or Tre Johnson, whoever becomes available at #5.
Markkanen spent all of last season working on different aspects of his game while also being the focus of every defense the Jazz faced. His numbers will jump to all-star levels again once he joins the Sixers. Markkanen will feast on the weak Eastern Conference as the third or fourth option. Markkanen is also 27 and a proven all-star who could help the Sixers compete right away. It’s no understatement to say that Daryl Morey’s job was saved when the Sixers jumped into the top-3 and this allows the Sixers to compete right away next season, especially with the Celtics now missing Jayson Tatum. If Joel Embiid comes back healthy next year, the Sixers want to take advantage, and this gives them the opportunity.
For those that would scoff at something like this, a chance to get a #3 pick, a for sure good pick, is worth it. Yes, you could probably get more picks for Markkanen if you wanted, but the potential with picks is more likely to be later 1sts, or picks that don’t convey with protections. A chance to develop a promising young player like Ace Bailey is completely worth it and allows Utah to build through the draft. The fact that they keep their #5 pick is also big because they get another young prospect to develop.