June 25 is inching closer, and the Philadelphia 76ers will soon need to take decisive action on what to do in the 2025 NBA Draft. The franchise has not yet signaled that it will be trending in a particular direction, but while it is so, this only shows that the front office is looking at a slew of options before they even make their own selection.
The 76ers stand in an enviable position draft-wise. They could either pick an elite prospect like Ace Bailey, VJ Edgecombe, or some other player, trade down to extract more assets while remaining in a position to select and usher in an incoming rookie, or even trade out of the draft to get their hands on a player who can bolster their winning cause next season.
The most later one is certainly the least appealing option to the majority, yet the 76ers cannot just gloss over that possibility. There is, after all, extreme urgency on the part of the franchise to win now — a matter that cannot be stressed enough given their roster construction and also, the wide-open nature of the East at the moment.
The 76ers should trade the third overall pick for win-now help
Some people are of the strong sentiment that the 76ers are actually unlikely to keep their pick. Ryen Russillo bared on Bill Simmons’ podcast that he does not see them clinging onto the third overall pick on or before June 25.
Indeed, most fans would prefer them to choose the simplest option and make an outright selection, but the team’s situation warrants a less visceral approach. The franchise is not going to contend as currently constructed, and remaining open to the prospect of going after a clear ceiling-raiser would allow them to shed some bad contracts while also significantly increasing their shot at the title.
Philadelphia, after all, is situated in a conference without any clear favorites next season. Powerhouses like Indiana, Cleveland, and Milwaukee remain, but teams like Boston, Detroit, and Orlando are still toss-ups at this point in time due to their youth or pressing injury concerns.
The Philadelphia 76ers can no longer move with just caution. There is a real pathway for them to force their way into the championship contention loop next season, and they should definitely strike the iron while it is still hot.
After all, it may not get as hot as it would in the coming years.