After a disastrous season through which Joel Embiid performed solely a handful of video games earlier than needing knee surgical procedure, Philadelphia’s reward was getting the third decide in Wednesday evening’s NBA draft, which it used to pick Baylor guard VJ Edgecombe.
Edgecombe, who was a part of the Bahamian nationwide group final summer time alongside a number of present NBA gamers, is an explosive 19-year-old guard who might be a long-term complement to All-Star Tyrese Maxey in Philadelphia’s backcourt.
The 76ers’ decide almost went to the NBA champion Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder as a part of the Al Horford-Danny Inexperienced swap 5 years in the past, nevertheless it had a top-six safety, letting the Sixers retain it.
In the meantime, Ace Bailey — projected for many of the season because the third decide — ended up falling to the Utah Jazz at No. 5. The Rutgers star had a chaotic predraft course of that included canceling a gathering with the Sixers.
Bailey’s teammate at Rutgers, Dylan Harper, went to the San Antonio Spurs with the No. 2 decide, whereas Cooper Flagg was drafted No. 1 by the Dallas Mavericks, as anticipated.
At No. 4, the Charlotte Hornets chosen Kon Knueppel out of Duke, a sweet-shooting guard who ought to assist a Hornets group that struggled to hit catch-and-shoot 3s. The Wizards chosen Tre Johnson, who led all Division I freshmen with 19.9 factors per sport final yr at Texas, with the No. 6 decide.
The Pelicans chosen Jeremiah Fears (Oklahoma) at 7, the Brooklyn Nets took 6-foot-8 guard Egor Demin out of BYU at 8 and the Raptors chosen ahead Collin Murray-Boyles at 9.
The Phoenix Suns, who acquired the No. 10 decide from the Rockets final week as a part of the Kevin Durant commerce, chosen Duke middle Khaman Maluach concurrently they acquired middle Mark Williams from the Hornets.
The Path Blazers traded the No. 11 decide to the Memphis Grizzlies, who chosen Cedric Coward.
After the Bulls chosen French ahead Noa Essengue, the Atlanta Hawks swung a commerce sending the No. 13 decide to the Pelicans for the No. 23 decide and an unprotected 2026 first, sources informed ESPN’s Shams Charania. The decide in 2026 would be the most favorable between New Orleans and Milwaukee’s picks.
With the No. 13 decide, the Pelicans chosen middle Derik Queen out of Maryland, who hit the one game-winning buzzer beater within the 2025 NCAA match.
To spherical out the lottery, the Spurs picked ahead Carter Bryant out of Arizona to pair alongside Harper.