Sixers “Expected” to listen to trade offers for No. 3 Pick… Daryl Morey can not screw this up

According to NBA insider Sam Vecenie of The Athletic, the Sixers are “expected” to listen to trade offers for the No. 3 overall pick in this year’s NBA Draft. In other words, the sky is blue.

In typical Sixers fashion, the front office is already throwing out feelers that they might punt on the highest draft pick they’ve had since the Process era. That’s right — after a 24-58 dumpster fire of a season, the Sixers might not even make the damn pick.

Sixers listening to trade offers for the No. 3 Pick

The Sixers are reportedly open to trade offers for the No. 3 overall pick, per @Sam_Vecenie pic.twitter.com/bCsSOCxX3v

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) May 16, 2025

Vecenie adds that Rutgers forward Ace Bailey is the “biggest upside swing” in the draft and fits the Sixers’ needs as a big wing, but also notes that he’s seen as a bit of a project. Spoiler alert: every 19-year-old wing is a project. Doesn’t mean you pass on one with elite talent.

“This is a Sixers front office that likely needs to win next year to keep its jobs,” Vecenie writes.

And there it is. The quote that explains everything.

We’re once again at the mercy of a front office more worried about saving their own jobs than building a real title-contending roster. The idea of trading a top-three pick for another 32-year-old role player reeks of desperation. We’ve already got Joel Embiid’s knees, Paul George’s hamstrings, and an injury report that reads like a CVS receipt.

I’ve seen theories floated around social media that the Sixers could trade the pick to the Nets for a package of Cam Johnson and one of their first round picks this year. My response: I mean that’s fine, but it doesn’t really excite me.

As much as I love Kevin Durant, the idea of trading the #3 pick and Paul George for him doesn’t even make sense either. So why not just stay at 3?

If the Sixers stay at 3, Bailey vs. Edgecombe – Who’s the Pick?

Right now, it looks like Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper are going 1-2, which leaves the Sixers in a prime position at No. 3 to land one of the best wings in the draft: Ace Bailey or VJ Edgecombe.

Bleacher Report’s latest mock has Bailey slotted to Philly, with Jonathan Wasserman writing:

“With Paul George on the decline, the Sixers could look to Bailey to add more scoring and shotmaking around the perimeter.”

Vecenie also noted that there’s more league-wide appreciation for Edgecombe, a polished two-way wing out of Baylor, compared to Bailey. It’s the classic NBA Draft dilemma: upside vs. safety. But again — this is the Sixers. We’ve never swung big on an athletic, tall wing with actual shot-making potential.

It seems like the only position we’ve drafted this entire era has all been either point guards, or big men. We have yet to take a swing on a legitimate, modern wing player with a modern skillset, and athleticism. And no, Zhaire Smith doesn’t count. He was 6 foot 4 and didn’t have a good jump shot. That was simply a stupid gamble.

Let me make this as clear as possible: Don’t overthink this. Draft Ace Bailey.

He’s the exact type of young player this franchise has never had the guts to take. A 6’9″ wing with bounce, a smooth jumper, and sky-high potential. Instead of trading the pick or reaching for a guy with a “higher floor,” how about we do something revolutionary in Philadelphia — develop young talent?

Enough with the Tobias Harris-type retreads. Enough with mid-tier vets who crumble in April and May. Take the swing. Take Bailey. I don’t care about analytics, I don’t care what these pencil neck dorks have to say about him on Twitter, he’s the pick at 3.

The funny thing is,

You look around the NBA, and all the players who have spoken on Ace Bailey, all love him.

Kevin Durant on Ace Bailey: “Ace is a pure, pure talent. It’s insane the shots that he can make over multiple people at that length. … him and his teammate Dylan Harper are playing some great ball. (Rutgers) is one of my favorite teams to watch.” https://t.co/qkzoLGmd7M pic.twitter.com/Ef4kK3fg12

— Brian Fonseca (@briannnnf) December 26, 2024

With the NBA Draft just over a month away, the Sixers are on the clock in more ways than one. They need to decide whether they are trying to build a real basketball team, or just make headlines.

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