News 76ers Team Notes

[Philadelphia 76ers]

2025 NBA Finals Game 3 Open Thread

Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

With the series tied, a pivotal Game 3 awaits with proceedings moving to Indianapolis.

After two games of these 2025 NBA Finals, the series is knotted at one game apiece. The Indiana Pacers can feel good about the fact that they stole one game on the road and have seized home court advantage. The Oklahoma City Thunder can feel secure in the knowledge that they have dominated both contests with the exception of the last few minutes of Game 1. Everyone can enter this evening with the mindset that it’s still their series to win, which I like.

Now we come to a pivotal Game 3, which may give us an indication of what kind of series we are really in store to watch. Will it be similar to the 2001 NBA Finals (Happy recent 50th Birthday to AI, by the way), where the heavy underdog gives their best shot in the opener to steal a game but then the favorite convincing takes care of business the rest of the way? Or do we have a real dogfight on our hands that will go beyond a gentleman’s sweep?

You know the Pacers crowd is going to be wild for that franchise’s first Finals game in 25 years. I’m not sure how tonight will play out, but I feel fairly confident that us impartial observers will be entertained. Let’s see what these two teams do when they take the floor only three wins from a title.

NBA Finals Game 3 Details​

When: Wednesday, June 11, 8:30 pm ET
Where: Gainbridge, Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
Watch: ABC
Follow: @LibertyBallers

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/2025...n-thread-indiana-pacers-oklahoma-city-thunder

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

How have the last 10 years of No. 3 overall picks turned out?

With the 2025 NBA Draft inching closer, let’s look back at the last decade of picks at No. 3 overall.

Who’s ready for another trip down memory lane?!

The Sixers have quite an important decision quickly coming up as they hold on to the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. So now’s a good a time as any to take a look at the last decade of third overall picks and see how they’ve turned out.

For fun, I’ll be adding who I thought should have been the correct pick with the benefit of hindsight if I think the team got it wrong. To that point, keep in mind the dust may still be setting on some of these more recent selections.

Jahlil Okafor ​

Well, not many here are going to need a reminder of how this turned out. It’s been a decade since the Sixers have picked at three and they hope this time around goes a bit better. Not only was selecting Okafor redundant with two of the team’s most recent lottery picks in Joel Embiid and Nerlens Noel, but it became obvious pretty quickly that Okafor’s game had been aged out of the NBA.

Supbar rebounding and defense made it tricky for him to be a successful big man in the league. While he was a talented scorer, his lack of range outside 15 feet made it so his offense wasn’t potent enough to keep him on the floor.

After two disappointing seasons in Philadelphia, Okafor was traded to Brooklyn early in the 2017-18 season. He went on to have a short stint with the New Orleans Pelicans before his career looked like it was petering out. Credit to him though for sticking around. After a few years persisting in the G-League, he got a 10-day from the Indiana Pacers and appeared in one game this season. So while this pick looks like a bust, Vegan Jah could still come away with a ring this year!

Correct pick: Devin Booker

Jaylen Brown ​

After four All-Star appearances, one All-NBA selection, a conference finals MVP and a Finals MVP, it’s easy to remember that the Celtics were ruthlessly made fun of for this pick in the moment. Common consensus had Providence guard Kris Dunn as the third best player in this draft behind Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram. Many at the time wanted Boston to package the pick to acquire Jimmy Butler from the Chicago Bulls.

Instead, the Celtics took a flyer on a very athletic wing with a very raw game. Product of his situation or not, Brown would develop into a 19 points and 5 rebounds per game player on top of being a staunch defender. The incredible thing is that he had the time to round into more of a complete player despite being a rotation regular on a team that went to the conference finals in his rookie season.

Correct pick: Jaylen Brown

Jayson Tatum​

Markelle Fultz, whatever happened there.

Correct pick: sigh...

Luka Doncic​

Is there a better example of people overthinking the draft cycle than this year? The 2018 draft was bookmarked for Doncic’s arrival for years. Winning the MVP of the EuroLeague at 18 years old will do that. Still, in the months leading up to the draft the league talked itself into De’Andre Ayton and Marvin Bagley III being better prospects.

The Dallas Mavericks took full advantage of this slide, trading from their fifth pick to three from the Atlanta Hawks to select Doncic. The Hawks ended up taking Trae Young after moving back, and it’s a credit to how good Young has been that people ever called this a win-win trade at any point in time.

Doncic was the superstar the Mavericks hoped he’d be, pretty much since his first night in the league. He averaged 21 points, 7.8 assists and 6 rebounds to cruise to a Rookie-of-the-Year solution. In the time since he’s taken Dallas on multiple playoff runs, including one to the conference finals and another to the NBA Finals all before 26. The Mavericks seizing this opportunity set them up for a decade of success. Hold on, what’s that? I’m getting a phone call.

Correct pick: How the hell did Luka not go one?

RJ Barrett ​

Barrett came into his freshman year at Duke as the No. 1 draft prospect in his class, but he was quickly eclipsed by teammate Zion Williamson as the season got underway. So far in his career Barrett’s shown an ability to score the ball, but he was not the savior of the franchise the New York Knicks were looking for at the time.

He’s averaged 18.8 points per game for his career on an effective field goal percentage of 49.4%. He hasn’t been efficient enough to have so many on-ball touches, and hasn’t really found comfort as an off-ball scorer, which was one of the biggest concerns surrounding him coming into the league.

In my opinion, this pick is still a success purely based off of what the Knicks were able to turn him into. They packaged him and Immanuel Quickley to the Raptors in exchange for OG Anunoby in late 2023. Anunoby has become one of their best players on their most successful team in the last 25 years. Your mileage on that may vary though, since Barrett himself didn’t turn out for the Knicks how they’d hoped.

Correct pick: RJ Barrett

LaMelo Ball ​

There aren’t many franchises that could hit on such a talent and still be right where they were beforehand, but the Hornets are certainly one of them. Not only did Ball win Rookie of the Year in his first year for Charlotte, but the next season he went on to become the youngest ever All-Star, averaging 20.1 points and 7.6 assists per game. He was even able to get the Hornets to qualify for a spot in the Play-In tournament that season.

Health has thrown a pretty big wrench into his career since. He’s only played in 105 out of 246 possible games in the following three seasons. His scoring production has increased, but his efficiency hasn’t. His 40.6% field goal percentage and 49.4% effective field goal percentage were career lows as Charlotte continues to be one of the worst teams in the league.

Correct pick: Tyrese Haliburton

Evan Mobley ​

Yet another third overall pick that’s already racked up a lot of accolades in his young career. The Cleveland Cavaliers used this selection in 2021 to grab a core piece of a team that just earned the top seed in the Eastern Conference. Mobley’s impact, especially defensively, was felt right away. Cleveland doubled their win total in his rookie season.

The last two years have seen some development that show why Mobley is an All-NBA talent with an even higher ceiling. He went from a 21% three-point shooter to making 37.3% of them in 2024. He was able to sustain that percentage going from 1.2 attempts to 3.2 attempts per game in 2025.

He’s had his struggles, like many of his teammates as the Cavs have disappointed in the playoffs the past couple of seasons though. His continued improvement each year is a reason to feel good about his continued development going forward. Not only was he named to his first All-NBA team in 2025, but he also took home the Defensive Player of the Year award.

Correct pick: Evan Mobley

Jabari Smith Jr. ​

Now we are entering the territory where the jury is still very much out on a lot of these decisions. Despite some rumors leading up to the draft that Smith could go first overall, he ended up sliding behind Paolo Banchero and Chet Holmgren.

In doing so, he landed on a Houston Rockets team quite crowded with long wings that has only gotten more crowded since then. Smith has put up perfectly decent production so far. In about 30 minutes a game he averages 13 points and 7.5 assists for his career, shooting 43% from the field.

It’s quite possible Smith is one of the odd men out in Houston. He hasn’t popped as much as wings such as Amen Thompson or Tari Eason as the team may attempt to balance out their roster. Looking back at this draft though, the only obvious selection the Rockets would be better off with is Jalen Williams (J-Dub), who went 12th.

Correct pick: Jalen Williams

Scoot Henderson ​

I was among the many who made fun of the Charlotte Hornets for taking Brandon Miller over Henderson, and I am among the many who’s had to eat crow on that since. Henderson’s career for the Portland Trail Blazers started about as poorly as possible. He averaged 14 points per game as a rookie shooting 38.5% from the field and 32.5% from behind the three-point arc.

It’s never a good sign when a guard as small as Henderson doesn’t look like his athleticism will translate as well to the NBA-level as expected. He showed some life down the stretch of his second season though and a big part of that was just being able to hit shots. In his last 35 games he shot 43.4% from the field and 38.4% of his threes, taking 5.2 of them per game. It’s hard to kill the Blazers for this pick because everyone was high on Henderson back then and hey, there’s still time.

Correct pick: Amen Thompson

Reed Sheppard ​

It’s not just being the most recent pick that makes this an incomplete grade. The Rockets were more ready for contention after this selection, and as a result Sheppard only appeared in just 52 games averaging 12.6 minutes a night. On top of that he suffered a fractured thumb that caused him to miss much of March and April.

Due to those factors, he didn’t produce much as an NBA rookie, but the Rockets have yet to waiver in their belief in him as an offensive talent. They hope what he showed in the G-League is an indication of that. He averaged 30.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 8.3 assists while shooting 45.6 percent from the field and 40.5 percent from three for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.

If you had to strap the Rockets to a lie detector test, perhaps they’d rather have taken the guard with a similar profile who adapted to the NBA level much quicker, but there’s still plenty of time for Sheppard to be the bucket-getter the Rockets need.

Correct pick: Jared McCain

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/2025...um-jaylen-brown-reed-sheppard-scoot-henderson

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Who could be the Sixers’ next Mike Muscala?

Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images

Mike Muscala became a Sixers legend for sinking the shot that landed the team Tyrese Maxey. Who is the 2025 version if the draft goes well?

It may not feel like it right now, but it took a lot of effort for the Sixers to be bad enough to retain their top-six protected pick in this year’s draft.

With a third of the league tanking, a 9-3 stretch made it nearly impossible for Philadelphia to not secure a top-10 seed in a struggling Eastern Conference. It took everything going wrong, and going 5-29 over the last 34 games of the season to ensure the best possible lottery odds to remain in the top six.

It got us at Liberty Ballers thinking. If the draft goes well for the Sixers (a big if, we admit) and they come away with an impact player, who will the be the new Mike Muscala in franchise lore?

For anyone who might not remember, former Sixer Mike Muscala made his greatest contributions for the team as a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Back in 2020 in the bubble, Muscala ended the regular season with this buzzer-beater to beat the Miami Heat. That shot and win improved the Thunder to the 21st pick in that year’s draft, removing the top-20 protection and sending the pick to Philadelphia. The Sixers would go on to take Tyrese Maxey with that pick.

So if the Sixers come away with another player that breathes new life into the franchise, who is the new Muscala that played their part in delivering a crucial loss for the 2024-25 Sixers? We narrowed down our top five candidates.

Nikola Jokic ​

This isn’t the only superstar on this list, and because so, they are going to rank at the bottom. The spirit of the Mike Muscala play is idealized with a role player. The lore is a lot more fascinating that some random seventh guy off the bench helped save the franchise, let alone the fact that he played for the Sixers at one point.

The winner of three of the last five MVPs certainly doesn’t fit the bill. The type of loss he handed the Sixers back in January certainly does. Without Joel Embiid or Paul George in the lineup, Philly was remarkably hanging with Denver in a shootout.

Stringing together some better offensive play, this looked like the Sixers could finally be turning the corner on this wretched start if they could just survive until their stars made it back. It looked like they were going to do so with a late lead over the Nuggets on national television. Jokic was able to snatch the victory just in time after Maxey got switched on to him, putting in this and-1 to put the Nuggets in front for good.

In another admirable loss, the Sixers without Embiid and PG hang with the full strength Nuggets at home in one of the best Maxey games of his career. The Sixers led for most of the game, but this inexplicable defensive possession gave the Nuggets the lead late. Thank you Nick. pic.twitter.com/PnK2USAc1h

— Mike (@mhc_76) April 9, 2025​

Shoutout to X user @mhc_76 for the clip. He put together a similar list of special losses before the team fully committed to the tanking efforts.

Jayson Tatum​

Just days after coming up short against the Nuggets, the Sixers had another opportunity to steal a win against a marquee opponent on national television. It looked like they were going to do more than steal it as they held a 26-point lead with under three minutes left in the third quarter against the Boston Celtics. Then an onslaught happened.

Boston went on such a dominant run that not only erased the lead, but they put themselves in front less than halfway through the fourth quarter. The run was fueled by Tatum, who finished the game with 35 points and 11 assists. More importantly, this was another demoralizing loss that saw the Sixers come up short despite putting together better efforts on a consistent basis.

Anthony Edwards ​

Again, this is someone who’s getting knocked a bit for the star factor, but the heroics were certainly there. In a desperate battle to stay worse than the Brooklyn Nets, the depleted Sixers found themselves in good shape as they trailed the Minnesota Timberwolves all night back in April.

Then Quentin Grimes, who was struggling for most of the night, came alive. He scored 17 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter as the Sixers stormed back to erase a 13-point lead. This dagger from Edwards with seven seconds remaining and two defenders draped all over him prevented a comeback the Sixers desperately couldn’t afford.

Alperen Sengun ​

We still aren’t meeting all the criteria here with a one-time All-Star, but we’re getting closer. In March, the Sixers were well intrenched with their efforts to lose every game possible. Still, they found themselves in a dogfight with the playoff-bound Houston Rockets.

Philly had led for most of this one but were never able to put the Rockets away. Despite the Sixers having a depleted big rotation, Sengun struggled for much of the game and found himself on the bench for nearly the entire fourth quarter. He came in just when the Rockets needed a rebound though, and was able to grab a missed free throw and put it back to force overtime. He went on to dominate the extra period, scoring 7 of his 13 points in the last 5:05 of this game.

Nic Claxton​

As improbable as some of those other losses were, this will be the moment to look back on if the Sixers nail this draft pick. Securing one of the six worst records in the league was important for the pick’s protection, sliding down to five or worse was even better, as it finally gave the Sixers a chance greater than 50% to keep the pick.

The Brooklyn Nets were the team jockeying for this position. In the end, they finished two games ahead of the Sixers and this game was a big reason why. This game was the tipping point. Philly was still clinging on to some hope they could turn things around, but this game forced their hand.

With all three of George, Maxey and Embiid on the court, they still found themselves trailing by double digits all night to a team trying to lose. They only started to chip away at that lead once Embiid was benched in the fourth quarter. It looked like the Sixers just may have finally been getting their shit together. They capped off the comeback with a three from Maxey to tie the game with 22 seconds remaining and get the arena on their feet.

Those hopes were dashed as quickly as they rose. Keon Johnson missed the go-ahead three-point attempt, but George missed his box-out on Nic Claxton, who scooped up the rebound and put it back just before the buzzer expired. The shot deflated the Sixers’ hopes and season. Embiid would not play another game that season. The Sixers would go 4-22 the rest of the way as they finally committed to retaining their draft pick.

So if this franchise is bailed out by another unexpected draft pick, they once again have another center’s buzzer beater to thank.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/2025...l-embiid-paul-george-nic-claxton-nikola-jokic

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Drake Powell checks all the boxes for the Sixers

Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Drake Powell has the type of defensive upside and low-maintenance offensive game to be a perfect fit for the Sixers.

Before the 2025 NBA Draft, we’ll take an in-depth look at different prospects here at Liberty Ballers and try to figure out which players would be the best fit for the Sixers at Nos. 3 and 35. Next up in this series is North Carolina’s Drake Powell.

A former five-star recruit out of Durham, Powell came to UNC with a reputation as one of the most versatile defenders in his class. While his freshman season didn’t feature eye-popping box score numbers, his advanced metrics, physical profile, and flashes on both ends of the floor have kept him firmly on NBA radars. With a 7-foot-0 wingspan, elite vertical pop, and a developing outside shot, Powell offers a tantalizing blend of athletic tools and long-term upside — especially for a team willing to be patient with his offensive development.

The Sixers will be looking for complementary wings who can play around Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey while also growing into bigger roles down the line. Powell’s mix of defensive upside, positional size, and low-maintenance offensive game could check a lot of boxes — particularly at No. 35, where high-upside bets are more appealing than polished specialists.

Profile​

2024-25 Stats: 37 games, 25.6 minutes, 7.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.7 blocks, 48.3 FG%, 37.9 3P%, 64.8 FT%

Team: North Carolina

Year: Freshman

Position: G/F

Height and Weight: 6’5.25” (without shoes) and 200.4 pounds

Born: September 8, 2005 (18 years old)

Hometown: Durham, North Carolina

Strengths​

Drake Powell enters the 2025 NBA Draft as one of the most physically gifted and defensively promising wings in his class. Standing 6’5.25” barefoot with a massive 7’0” wingspan and a jaw-dropping 43.0-inch max vertical, Powell’s measurements at the NBA Draft Combine confirmed what the eye test already showed: he’s a freak athlete. His elite blend of length, quickness, and vertical pop gives him a strong foundation to impact the game on both ends of the floor, but his most immediate calling card is his defense, where his motor, tools, and instincts shine.

On that end, Powell is already a disruptive presence. He’s a dynamic on-ball defender who can stay in front of quick guards, while also having the strength and wingspan to contain wings and even contest bigger forwards. His lateral agility and competitiveness allow him to suffocate ball-handlers and navigate screens, while his timing and length translate into consistent activity in the passing lanes. He averaged 0.7 blocks per game as a freshman at UNC — an impressive number for a wing — and showed an ability to rotate over as a help defender, close out hard without fouling, and alter shots with vertical contests. In a league increasingly driven by switchability and positional versatility, Powell checks a lot of boxes defensively.

Offensively, Powell may not have been featured heavily in North Carolina’s guard-heavy system, but he quietly displayed real growth as a floor-spacer and secondary threat. He shot a promising 37.9% from three-point range on modest volume, with clean, repeatable mechanics that project well moving forward. Most of his damage came on spot-ups, but he looked increasingly comfortable stepping into catch-and-shoot opportunities and showed glimpses of shooting off movement. In transition, his long strides and leaping ability make him a reliable above-the-rim finisher, and he moves well without the ball, cutting hard and staying ready to attack seams in the defense.

Beyond the defense and shooting, there’s also encouraging connective tissue in his game. Powell doesn’t force the issue and tends to make smart, unselfish decisions within the flow of the offense. He averaged 1.1 assists per game and showed flashes of passing vision off the dribble, particularly on drive-and-kick sequences. His ball-handling still has room to grow, but he’s flashed potential as a straight-line driver and displayed the body control to finish through contact. With a positive assist-to-turnover ratio (1.1 to 0.7) and solid rebounding for his position (3.4 RPG), Powell offers a low-usage, two-way skill set that’s valuable in almost any NBA context. As one of the younger prospects in the class with elite athletic tools and improving shooting, Powell offers clear 3-and-D upside with room to grow into more.

Weaknesses​

Despite his tantalizing physical tools and defensive upside, Powell remains a work in progress on the offensive end, and questions about his scoring mentality have persisted since his high school and AAU days. In showcase environments like the Pangos All-American Camp, Powell often looked passive and reluctant to hunt his own shot. That tendency carried over into his freshman season at UNC, where he averaged just 7.4 points per game and rarely asserted himself as a consistent scoring threat. While he played within the flow of the offense, his lack of aggression and assertiveness limited his impact and raised concerns about whether he can ever develop into more than a low-usage, off-ball option.

One of the biggest red flags is his inconsistency as a shooter. Although Powell shot 37.9% from three this past season, the low volume (2.6 attempts per game) and concerning 64.8% free throw percentage cast some doubt on how sustainable that outside shooting will be at the NBA level. His mechanics are mostly clean, but he has a tendency to dip the ball too far before releasing, which adds time to his shot and leaves him more vulnerable to contests. He also struggles to generate offense off the dribble — both as a pull-up shooter and a driver — lacking a reliable go-to move, change-of-pace handle, or confident finishing package in tight spaces.

His offensive skill set is still relatively raw in the halfcourt. Without a polished handle or strong self-creation ability, Powell has trouble breaking down defenders or creating space against set defenses. His scoring often depends on rhythm and opportunities created by others, which limits his ability to take over games or shift momentum. At times, he can go through extended stretches without leaving much of a mark offensively, choosing to defer even when more assertiveness is warranted. If he’s going to grow into a starting-caliber wing, becoming more comfortable attacking mismatches and taking shots with confidence will be essential.

Even on the defensive end — where he brings legitimate value — Powell isn’t without flaws. His length and quickness allow him to cover ground, but he can be overly aggressive on closeouts, leading to blow-bys or unnecessary rotations. He also tends to gamble for steals, occasionally taking himself out of position and putting extra pressure on his teammates to recover. While those issues are coachable and common for young defenders, they highlight the need for more discipline and refinement. Ultimately, Powell remains a high-upside prospect with elite athletic traits, but unlocking his full potential will require growth in offensive assertiveness, shooting consistency, and decision-making on both ends.

Potential Fit in Philly​

With the Sixers aiming to balance their win-now timeline around Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey with long-term developmental upside, Powell’s unique two-way profile could make him an intriguing fit alongside the team’s core. His blend of size, elite athleticism, and defensive versatility offers immediate utility, especially in a rotation that includes two high-usage scorers in Embiid and Maxey.

Defensively, Powell’s upside is hard to ignore. He has the tools to defend multiple positions, which could allow the Sixers to toggle between bigger and smaller lineups without sacrificing perimeter integrity. His lateral quickness, competitive edge, and ability to block shots from the wing (0.7 BPG as a freshman) give him real value as a multi-positional stopper. In lineups where Embiid anchors the paint and George takes on the toughest wing assignment, Powell could function as a flexible off-ball disruptor, rotating, helping, and cleaning up mistakes with his length and instincts. He brings a level of athleticism and energy that could raise the floor of Philadelphia’s second-unit defense immediately, with the potential to grow into a trusted switchable wing.

On offense, Powell’s fit is more about projection than plug-and-play readiness. He’s not someone who needs the ball in his hands to be effective, which works well on a team with multiple scoring options. His improved three-point shot and clean spot-up mechanics could allow him to develop into a reliable catch-and-shoot threat, especially if playing off Maxey’s downhill drives or George’s on-ball gravity.

Long-term, his ceiling will hinge on how much his offensive game evolves, particularly in terms of self-creation and consistency. But in Philadelphia, he wouldn’t be asked to do too much too soon. Surrounded by veterans and scorers, Powell could grow at a steady pace, focusing on defense, transition play, and spot-up shooting while slowly expanding his offensive responsibilities. Whether as a low-usage fifth starter down the line or a defensive-minded rotation wing early on, Powell aligns with the Sixers’ need for versatile athletes who can support their stars without demanding touches. If he buys into a role and continues to develop, the payoff could be significant.

Draft Projection​

Powell’s draft projection ranges drastically compared to other prospects. Some mock drafts have him going just outside the lottery, while others feature him dropping deep into the second round. Ultimately, it’s hard to imagine him falling much farther than the late second to early second round — where several win-now teams (Minnesota, Boston, L.A. Clippers, Phoenix) would likely take a swing on him.

However, if a team is confident in his upside beyond basic 3-and-D scoring, he could comfortably be a first-round selection. His physical tools, defensive versatility, and flashes of offensive growth make him an appealing long-term bet. In a class lacking surefire wings, Powell’s ceiling — particularly if he continues to develop his shot and assertiveness — could entice a front office willing to invest in his trajectory.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/2025...ft-profile-drake-powell-north-carolina-sixers

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

2025 NBA Finals Game 4 Open Thread

Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images

The Pacers — from their stars to their bench — were excellent in their Game 3 win to take a 2-1 lead in the NBA Finals. Can the Thunder answer back in Game 4?

And just like that, the Pacers are up 2-1 in the 2025 NBA Finals over the favored Thunder.

The Pacers put in a strong, well balanced effort at both ends of the floor in Game 3 to win 116-107. Not only did Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam improve from their Game 2 performances, and the team’s defense levelled up to contain OKC when it needed to, but the Pacers’ bench gave them a huge lift as well.

Bennedict Mathurin was the biggest change for the second unit, exploding for a game-high 27 points on 9-of-12 shooting — the most in the Finals by a reserve since Jason Terry in 2011. Former Sixer T.J. McConnell thrived too, scoring 10 points and snatching five steals in 15 minutes.

The Thunder, of course, have already been in this position this postseason. They were down after three games against the Nuggets, and came back to win in seven games. OKC clearly has serious talent, versatility, and balance across their offense and defense to get back to the control they showed across the first two games. Apart from the latter minutes of Game 1’s drama, the Thunder were largely the better team through the first two games.

Can they return to that form against a Pacers team that’s only growing in confidence?

Watching this series as an impartial basketball fan, without the stress of having any rooting interest, has been a lot of fun. We should be in for another exciting matchup as OKC tries to avoid a dreaded 3-1 deficit and tie up the series.

NBA Finals Game 4 Details​

When: Friday, June 13, 8:30 pm ET
Where: Gainbridge, Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
Watch: TNT Sports
Follow: @LibertyBallers

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/2025...iburton-pascal-siakam-shai-gilgeous-alexander

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Early second-round success stories are becoming easier to find

Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

The NBA might be getting better at scouting. The draft classes might just be getting deeper with better NCAA and international development. Whatever the reason is, the top of the second round doesn’t seem like as much of a crapshoot as it used to be.

When the second round of the NBA Draft starts, there is surely to be a reminder graphic on the television broadcast that lets fans know about the gems certain teams discovered in the second round.

For the longest time it felt like that graphic included players like Chandler Parsons, Draymond Green and Nikola Jokic who were all drafted over a decade ago. The names on that graphic are sure to be younger this time around, and if that can translate to the early portion of this year’s second round, the Sixers should be able to get a good player at No. 35 overall.

Let’s begin our recent historical overview with the 2021 second round. The 35th overall pick in that draft was a player that some Sixers fans might have interest in acquiring this offseason. New Orleans selected Herb Jones at that pick and Jones is now on a team-friendly second contract with two years until he hits free agency. One of the nice things about second-round success stories like Jones is that even when the team hits on the pick, a good second-rounder isn’t going to become good right away. Therefore, the player’s second contract will still be somewhat friendly to the team because practically no second-round pick is going to command a max deal coming off the rookie contract. That’s why Jones is interesting on the trade market right now. If Jones were on a better team, he’d fit in well as a starter behind a couple of max players.

There were a couple of guards selected in the 30s in 2021 after Jones who might not have the ceiling Jones has, but seemed to have carved out roles as rotation players. Miles McBride was the 36th overall selection and Ayo Dosunmu went 38th overall. McBride has become a reliable bench shooter for the Knicks who gets plenty of playoff minutes as Sixers fans saw in 2024. Dosunmu has started about half of the NBA games he’s appeared in, thanks in large part to the fact that Chicago doesn’t have enough talent to cement Dosunmu on the bench, but his numbers still look worthy of being the 7th or 8th man in a rotation on a contender. Would you really complain with this kind of player on the Sixers given the player was a second-rounder?

There were a couple players selected in the 30s in 2022 that are playing in the NBA Finals. Indiana took Andrew Nembhard 31st overall and Nembhard came right in and started 63 games as a rookie in 2022-23. Nembhard is now a regular starter for the Pacers. Jaylin Williams was selected by Oklahoma City at 34 in 2022. He might not be Jalen Williams, but Jaylin Williams still gives the Thunder 15-20 minutes a night in the regular season and has played about 10 minutes per game in the playoffs on a super deep Thunder team.

While 2023 does not appear to be a stellar second round, the early returns from the 2024 second-rounders are positive after their rookie seasons. Utah selected Kyle Filipowski with the first pick of the second round last year and Filipowski averaged about 10 points per game off the bench for the Jazz and shot 35% from the three-point line. When all is said and done, Jaylen Wells might be the best pick of the entire 2024 NBA Draft as Wells came right in for a Memphis team that made the play-in tournament, started 74 games and contributed admirably on both ends of the floor as a the 39th pick. Lastly, the Sixers took Adem Bona at 41 last year and I think many fans that suffered through last season are going into 2025-26 feeling optimistic about Bona’s development and where he can go from here.

Without getting too far in the weeds, we wanted to prove a point that there is talent to be found in the early portion of the second round. Not every team can do it, but if I told you that three of the 10 picks in the 30s were going to make their second contracts with the team that drafts them, you’d sign up for those odds and hope the Sixers were one of those three teams that took one of those prospects, right?

As you can see from the players we highlighted, some become starters. Some become impact bench players and others become bottom-of-the-rotation players who do enough to stay in the NBA. Any one of those three outcomes should be viewed as an acceptable outcome for the 35th overall pick. It’s certainly far from a guarantee that Philadelphia gets a good player with that selection, but the pick should not be viewed as a lottery ticket anymore either.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/2025...ers-second-round-pick-35-adem-bona-herb-jones

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Why you shouldn’t feel bad about the Sixers not trading for Tyrese Haliburton

Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images

There was a time when Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton’s name swirled in Ben Simmons trade rumors. Realistically, there was no way to make it work with the Sixers.

Surely this is what everyone wants to hear as he leads his team on an improbable Finals run.

Tyrese Haliburton comes up a lot in conversation around these parts. Not just because of his ascent to an All-NBA player as he’s taken his team through two deep playoff runs, but because there was a time he was heavily featured in Sixers trade rumors.

Back during the 2022 season during Ben Simmons’ holdout, the Sacramento Kings were rumored often as a potential suitor for the disgruntled point guard. Reports vary on whether the Kings wanted to offer Haliburton or De’Aaron Fox.

Keith Pompey and Jake Fischer have each reported after the fact that Haliburton was a possibility in a Simmons trade. In a recent story for ESPN, Ramona Shelbourne dropped a nugget that Drew Hanlen, a trainer for several NBA players including Joel Embiid, got a head start on Haliburton’s film in 2022 because of said trade rumors. Regardless, both teams went their separate paths.

The Indiana Pacers ended up putting together a package centered around Domantas Sabonis to acquire Haliburton, while Daryl Morey re-united with James Harden, sending Simmons to the Brooklyn Nets.

Now it seems that every time Haliburton impresses in the national spotlight, a contingent of Sixers fans look back at these trades as a missed opportunity. This has only been heightened after Harden’s ugly departure from Philadelphia and the Pacers reaching greater heights than this era of Sixers basketball.

Where was Howie Roseman when we needed him @PHLSixersNation pic.twitter.com/LdTkRGMOzT

— Eagles Nation (@PHLEaglesNation) June 6, 2025​

It’s easy to be mad at this franchise and front office, especially after the catastrophe they just went through. There have been so many missed opportunities in this era it’s hard not to ask what if? This particular decision though is not worth the time or the breath.

It’s important to remember Haliburton would have been coming into a very different situation than the one he landed in Indiana, where he was handed over the keys to an offense that became catered to his play-style.

As opposed to the Sixers where he would have been playing second fiddle to the league’s leading scorer who likes to play at a much slower pace. Next to Tyrese Maxey, the backcourt would have just been 22 and 21 years old, respectively, at the time. That’s already ambitious for a team trying to compete for a championship, let alone who the coach of the team was back then.

Perhaps Haliburton is so talented it would have worked out anyways. They would’ve had more time to figure it out, and it seems he’s developed a strong relationship with Embiid as is.

All of these “what if’s” though are missing the forest through the trees. While it might not feel like it, the Harden trade was a success for the Sixers. Even if Simmons didn’t become the worst contract in the league, Harden went on to lead the league in assists in his full year with the Sixers, developing a lethal-two man game with Embiid who went on to win MVP.

How many years, before 2023, did Sixers fans ask themselves, “if only Embiid had a co-star who could take over one game in a series?”

Harden didn’t just get one, he had two 40+-point performances — against the Celtics no less. He put them into position to finally get past the dreaded second round of the playoffs. Embiid needed to finish the job.

If anything’s become clear over the past 18 months, it’s that time to push in all the chips on the Embiid-era was at the beginning of the decade. The Pacers are great and could be for a long time, but they didn’t even make the playoffs under Haliburton until 2024.

Choosing Haliburton over Harden would have been better for the team’s five-year outlook, but that’s a lot easier to say in hindsight. Embiid was playing at an MVP-level around the trade deadline of 2022, and would keep up on that level of play for another 24 months. It was always the shorter-term view, but Harden was the better option to help Embiid win right then and there.

When an era has failed, the easiest thing to do is point to one transaction or another as a missed opportunity, and there are plenty of mistakes from the past eight years. Sometimes though, it’s just on the guys you have to get it done.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/2025...s-harden-joel-embiid-tyrese-maxey-daryl-morey

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

2025 NBA Finals Game 5 Open Thread

Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

What will this highly entertaining series have in store for us tonight in Oklahoma City?

An absolute thrill ride of an NBA Finals continues tonight as the series shifts back to Oklahoma City for Game 5. Both teams have blown late-game leads since this championship round started and, if things had shifted slightly, could have been looking to hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy tonight. Instead, we’re all knotted up and no matter what happens tonight, we are guaranteed to go back to Indiana for Game 6. In our minds, though, I think we’re all starting to believe this series is going the distance.

Still, teams with a 3-2 lead in the NBA Finals are 40-9 (.816 winning percentage) across history, so tonight is obviously critical towards both teams’ championship aspirations. MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the story in Game 4’s win for the Thunder, scoring 15 points inside the final five minutes of the contest to lead the comeback effort for Oklahoma City. Opposing point guard Tyrese Haliburton has been quieter than what we saw against the Knicks, but has still put up solid numbers and, of course, hit the game-winner in Game 1.

The real story has been the depth of each team being on full display in these Finals, whether it’s Alex Caruso supplementing his usual stellar defense with two 20-point efforts off the bench in this series, or Bennedict Mathurin leading all scorers with 27 points in Indiana’s Game 3 win. Each night new guys have popped off making things even more compelling. Who will be the unlikely hero in tonight’s critical Game 5? Tune in and find out.

NBA Finals Game 5 Details​

When: Monday, June 16, 8:30 pm ET
Where: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK
Watch: ABC
Follow: @LibertyBallers

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/2025...n-thread-oklahoma-city-thunder-indiana-pacers

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Editor-in-chief mailbag: Roster construction, draft trade ideas and more

Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images

We’re a little over a week away from the 2025 NBA Draft and it seems like you’re all ready to do this thing.

We’re eight days away from a potentially franchise-altering draft for the Sixers. They hold the No. 3 pick and have numerous options.

Let’s not waste time here and get right into your questions!

mthoman1
If we're really to believe that the sixers will compete next year and that George and Embiid will be healthy enough to make that happen, how many supporting role players with < 3 years experience is too many for a championship run?
This talk about moving back and acquiring more assets seems interesting, but they already have McCain, Edwards and Bona playing key roles. Can they really compete with adding 3 more rookies to that list? My guess is they'd be lucky to get 2 who are capable right away. If they draft 3, most likely 2 are going to play most of their minutes in Delaware.

This is a good, layered question so I’ll have to break it down in a couple parts.

I think part of the issue is the uncertainty of whether Joel Embiid and Paul George will be healthy enough for the Sixers to compete next season. For me, I’ve been basically analyzing the team as if they won’t be — and if they are, it’s an enormous bonus. It’s the dreaded “dual timeline” situation, but I don’t think the team has much of a choice. Trading either guy would likely cost you future assets which would hurt a potential rebuild. And it would be reckless to trade any of the young guys in order to acquire veterans to help Embiid and George.

I wouldn’t get too bogged down with the age/experience stuff. Alex Caruso (30) and Kenrich Williams (30) are the only Thunder rotation players in their 30s. For the Pacers, only Pascal Siakam (30) and our old pal Timothy John McConnell (32) are over 30. All six players that have started for OKC in the postseason are 26 or younger. Three of Indy’s starters are 25 or younger. I think part of Daryl Morey’s goal to get younger and more dynamic is watching teams like OKC and Indiana in the Finals and seeing the direction the league is going.

As I’ve pointed out many times, Morey is going to take the best player available. He didn’t select Jared McCain last year thinking he’d play that well as a rookie. He took McCain because he believed the Duke product was the best overall player on the board. With the best players in the draft being so young (Cooper Flagg and Ace Bailey are still 18!), it’s more about projecting their careers than determining whether they can contribute now. In reality, that’s in the team’s best interest now and in the future. If the player winds up being legitimately good, you have countless options moving forward.

I will say this, whether it’s accidental or a philosophical shift, McCain and Adem Bona were both super impressive with their maturity as young players. You could tell from their first press conferences they had the proper mindset in addition to their talent. I believe that helped both guys see the floor as rookies.

As for trading back in the draft, I don’t think the Sixers do it unless they stay in the top six and get a haul to do so. I would not be surprised at all to see them simply take the best player on their board at No. 3.

NetTrim
If the 76ers draft at 3 what would it take to get a pick around 15 to select a PF or C?

Probably more than would be worth giving up. You do have some teams in that range who could be interested, but is it worth giving up the 2028 Clippers pick or 2029 pick swap? I guess if the team identifies a prospect it really covets in that range? Maybe if someone like Derik Queen really tumbles it could make sense. I do like Collin Murray-Boyles, Asa Newell and Thomas Sorber a great deal. Danny Wolf is super intriguing too. There are plenty of wings in that range who could make a lot of sense as well.

I just think with the Sixers’ recent success picking in the second round, I might look to do the opposite — trade back from 35 and try to get a future second-rounder. Also, adding an additional first-rounder on guaranteed money could complicate the team’s financial picture. Second-round picks do not get guaranteed deals.

sircharlesncharge
I'm slowly moving towards #teamtradeback. How far can we move back to get Tre Johnson (#5 is my guess) or Carter Bryant (#8-10 is my guess)? And, what could we potentially get in these deals? I prefer elite skills and athleticism which is why I prefer Johnson (shooting) and Bryant (future 3&D stud) over trading up for Harper (not super athletic), or sticking and picking Bailey (questionable shot selection/decision making) or Edgecombe (shot creation concerns). I feel like those 3 have too many red flags to mortgage assets for. T-minus 9 days!!! LFG! TTP! Go Birds!

I’m not enthusiastically #TeamTradeBack, but for the right offer, I’m open to it.

Specifically for Tre Johnson, I can’t imagine he gets past Utah at five. None of the prospects they have in the fold are shooters and, as you mentioned, Johnson is elite in that regard. In a vacuum, I love Carter Bryant’s fit here, but I’m not sold on him as a top-10 player in the draft (just my opinion!). It seems like the consensus agrees with you that you’d likely have to stay in the top 10 to get him.

Hard to say what you’d get. The latest intel makes it sound like the Jazz are happy staying put. It does seem like the Wizards are open for business at No. 6 and they do have plenty of draft capital. But at six you risk missing out on all three of Johnson, Edgecombe and Kon Knueppel.

I’m much higher on Dylan Harper and Edgecombe than you.

Harper is not an elite athlete but he certainly isn’t a poor one. He’s at worst an average NBA athlete, which is fine by me considering how elite his feel for the game is and how good he is as a finisher. Plus, he has a 6-foot-10 wingspan and has strong flashes defensively.

I think people are so focused on Edgecombe’s floor they’ve sort of ignored his ceiling. No, he’s not an elite shot creator right now, but you can develop that. You can’t develop many of his other traits. He was 10th in the Big 12 in points produced per game. Imagine what he can do with more development.

The more I learn about Ace Bailey the more nervous taking him makes me.

fitz164
Do you know of a reliable place that would say who has worked out for what teams so far? The only thing I have seen is hoophype listing some info for that. I dont know how accurate it is tho because some of the things I saw which I listed below I see highly unlikely, but below are some of the interesting things I noticed
The hornets haven’t worked out anyone in the top 6
Ace and VJ have only worked out for the sixers
The jazz, pels, wizards, and nets have all worked out Fears
Nobody has worked out Maluach or Harper
Only the jazz have worked out Tre

To answer your question up front, no. Teams have become much more secretive these days. It’s been widely reported Edgecombe had a positive workout and meeting with the Sixers’ brass recently. It’s also been reported that they’re planning to meet with Bailey. Take that information however you’d like.

When I started covering the team a bit back in 2016, I remember getting to cover draft workouts at PCOM, where the team used to practice before building its facility in Camden. I vividly remember us watching a young Joel Embiid, who hadn’t played a single NBA game yet, working out with us all standing there. It feels surreal thinking back on it.

I remember it being a big deal when local products Josh Hart and DeAndre’ Bembry came for a workout. As you’ll recall, Hart went back to Villanova for another season while Bembry was taken in the first round by the Hawks. I also covered Bembry a bunch at St. Joe’s. He was so awesome and it’s a shame it didn’t work out for him in the NBA.

I wrote a feature on Carsen Edwards after he came in for a draft workout. He was a great kid and it was a great interview. Looks like he’s crushing it overseas so maybe he finds his way back to the NBA.

Last story for you all to indulge me, I was there when Naz Reid had his draft workout with the Sixers. He tweaked his ankle and it basically shut down the workout. That was the last draft workout I covered and nobody covers them anymore. Morey keeps things close to the chest. I can respect the strategy but I did enjoy attending draft workouts.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/2025...struction-2025-nba-draft-trade-ideas-and-more

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Report: Sixers still trying to move up to No. 2 overall pick

Photo by Melissa Tamez/NBAE via Getty Images

Marc Stein and Jake Fischer came off the top rope with another late-night, Sixers-heavy slop drop.

We’re now officially less than a week away from the NBA draft, and speculation is heating up with numerous scenarios and rumors swirling. Marc Stein and Jake Fischer remain some of the most reliable sources when it comes to Sixers-related developments, and their latest edition of The Stein Line is packed with insights.

Kicking things off with draft-related news, Stein and Fischer highlighted two prospects: Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper.

The Stein Line has learned that Ace Bailey is scheduled to fly into Philadelphia on Thursday for a much-anticipated visit with the Sixers.

Philadelphia holds the No. 3 overall pick and Bailey, to this point, has not worked out for any team, adamant in his belief that he will fall no lower than No. 3 in next Wednesday’s Round 1 proceedings despite recent suggestions that he could indeed drop some.

The Rutgers forward is expected, as seen with Flagg in Dallas, to focus on meetings with team officials on his first day in Philly before proceeding to an on-court workout at the team’s facilities Friday.

One source briefed on the situation told The Stein Line that the Sixers, one week out, appear most likely to hold firm at No. 3 as it stands … emphasis on as it stands. League sources say that Philadelphia is indeed still trying to move up a spot, but San Antonio continues to convey that it plans to hold on to the No. 2 overall pick for the widely expected selection of Rutgers’ Dylan Harper.

Ace Bailey’s workout with the Sixers has been on the calendar for a few days now, but what stands out is the growing belief — either from Bailey himself or his camp — that he won’t fall past the No. 3 pick on draft night. Interestingly, the Sixers remain the only team currently scheduled to bring him in. Up until now, most of the buzz around Philadelphia’s draft interest has centered on Baylor wing VJ Edgecombe. Whether this meeting with Bailey shifts the team’s thinking in the final stretch remains to be seen.

Update: Bailey abruptly canceled his workout with the Sixers.

News of Philadelphia reaching out to San Antonio first surfaced a few days ago via HoopsHype’s Mike Scotto. Since then, things had gone relatively quiet — until now. In this latest update, Stein reports that the Sixers are still actively trying to move up one spot in the draft, presumably to target Harper. Multiple recent reports suggest the Spurs are leaning toward selecting Harper at No. 2 despite potential concerns about his fit in an already crowded backcourt.

Is this posturing, or do the Spurs genuinely believe Harper is the best player on the board by a wide enough margin to justify overlooking fit concerns? We’ll get a clearer picture in the coming days.

Historically, the Sixers have taken a fairly measured approach when it comes to offering assets in trades. But this might be the rare case where they should be aggressive if they truly believe Harper is their guy. He projects as an excellent fit alongside Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain, and he would come with the benefit of a cost-controlled contract for four seasons. With that kind of long-term upside, this is exactly the type of move that warrants taking a bigger swing in negotiations.

Outside of the draft, Stein also touched on several of the Sixers’ impending free agents, offering insight into how the team might be approaching its salary structure moving forward.

By simply staying at No. 3, Philadelphia would introduce an $11.1 million salary onto its books for 2025-26. So the Sixers expect to operate near (or maybe even above) the second apron for this upcoming campaign, sources say, as they prepare to give Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey another shot to try to contend for a championship after they managed to appear in just 15 games (7-8) together this season.

Sources add that re-signing restricted free agent-to-be Quentin Grimes continues to be a priority in Philadelphia.

With a trio of Sixers veterans — Kelly Oubre Jr., Andre Drummond and Eric Gordon — all expected to soon activate the player options in their respective contracts for next season, it looks as though it will be increasingly challenging for Philadelphia to re-sign beloved big man Guerschon Yabusele. The former first-round pick from France, who played last season on a minimum deal, is projected to have a strong market in free agency.

Barring a dramatic move involving Maxey, Paul George or Joel Embiid, the Sixers are on track to be an expensive team. It’s a safe bet they’ll be operating near the second apron. With that said, I do have reservations about Daryl Morey — who’s widely regarded as a CBA expert —willingly committing to life under the strict constraints that come with the second apron, especially with a team that has major question marks as a contender.

Quentin Grimes has long been viewed as the Sixers’ top free-agent priority. Early reports indicated that Oubre, Drummond and Gordon are all expected to pick up their respective player options, adding roughly $16 million to the payroll. Once you factor in the salary for the No. 3 pick ($11.1 million) and a new deal for Grimes, it becomes clear that there may be little room left, if any, for a potential contract with Yabusele.

Oubre, Drummond and Gordon each have until June 29 to decide on their respective player options. If Yabusele remains part of the Sixers’ plans, they could explore moving one or more of that trio to create additional financial flexibility. Doing so could help carve out more flexibility for Yabusele while also giving the front office some breathing room beneath the second apron.

With the draft rapidly approaching and free-agency decisions looming, the Sixers are entering a pivotal stretch that could define their long-term trajectory. Whether it’s making an aggressive move up the board for Harper or navigating the financial puzzle around their pending free agents, Morey and the front office have major decisions ahead. The next few weeks will offer a clearer picture of how bold this team is willing to be in its pursuit of contention.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/2025...verall-pick-dylan-harper-2025-nba-draft-spurs

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

2025 NBA Finals Game 6 Open Thread

Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

The season may come to an end tonight in Indianapolis.

After a wild couple months of postseason action, the 2024-25 NBA season may be coming to an end tonight. Behind 40 points from Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City pulled away from Indiana in Game 5 by a 120-109 score to take a 3-2 series lead. Now, the Pacers head back home for Game 6 hobbled, with star point guard Tyrese Haliburton a game-time decision due to a right calf injury. Haliburton looked greatly diminished by the injury on Monday night, and even if he is able to play through the bum calf tonight and take the floor, it’s hard to imagine him being close to 100 percent and being at the level the Pacers need to overcome the favored Thunder. As of this writing, the Thunder are six-point favorites, per FanDuel, implying a 68.75 percent probability they’ll come away victorious at night’s end.

Oklahoma City won an NBA-best 68 games during the regular season and was top-five in both offensive and defensive rating. Seeing them lifting the Larry O’Brien Trophy would be a fitting conclusion to this season. However, the Pacers have made a habit this postseason of pulling off the improbable. Do they have one more comeback in store for us or is this roller coaster NBA Finals ready to pull into the station with the Thunder crowned as champions? Let’s find out tonight.

NBA Finals Game 6 Details​

When: Thursday, June 19, 8:30 pm ET
Where: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
Watch: ABC
Follow: @LibertyBallers

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/2025...n-thread-oklahoma-city-thunder-indiana-pacers

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Could Sion James provide some energy off the bench for the Sixers?

Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

The Duke wing was buried a bit on a roster that included three lottery picks. But he’s an interesting target for Philadelphia in the second round.

Before the 2025 NBA Draft, we’ll take an in-depth look at different prospects here at Liberty Ballers and try to figure out which players would be the best fit for the Sixers at Nos. 3 and 35. Next up in this series is Duke’s Sion James.

It’s interesting how there are players at the top of this draft (think Rutgers prospects and Collin Murray-Boyles) whose college teams were afterthoughts. Then there are players at the end of the first round and into the second round whose college teams were playing into April this year. If we’re going to knock the lottery prospects for not being a part of winning cultures in college, then maybe we should at least slightly elevate the lower-ranked prospects that did contribute to a lot of winning collegiately.

In fairness, NBA prospects that are projected lottery picks from bad college teams can only do so much to make their college teams better. For as much as basketball teams at any level can be carried by stars, there are lots of other players on those teams touching the ball. On the flip side, if there’s so much talent on one college team, perhaps some of the ancillary players on that roster get bumped down draft boards too much, solely due to a lack of visibility.

That might be part of why Duke’s Sion James is projected to go in the middle of the second round next week. He’s nowhere near the size of Khaman Maluach and of course he didn’t have the role Kon Knueppel or Cooper Flagg had. This isn’t me suggesting that he’s as good as those players, but it is me suggesting that we may not have seen the best version of James at Duke and his strengths may not have been highlighted as much as other prospects’ strengths are.

Profile:

2024-25 Stats: 39 games, 25.5 minutes, 8.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.3 blocks, 51.6 FG%, 41.3 3P%, 81.0 FT%

Team: Duke

Year: Super Senior

Position: SG/SF

Height and Weight: 6’6’’ 220 lbs.

Born: December 4, 2002 (Rookie season in NBA will be his age-23 season)

Hometown: Sugar Hill, Georgia

Strengths​

Let’s start with the fact that at his listed height and weight, he certainly seems like someone that can hold his own on the wing in the NBA. Perhaps he’s best suited at the shooting guard position, but I’d like to think the 220-pound frame could hold up at small forward in some smaller lineups. In addition to having a body type that appears ready for the NBA, James possesses strong lateral quickness that enabled him to defend the 1-3 spots in college. He’s physical, makes a lot of hustle plays and just seems like someone that could really be a pest off the bench and come in to guard a hot opposing scorer and cool that player off. It was this kind of defensive tenacity that allowed Tony Allen to thrive in the NBA as a wing defender and Allen was a couple inches shorter than James.

I think it’s safe to say that defense is probably going to be James’ calling card if he is to survive in the NBA, but we have to also acknowledge his improvements as a shooter in college. James played his first four years of college ball at Tulane and was not a good shooter when he arrived in New Orleans. The Georgia native shot just 28% from deep and 65% from the free-throw line as a freshman with the Green Wave and started 17 of the 23 games he appeared in so his struggles as a shooter were not due to lack of playing time. Fast forward to 2024-25, his only year at Duke, and James is shooting over 40% from the three-point line and over 80% from the free-throw line on a team that went to the Final Four. While his minutes rose considerably at Tulane and then predictably declined when he got to Duke, James was still improving enough as a shooter while at Tulane to be attractive to the Duke staff.

Lastly, James seems to keep his poise offensively when pressured. It helps when you have offensive talents like Flagg and Knueppel to pass to, but what James lacked in shot creation he made up for in playmaking. He’s not a point guard, but he’s a more than capable passer as a wing and if he can get drafted to a team that already has a few solid offensive threats, he should be able to find those players when he gets caught with the ball in a precarious position.

Weaknesses​

As hinted at, James isn’t a shot creator. This is going to make it very difficult for a wing like him to score at even a league-average rate if his three-point shooting does not translate up. He seems to lack much of a pull-up game which allows defenses to go under a lot of ball screens on James and while he has good lateral speed defensively, it doesn’t appear to translate into blow-by speed offensively so he doesn’t look like someone that’s going to score a lot going to the basket.

For as improved of a shooter as James is, he’s not someone that you run a lot of off-ball screens for him to come off of either, as that has never been a part of his game. Simply put, you’re really not going to call offensive plays for James much at all. This doesn’t mean he’s a zero offensively, as he can score some in the NBA if he’s a willing shooter when the looks are there and if he attacks the rim enough to where he can take on contact and get to the line where his free-throwing shooting has gotten better. But sometimes you see prospects that go in the second round that are microwave scorers that just weren’t consistent enough to become first-rounders. James isn’t that. He just doesn’t seem to have a wide-enough array of offensive skills to even have the ability to heat up in short stints as a scorer.

Potential Fit with the Sixers​

Given the glut of guards on Philadelphia’s roster, and the possibility of adding another one at third overall next week, I can understand why some may like if James was an inch or two taller. That would make him more of a natural small forward/undersized power forward as opposed to the natural shooting guard/undersized small forward that he projects as. However, without knowing who the selection is at No. 3 overall and just doing our best to work off of what we can be infer about the 2025-26 Sixers, James would probably fit in well off the bench as a rookie.

Most Sixers fans are expecting all three of Tyrese Maxey, Jared McCain and Quentin Grimes to be a part of next year’s rotation. However the minutes were to shake out amongst these three guards, James is bigger than all three so when James saw some playing off the bench, it could probably be in a lineup with two of those three guards on the floor. Additionally, Maxey and McCain aren’t really known for their defensive prowess so James could come in right away and Nick Nurse and company could just tell him to hound opposing wings and be the defensive pest he was in college knowing they’ll get the scoring from other sources. This often feels like the best way to develop second-rounders. You should want to highlight their strengths right away and allow them to feel like their best qualities are NBA traits, and focus on skill development throughout the rest of their rookie contracts once some confidence is established in the NBA.

If James ends up in Philadelphia, he would have to compete with some other wings his size for playing time, although that wouldn’t be a bad thing. His chief competition for minutes would likely be Justin Edwards and Ricky Council IV, who are both also in their early 20s. But a little competition amongst the younger players at the end of the rotation could be healthy. If two of Edwards, Council IV and James played in Philadelphia for the majority of their 20s in whatever the smaller capacity was, it’s undoubtedly a win for the front office, especially since Edwards and Council IV were undrafted.

Draft Projection​

ESPN Mock Draft: No. 45 to Chicago Bulls

What’s interesting about where James is slotted in this mock draft is that he’s a part of a tier in the 40s that’s almost exclusively NCAA players that were seniors or super seniors this past season. Age often bumps players down draft boards, but I think that’s a bigger issue at the top of the draft. Certainly, lottery teams are going to prefer taking a teenager who will be 22 or 23 when his rookie contract expires. That’s always going to be more attractive than someone who’s 22 or 23 when drafted and will already be at or hovering around 30 by the end of his second contract, if he’s even good enough to sign two NBA contracts.

But I think these kinds of concerns are sometimes put under the microscope a bit too much. A player should not fall in the draft simply because of his age. The common thread with a lot of the college seniors that go in the second round is more so that they lack enough translatable skills to the NBA, not that they’re already 22 or 23 years old. If there are enough translatable skills however, the age concern should be pushed to the side.

In the case of James, the primary skill that teams are going to have to buy will be his defense. From there, how much of an improved shooter teams believe him to be will probably dictate how high he goes in the second round. By most of the projections, he should be available for Philadelphia at 35.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/2025...n-james-duke-sixers-tyrese-maxey-jared-mccain

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Hansen Yang is a super skilled big who could be worth a look at No. 35

Hansen Yang was playing in the CBA at 18 and showed off an intriguing skillset at 7-foot-1. Could he be in play for the Sixers at No. 35?

Before the 2025 NBA Draft, we’ll take an in-depth look at different prospects here at Liberty Ballers and try to figure out which players would be the best fit for the Sixers at Nos. 3 and 35. Next up in this series is Chinese big man Hansen Yang.

Hansen Yang started his professional career in the Chinese Basketball Association at the age of 18. In his first year, he was named the league’s Defensive Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year while also making the league’s All-Star team and being named to its Domestic First Team. He was again named an All-Star and received First Team honors in 2025. With his impressive size and skill, he’s as intriguing a second-round prospect as any.

Profile​

2024-25 Stats: 53 games, 33.0 minutes, 16.2 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 0.9 steals, 2.7 blocks, 59.5 FG%, 28.6 3P%, 67.7 FT%

Team: Qingdao Double Star Eagles (Chinese CBA)

Year: N/A

Position: C

Height and Weight: 7’1.00” (without shoes) and 252.6 pounds

Born: June 26, 2005 (19 years old)

Hometown: Zibo, Shandong, China

Strengths​

What stands out immediately is Yang’s size. Even without shoes he stands at 7-foot-1 and has a 7-foot-2 wingspan. At 252.6 pounds, he’s built solidly and likely has room to put on more muscle given his age. While he’s certainly not a great athlete, his testing numbers at the combine weren’t terrible. In fact, they were better than many other 7-footers, including Duke’s Khaman Maluach.

What makes him intriguing is the skill level he possesses at that size. He’s an excellent passer in all facets — out of the post, on the short roll, in DHOs. He’s able to see over the defense and delivers accurate passes to cutters and shooters. He’s an outstanding low-post scorer, displaying great footwork and excellent touch around the rim. The shot is a work-in-progress, but it’s fairly mechanically sound for a 7-footer. There’s legitimate stretch big potential.

The CBA is nowhere near the level of competition of the NBA, but Yang did excel as both a shot blocker and rebounder. What he lacks in explosiveness he makes up for with timing and a strong basketball IQ. His NBA team will likely be forced to play drop coverage almost exclusively, but the shot-blocking potential could make it work.

Weaknesses​

While Yang moved decently during the combine scrimmages, it’s fair to wonder if his lack of athleticism will lead to problems on the defensive end. As mentioned, he’ll likely have to play exclusively in drop coverage at the next level. So while his offensive skillset could potentially provide versatility, the lack of explosiveness could make him a liability on the other end.

His low-post scoring and rebounding were impressive in the CBA, but will he be able to do those things at the same level against NBA athletes? Much of his success in the CBA in the post and on the glass was because of his height. As mentioned, he’s not super skinny at over 250 pounds, but he could still get bullied by bigger NBA centers while not having the necessary foot speed to hang with more athletic bigs.

Potential Fit in Philly​

This feels like the type of prospect Daryl Morey would covet. While there are more experienced college players like Auburn’s Johni Broome and Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner who could make sense at No. 35, Yang feels more like a Morey guy. Yang will turn just 20 next week, has an advanced skillset, and could even be stashed in China for a year, giving Morey more roster and financial flexibility.

Yang would make an intriguing tandem with last year’s second-round pick, Adem Bona. Bona is sort of the opposite of Yang as an undersized but hyper-athletic and defensive-minded big. It’s also not crazy to envision the optimized versions of both players sharing the floor.

Draft Projection​

Yang’s range is sort of all over the place in the second round. Maybe with a modest trade back the Sixers could still land him while getting future draft capital. Look for a team that values upside over immediate production to take a swing on the Chinese big man.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/2025...iles-hansen-yang-chinese-cba-sixers-adem-bona

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Why Sixers fans shouldn’t be scarred by draft night errors of the past

Photo by Chris Marion/NBAE via Getty Images

The Sixers have had some nightmarish draft nights in the past, but under Daryl Morey the team has done quite well.

As a crucial draft night for the Sixers franchise draws closer, I’ve been using the time to look back at recent history to see what’s come of teams that have landed in a similar situation. From both a Sixers perspective and a league perspective, it’s been a fun bit of revisionist history.

Naturally, the next step in that progression is looking back at Daryl Morey’s draft history and seeing what can be gleaned from that. Now seems as good a time as any after this reply from a national reporter stirred up quite a frenzy on Sixers Twitter.

Pretty bold given the amount of talent they have passed on in recent drafts.

— Brett Siegel (@BrettSiegelNBA) June 18, 2025​

So here is a reminder that while Morey has had his share of failures in Philadelphia, the draft has been the one thing he’s nailed.

Starting in 2020, the Sixers were in somewhat of a similar position they find themselves in now. It took a buzzer-beater for their first-round pick to convey from, coincidentally, the Oklahoma City Thunder. From there he took advantage of Tyrese Maxey sliding all the way to the 21st pick.

Not only did he draft an All-Star past the lottery, but he grabbed two rotation players late in the second round. Isaiah Joe was scooped up at 49 while Paul Reed was taken 58th. Both of them are proven NBA players which makes them draft night successes even if the organization went on to bungle their tenures.

Joe was cut after two seasons, most of that time was spent warming the bench. This year, he made the most three-pointers for a Thunder team that may soon win a championship.

I still contend that Reed was the best backup center of the Joel Embiid era. Even if his 2024 series against the Knicks was bad, he actively helped them win playoff games the year before. That’s way more than Amir Johnson, Greg Monroe or Dwight Howard can boast.

It’s also fair to acknowledge on this draft night Morey dumped Al Horford to the Thunder with a future first-round pick in exchange for Danny Green. He might be graded a lot more harshly if this season’s pick had not conveyed, but the lottery balls were kind to him, and removing Horford from the backcourt was crucial for Embiid’s step in becoming an MVP-caliber player.

Speaking of some of the downswings, Morey doesn’t have anything to show for the 2021 draft. In fairness, he was picking at the end of the round every time.

Defensive specialist Jaden Springer didn’t pan out the way he hoped at the 28th overall pick, but he is still floating around in the league. He signed a three-year deal with the Utah Jazz back in March.

Taking Filip Petrusev at 50 was also definitely a miss. He appeared in only three NBA games before going back to Europe. Still, Morey did draft another player in the 50s who landed in someone’s rotation.

Three picks later, the Sixers selected Charles Bassey out of Western Kentucky. He only played 23 games in his lone season with Philadelphia and was waived the following training camp. The Spurs thought he was a flyer worth taking, giving him a four-year contract in 2023. He’s been plagued by injuries since then though. He fractured his patellar tendon a day after signing that deal, and tore his ACL the following year.

The only other knock on Morey’s draft resume is that, somehow, he would not make another draft selection for another three years. Blockbuster trades and tampering violations will do that.

The early returns sure do look promising on his 2024 selections though. Jared McCain’s 23 games he was able to play in before a season-ending injury were so impactful that he still earned All-Rookie Team votes.

Adem Bona didn’t get the opportunity for many in-game reps until the season cratered and everything was a mess, but he made the most of that opportunity. The same can be said for undrafted free agent Justin Edwards.

So yes, there are some horrible moments in Sixers history when they’ve had similar opportunities before. No one needs another reminder about what happened to Jahlil Okafor or Markelle Fultz. This regime has been far from perfect as well — it’s why they’re in the situation they’re in. The one area this front office might deserve your trust though is in scouting.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/2025...ared-mccain-tyrese-maxey-adem-bona-isaiah-joe

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Report: Ace Bailey cancels workout with Sixers

Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Another unexpected twist in a surprisingly complicated saga for 2025 NBA Draft prospect Ace Bailey.

Well... so much for Ace Bailey’s Sixers visit, apparently?

ESPN’s Jonathan Givony reported late Wednesday night that Ace Bailey canceled his workout with the Sixers that was originally scheduled for Friday. There had been some confusion as to whether or not Bailey had a private workout scheduled with Philadelphia. That appears to have dissolved as quickly as it materialized.

NEWS: Rutgers star Ace Bailey has canceled his workout with the Philadelphia 76ers, sources told ESPN.

Bailey remains the only US-based prospect yet to visit any NBA teams.

The Sixers have not ruled out selecting Bailey, sources say.

STORY: https://t.co/xiPP7zMOLb pic.twitter.com/ikFH2f9bkG

— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) June 19, 2025​

As Givony went on to point out, teams are confused by the fact that Bailey has yet to work out for any NBA team. He also reiterated a lot of the reporting that’s been kicked around about the Rutgers wing in this draft cycle:

“Sources say Bailey’s camp has informed interested teams that they believe he is a top-3 player in the draft, but also seeks a clear pathway to stardom, hoping to find a situation with ample minutes and usage to maximize his chances of reaching his full potential.”

He went on to say that Bailey’s camp believes the Nets, Pelicans and Wizards will all be aggressive in trying to move up for him should the Sixers and Hornets pass on him with the Nos. 3 and 4 picks, respectively.

Givony reports that despite the cancellation, the Sixers have not ruled out taking Bailey with the No. 3 overall pick. On top of that, he has been told it is “unlikely” that the Sixers move down from that spot.

PHLY’s Kyle Neubeck tweeted this nugget shortly after this news broke.

Ace canceling the visit is pretty unique even by Sixers standards.

Everything lined up for the next two days from flights, hotel, dinners, etc. and here we are.

Plenty to discuss tomorrow!

— Kyle Neubeck (@KyleNeubeck) June 19, 2025​

For as many smokescreens and leverage plays that get leaked during draft season, this year’s cycle certainly hasn’t been boring.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/2025...cancels-workout-sixers-2025-nba-draft-rutgers

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

VJ Edgecombe ticks all the boxes to make him The Guy at No. 3

Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Sifting through all the noise, it sure seems like the most likely outcome is the Sixers simply taking Baylor’s VJ Edgecombe at No. 3 overall.

The Sixers went into the 2024-25 season with championship aspirations.

We all know how it ended.

While Daryl Morey gave a regrettable quote about the team still competing at the NBA trade deadline, he did acknowledge an important fact: the Sixers needed to get younger and more dynamic.

Morey has used the term “younger and more dynamic” so many times since then it’s almost become a battle cry. He reiterated it again at his end-of-season presser.

“I think when you go through a season like this, you need to really take a step back and everyone needs to find a mirror, starting with myself,” Morey said. “‘What could have gone better? What can I do better?’ There’s quite a few things there.

“I would say one of those things is I was very focused on finding veteran-type players who generally perform very well in the playoffs, and I didn’t put enough emphasis on the team getting through the regular season. So next season, for sure, we will be a younger, more dynamic group.”

Morey and head coach Nick Nurse discussed the way the league is trending. Teams are getting more athletic in order to create turnovers, push the pace, and hit the offensive glass hard. All those things can turn into easy offense. Look no further than the teams that competed in the NBA Finals as examples.

When you go up and down the list of things Morey wants to do with building this roster going forward, there might not be a player that fits the mold better in the 2025 NBA Draft than Baylor’s VJ Edgecombe.

Of course, Duke’s Cooper Flagg ticks those boxes as well, but with the Dallas Mavericks set to take him at No. 1, and Rutgers’ Dylan Harper very likely to go No. 2, Edgecombe could very well be the best option at No. 3. That’s regardless of the criteria Morey put out there.

Edgecombe, a native of the Bahamas, went from being unknown to start his high school career to being considered a five-star recruit and one of those most sought-after prospects in the country. He had offers from Duke, Connecticut and Michigan but chose Baylor.

He had a strong freshman campaign, averaging 15.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 2.1 steals and 0.6 blocks per game. He was on the Big 12 All-Freshmen Team and All-Big 12 Second Team. He won the conference’s Rookie of the Year. He was widely considered the fourth-best recruit in the country coming into the year and lived up to the billing.

There isn’t much in the raw numbers that will excite you about Edgecombe but simply watch the tape. Offensively, he has an explosive first step and tries to dunk everyone into the shadow realm. Defensively, he’s all over the court, wreaking havoc and forcing turnovers and bad shots. Flagg is arguably the only player who can claim to have more two-way potential.

If the Sixers select Edgecombe, they’ll likely have to bring him along slowly — and there is nothing wrong with that. He’ll be just 20 years old when the season starts, and there are flaws in his game. After all, there’s a reason why Flagg and Harper are the only locks.

But it’s pretty easy to see Edgecombe fitting into Morey’s vision. He’ll dog NBA guards and wings, pick their pockets, push the ball the other way, and slam home momentum-changing dunks. He’ll hit the offensive glass (2.0 per game last season, a ridiculous number for a guard) and throw down highlight-reel put-back dunks.

He should easily be able to make his mark defensively, which should help him see the floor. We all know Nurse wants to be aggressive defensively and favors players who cause disruption and get their hands on the basketball. Edgecombe should fit right in.

The offensive part of the game is where the team will need to exercise the most patience. Luckily, that should be easy to do. The two biggest areas for Edgecombe to work on are his shot creation and pull-up shooting. With Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey (not to mention Jared McCain and (very likely) Quentin Grimes) already here, those won’t be things the Sixers need Edgecombe to do right away.

While Edgecombe hit just 34.0 percent from behind the arc at Baylor, he made 46.7% of his open catch-and-shoot threes. With the other creators the Sixers have, he should get plenty of clean looks to cash in. Overall, a player with Edgecombe’s athleticism should also be able to find plenty of creases with NBA spacing. He’ll also need to improve as a finisher, but again, with the star power surrounding him, the looks should be a whole lot cleaner than what they were at Baylor.

While Morey didn’t specifically mention high-character players, he did mention how hard players seem to be playing during the regular season. And when you look at the young players the team has, they all have that high-character, improvement mindset. Edgecombe seems to fit right into that, which could be a huge intangible in building the team’s culture now and post-Embiid.

Maybe the Sixers go against the current slop and simply select Rutgers’ Ace Bailey — after all, Morey has seemingly always prioritized high upside in the draft. Morey also values shooting as much as any executive in the NBA, so maybe Texas’ Tre Johnson or Duke’s Kon Knueppel could be in the mix. Maybe there’s a trade scenario that’s too good to pass up.

But if you listen to Morey, it sure sounds like VJ Edgecombe ticks just about every box to make him The Guy at No. 3.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/2025...ixers-no-3-pick-daryl-morey-baylor-ace-bailey

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Who is Yanic Konan Niederhauser and why should you care?

While there’s been a lot of reporting on who the Sixers will take at No. 3, there’s an interesting development when it comes to who they could select at 35.

Ahead of the 2020 NBA Draft, there were rumors the Sixers gave a draft promise to an Arkansas sharpshooter by the name of Isaiah Joe. Sure enough, the team took Joe in the second round with the 49th overall pick.

The good news is the Sixers found a player who contributed to a championship team. The bad news is it wasn’t them. In any case, you have to consider Joe a big hit for the scouting department as a second-rounder.

We bring up Joe here because there’s been an interesting development about who the Sixers could take with their second-round pick in 2025. While there’s been plenty of reporting about who the Sixers could select at No. 3, we might have a clue as to the player they’re looking at with pick No. 35.

Three reputable draft experts — The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie, ESPN’s Jonathan Givony and Yahoo! Sports’ Kevin O’Connor — had the Sixers taking Penn State big man Yanic Konan Niederhauser at pick 35. We’re not saying there’s a draft promise there, but it seems notable.

(It’s worth noting that Vecenie changed his pick Tuesday morning to Marquette’s Kam Jones. Still doesn’t seem like a coincidence that he previously had Konan Niederhauer mocked to the Sixers initially.)

So who is Konan Niederhauer and would he make sense for the Sixers?

The 22-year-old is a native of Switzerland who played professionally in Germany as a teenager before playing two seasons at Northern Illinois and then transferring to Penn State. In 2024-25, he averaged 12.9 points and 6.3 rebounds in 25.1 minutes per game. His 2.3 blocks per game led the Big Ten.

He wasn’t necessarily on the NBA’s radar during the season, but he did so well at the G League Elite Camp that he received an invitation to the actual combine.

His combine measurements were impressive. He stands 6-foot-11.25 without shoes (a true 7-footer with shoes on) with a 7-foot-3.25 wingspan and 9-foot-3 standing reach. He’s built solidly at 242.6 pounds.

Konan Niederhauser’s game is pretty straightforward: he is a super athletic and high-energy rim-running big. He basically plays 100 mph and tries to block and dunk everything (he had 39 dunks in 29 games). They say the ball finds energy and the ball always seems to find this kid.

He’s a serious pick-and-roll lob threat with excellent timing and hands. He definitely understands his role and crashes the offensive glass hard. While the skills are raw, there could be more to his offensive game as he develops. He shot threes poorly in college (11-of-51), but he did take them and they didn’t look terrible. He got to the line a bunch and hit 66.4%.

His length and athleticism make him intriguing on the defense end as well. Not only did he lead the Big Ten in blocks this past season, but he led the MAC in blocks the year prior. He even upped his steals to 0.7 last year — a not-insignificant number for a rim-protecting center. That’s the type of activity level NBA teams are looking for. Whether he can capably switch onto guard is another question.

Here’s what O’Connor said in his assessment:

“Konan Niederhauser is an elite athlete who lives above the rim as a finisher and shot blocker, and he displays some intriguing upside as a 7-foot shot creator. But he needs to improve his fundamentals to make it all click.”

O’ Connor’s NBA comp was DeAndre Jordan. Funny enough, Jordan was drafted 35th overall by the Los Angeles Clippers in 2008. His career turned out nicely with three All-NBA and two All-Defensive team selections. He also became a NBA champion after he left the Sixers (not a fun trend).

So how does a player like this fit in with the Sixers?

Well, Konan Niederhauser ticks about every one of Daryl Morey’s boxes. He’s young, athletic, long, hits the offensive glass, and finds easy offense by playing his butt off. With uncertainty surrounding Joel Embiid’s immediate and distant future, Konan Niederhauser is a nice option as a traditional, rim-running backup big.

There’s definitely overlap with last year’s second-round pick, Adem Bona. Bona similarly is a long and freakish athlete, with scouts believing there could be more offensive upside to his game. If Bona is able to make threes at the NBA level, he becomes a much more fascinating player. If Konan Niederhauser makes threes, he also becomes a much more fascinating player.

With many (fairly) focusing on the Sixers being guard-heavy and on the smallish side, the idea of Bona and Konan Niederhauser as a frontcourt duo attempting to dunk and block everything is tantalizing. Banking on two second-rounders to fully actualize their potential is a gamble, but the Sixers have been hitting on second-rounders in recent years.

If the Sixers wind up taking Janic Konan Niederhauser, they’d be happy if he had a career like Isaiah Joe. They’d be elated if he had one like DeAndre Jordan.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/2025...auser-sixers-penn-state-adem-bona-joel-embiid

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

2025 NBA Draft: First round pick order and selection tracker

Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images

Follow along as the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft unfolds.

The day has come and it is finally time for the 2025 NBA Draft.

The first round will begin at 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday evening. With 30 picks on the board to be made across the league, the Philadelphia 76ers enter the draft with the No. 3 overall pick. That being said, there has been no shortage of chatter and rumors about teams across the association being interested in trading into, out of, or within the first round... so stay tuned!

Don’t want to miss a pick or a trade? Follow along here and let us keep you updated on every selection made across the league!

2025-26 NBA Champion odds courtesy of FanDuel. Pre-draft championship odds were taken at 8:10 p.m. ET, before the first overall pick was made. The odds for after the first round were taken at 11:35 p.m. ET, after the 30th pick was made. All measurements are per the Draft Combine Anthrometric unless otherwise specified.

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1: Dallas Mavericks select Cooper Flagg (Duke)​

Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images

Cooper Flagg, SF/PF, Duke
Height without shoes: 6-7.75
Weight: 221
Standing reach: 8-10.5
Wingspan: 7-0

Mavericks’ 2025-26 Championship odds
Pre-draft: +3200
After R1: +3300

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2: San Antonio Spurs select Dylan Harper (Rutgers)​

Dylan Harper, PG/SG, Rutgers
Height without shoes: 6-4.5
Weight: 213
Standing reach: 8-6
Wingspan: 6-10.5

Spurs’ 2025-26 Championship odds
Pre-draft: +3000
After R1: +2900

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3: Philadelphia 76ers select VJ Edgecombe (Baylor)​

Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

VJ Edgecombe, SG, Baylor
Height without shoes: 6-4
Weight: 193
Standing reach: 8-5.5
Wingspan: 6-7.5

Sixers’ 2025-26 Championship odds
Pre-draft: +3400
After R1: +3300

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4: Charlotte Hornets select Kon Knueppel (Duke)​

Kon Knueppel, SG/SF, Duke
Height without shoes: 6-5
Weight: 219
Standing reach: 8-5.5
Wingspan: 6-6.25

Hornets’ 2025-26 Championship odds
Pre-draft: +50000
After R1: +50000

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5: Utah Jazz select Ace Bailey (Rutgers)​

Photo by Ed Mulholland/Getty Images

Ace Bailey, SG/SF, Rutgers
Height without shoes: 6-7.5
Weight: 202
Standing reach: 8-11
Wingspan: 7-0.5

Jazz’ 2025-26 Championship odds
Pre-draft: +50000
After R1: +50000

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6: Washington Wizards select Tre Johnson (Texas)​

Tre Johnson, SG, Texas
Height without shoes: 6-4.75
Weight: 190
Standing reach: 8-5
Wingspan: 6-10.25

Wizards’ 2025-26 Championship odds
Pre-draft: +50000
After R1: TBD.

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7: New Orleans Pelicans select Jeremiah Fears (Oklahoma)​

Jeremiah Fears, PG, Oklahoma
Height without shoes: 6-2.5
Weight: 179
Standing reach: 8-2.5
Wingspan: 6-5.25

Pelicans’ 2025-26 Championship odds
Pre-draft: +27000
After R1: TBD.

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8: Brooklyn Nets select Egor Demin (Brigham Young)​

Egor Demin, G, BYU
Height without shoes: 6-9.25
Weight: 199
Standing reach: 8-9.5
Wingspan: 6-10.25

Nets’ 2025-26 Championship odds
Pre-draft: +50000
After R1: TBD.

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9: Toronto Raptors select Collin Murray-Boyles (South Carolina)​

Collin Murray-Boyles, PF/C, South Carolina
Height without shoes: 6-6.5
Weight: 239
Standing reach: 8-10
Wingspan: 7-0.75

Raptors’ 2025-26 Championship odds
Pre-draft: +21000
After R1: +20000

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10: Phoenix Suns (via Houston) select Khaman Maluach (Duke)​

Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images

Khaman Maluach, C, Duke
Height without shoes: 7-0.75
Weight: 252
Standing reach: 9-6
Wingspan: 7-6.75

The No. 10 pick was sent from the Rockets to the Suns as part of the three-team Kevin Durant trade.

Suns’ 2025-26 Championship odds
Pre-draft: +65000
After R1: +65000

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11: Memphis Grizzlies (via Portland) select Cedric Coward (Washington State)​

Cedric Coward, SF, Washington State
Height without shoes: 6-5.25
Weight: 213
Standing reach: 8-10
Wingspan: 7-2.25

The Grizzlies sent their No. 16 pick, a 2028 first-rounder and two seconds to Portland to nab Cedric Coward at No. 11.

The Grizzlies are sending No. 16, a 2028 first-round pick via Orlando and two seconds to Portland for Cedric Coward, sources said. https://t.co/vLA63Gg3G8

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 26, 2025​

Grizzlies’ 2025-26 Championship odds
Pre-draft: +12000
After R1: +13000

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12: Chicago Bulls select Noa Essengue (Germany)​

Height without shoes: 6-10
Weight: 204
Standing reach: 9-2
Wingspan: 7-1

Bulls’ 2025-26 Championship odds
Pre-draft: +75000
After R1: +75000

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13. New Orleans Pelicans (via Atlanta) select Derik Queen (Maryland)​

Derik Queen, C, Maryland
Height without shoes: 6-9.25
Weight: 247
Standing reach: 9-1.5
Wingspan: 7-0.5

The Atlanta Hawks traded the No. 13 pick to the Pelicans, moving themselves back to No. 23 and picking up an unprotected 2026 first rounder for their troubles.

The Atlanta Hawks are trading the No. 13 pick in the Draft to the New Orleans Pelicans for the No. 23 pick and an unprotected 2026 first round pick (most favorable of New Orleans and Milwaukee), sources tell ESPN.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 26, 2025​

Pelicans’ 2025-26 Championship odds
Pre-draft: +27000
After R1: +21000.

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14. San Antonio Spurs select Carter Bryant (Arizona)​

Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images

Carter Bryant, SF/PF, Arizona
Height without shoes: 6-6.5
Weight: 214
Standing reach: 8-10
Wingspan: 6-11.75

Spurs’ 2025-26 Championship odds
Pre-draft: +3000
After R1: +2900

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15. Oklahoma City Thunder select Thomas Sorber (Georgetown)​

Thomas Sorber, C, Georgetown
Height without shoes: 6-9.25
Weight: 262
Standing reach: 9-1
Wingspan: 7-6

Thunder’s 2025-26 Championship odds
Pre-draft: +220
After R1: +220

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16. Portland Trail Blazers (via Memphis) select Yang Hansen (China)​

Photo by Zhu Zheng/Xinhua via Getty Images

Yang Hansen, C, Qingdao (China)
Height without shoes: 7-1
Weight: 253
Standing reach: 9-3
Wingspan: 7-2.75

Trail Blazers’ 2025-26 Championship odds
Pre-draft: +75000
After R1: +75000

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17. Minnesota Timberwolves select Joan Beringer (Slovenia)​

Joan Beringer, C, Cedevita Olimpija (Slovenia)
Height without shoes: 6-11
Weight: 235
Standing reach: 9-3
Wingspan: 7-4.5

Timberwolves’ 2025-26 Championship odds
Pre-draft: +1400
After R1: +1400

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18. Utah Jazz (via Wizards) select Walter Clayton, Jr. (Florida)​

Walter Clayton, Jr., PG, Florida
Height without shoes: 6-2
Weight: 199
Standing reach: 8-1.5
Wingspan: 6-4

The Wizards select Walter Clayton, Jr. out of Florida, but the pick is reportedly on its way to the Utah Jazz for their No. 21 selection and second-rounders.

Utah sent No. 21 and second-round picks to Washington for Walter Clayton Jr., sources said. https://t.co/jVvcyD2ahO

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 26, 2025​

Jazz’ 2025-26 Championship odds
Pre-draft: +50000
After R1: +50000

---

19. Brooklyn Nets select Nolan Traore (France)​

Nolan Traore, PG, Saint-Quentin
Height without shoes: 6-3
Weight: 175
Standing reach: 8-5.5
Wingspan: 6-8

Nets’ 2025-26 Championship odds
Pre-draft: +50000
After R1: +50000

---

20. Miami Heat select Kasparas Jakucionis (Illinois)​

Kasparas Jakucionis, PG, Illinois
Height without shoes: 6-4.75
Weight: 205
Standing reach: 8-3.5
Wingspan: 6-7.75

Heat’ 2025-26 Championship odds
Pre-draft: +16000
After R1: +16000

---

21. Washington Wizards (via Jazz) select Will Riley (Illinois)​

Will Riley, SG/SF, Illinois
Height without shoes: 6-8.25
Weight: 185
Standing reach: 8-8
Wingspan: 6-8.75

Wizards’ 2025-26 Championship odds
Pre-draft: +50000
After R1: +50000

---

22. Brooklyn Nets (via Hawks) select Drake Powell (North Carolina)​

Drake Powell, SG/SF, North Carolina
Height without shoes: 6-5.25
Weight: 200
Standing reach: 8-7
Wingspan: 7-0

The No. 22 pick was moved to the Nets as part of the three-team Kristaps Porzingis trade with the Hawks and Celtics.

Nets’ 2025-26 Championship odds
Pre-draft: +50000
After R1: +50000

---

23. Atlanta Hawks (via Pelicans) select Asa Newell (Georgia)​

Asa Newell, PF/C, Georgia
Height without shoes: 6-9
Weight: 224
Standing reach: 8-11.5
Wingspan: 6-11.25

The Hawks sent the No. 13 pick to the Pelicans, moving themselves back to No. 23 and picking up an unprotected 2026 first rounder in the trade.

Hawks’ 2025-26 Championship odds
Pre-draft: +11000
After R1: +12000

---

24. Sacramento Kings (via Thunder) select Nique Clifford (Colorado State)​

Nique Clifford, PG/SG, Colorado State
Height without shoes: 6-5.25
Weight: 202
Standing reach: 8-6.5
Wingspan: 6-8

The Kings traded with the Thunder to acquire pick No. 24, but no full trade package has been reported yet.

The Sacramento Kings are trading for the No. 24 pick from the Oklahoma City Thunder and taking Nique Clifford, sources tell ESPN.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 26, 2025​

Kings’ 2025-26 Championship odds
Pre-draft: +60000
After R1: +60000

---

25. Orlando Magic select Jase Richardson (Michigan State)​

Jase Richardson, G, Michigan State
Height without shoes: 6-0.5
Weight: 178
Standing reach: 8-2.5
Wingspan: 6-6

Magic’s 2025-26 Championship odds
Pre-draft: +1200
After R1: +1200

---

26. Brooklyn Nets select Ben Saraf (Germany)​

Ben Saraf, G, Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany)
Height without shoes: 6-6
Weight: 199
Standing reach: 8-4
Wingspan: 6-8.7

Nets’ 2025-26 Championship odds
Pre-draft: +50000
After R1: +50000

---

27. Brooklyn Nets select Danny Wolf (Michigan)​

Danny Wolf, PF, Michigan
Height without shoes: 6-10.5
Weight: 251
Standing reach: 9-1
Wingspan: 7-2.25

Nets’ 2025-26 Championship odds
Pre-draft: +50000
After R1: +50000

---

28. Boston Celtics select Hugo Gonzalez (Spain)​

Hugo Gonzalez, SG/SF, Real Madrid (Spain)
Height without shoes: 6-6.25
Weight: 223
Standing reach: 8-5.5
Wingspan: 6-10.75

Celtics’ 2025-26 Championship odds
Pre-draft: +1700
After R1: TBD.

---

29. Charlotte Hornets (via Suns) select Liam McNeeley (UConn)​

Liam McNeeley, SG/SF, UConn
Height without shoes: 6-6.75
Weight: 214
Standing reach: 8-3.5
Wingspan: 6-8.5

The No. 29 pick was sent to the Hornets (as well as a 2029 first-rounder) by the Suns as part of the Mark Williams trade.

BREAKING: The Charlotte Hornets are trading center Mark Williams to the Phoenix Suns for the No. 29 pick tonight and a 2029 first-round pick, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/a6eDDn5aE6

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 26, 2025​

Hornets’ 2025-26 Championship odds
Pre-draft: +50000
After R1: +50000

---

30. Los Angeles Clippers select Yanic Konan Niederhauser (Penn State)​

Yanic Konan Niederhauser, F, Penn State​

Height without shoes: 6-11.25
Weight: 243
Standing reach: 9-3
Wingspan: 7-3.25

Clippers’ 2025-26 Championship odds
Pre-draft: +2300
After R1: +2500

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/2025...-philadelphia-cooper-flagg-ace-bailey-fanduel

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Sixers reportedly sign Wake Forest’s Hunter Sallis to two-way deal

Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images

The Sixers worked quickly after the 2025 NBA Draft concluded to sign Wake Forest guard Hunter Sallis to a two-way deal.

The 2025 NBA Draft is over and now it’s time for the undrafted free agent market to get rolling.

The Sixers moved quickly to reportedly sign Wake Forest guard Hunter Sallis to a two-way contract, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.

Wake Forest's Hunter Sallis has agreed to a two-way NBA contract with the Philadelphia 76ers, sources tell ESPN.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 27, 2025​

Sallis was a five-star recruit coming out of high school and chose to go to Gonzaga. He struggled in his first two seasons there and then transferred to Wake Forest. With the Demon Deacons, he took on a much bigger offensive role and shined in 2023-24. He averaged 18.0 points a game and shot over 40% from three. He entered the 2024 NBA Draft but decided to withdraw his name and play his senior season.

While he still scored the ball at a high rate in 2024-25, his efficiency dipped, especially from deep. He shot just 27.7 from three. If Sallis had come out last season, there’s a strong chance he would’ve been drafted. Instead, he comes to the Sixers as an undrafted free agent.

Though Sallis only measures around 6-foot-4, he does boast a 6-foot-10 wingspan and has elite athleticism. He showed the ability to create his own shot and was a strong finisher thanks to his athleticism and body control. He also increased his free throw rate, a skill he could improve even further. He’s just an OK playmaker and he did turn the ball over quite a bit. He’ll also need to put on weight and gain functional strength to compete with NBA players.

The shot is going to be the biggest factor for Sallis. He did hit a career-high 80.4% of his free throws last season, but had only one good college season shooting the ball from three. Perhaps with a smaller usage rate, NBA spacing and more catch-and-shoot opportunities, he could become more consistent.

Yes, it’s another guard for the Sixers, but we’re talking about a two-way here. Daryl Morey and company did well to find an intriguing player that could have NBA talent. That’s the best you can hope for in an undrafted free agent.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/2025...est-hunter-sallis-two-way-deal-2025-nba-draft

 

[Philadelphia 76ers]

Report: Sixers to decline Justin Edwards’ option, plan to sign new three-year deal

Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images

The undrafted free agent from last year has got himself another new deal and a raise.

Now the offseason is really cooking with gas.

ESPN’s Shams Charania has reported that the Sixers will be declining the team option for Justin Edwards’ contract next season in order to sign him to a new deal that spans three years.

The Philadelphia 76ers intend to sign F Justin Edwards to a new three-year contract after declining his team option, sources tell ESPN. 76ers and Klutch Sports' Rich Paul and Josh Hairston negotiated the new deal for Edwards, who averaged 10.1 points and 26 minutes last season. pic.twitter.com/hA3cuYa2ww

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 27, 2025​

As the roster dwindled and opportunities grew, Edwards was able to play his way into the rotation hitting 36.3% of his three-pointers while playing solid defense on the perimeter.

Edwards will earn $2 million dollars this year as opposed to the $1.9 million he was originally set to make on the standard contract back in February had the team picked up his option. Not only does he get a bit of a bump in pay, but he also gets some of that money guaranteed.

Charania is reporting that the first two years of this deal will be guaranteed. That was not the case on his original standard deal that had one year left had the Sixers picked it up.

This move seems to be beneficial to all parties involved. Derek Bodner from PHLY was the first to point out that this deal would help the Sixers to retain Edwards should they want to when this deal expires. He’ll have accumulated enough service time to be a restricted free agent, allowing the Sixers to match any offer he’d receive from another team. Being able to get the restricted status on an undrafted free agent is pretty rare.

Mentioned this as a possibility after he was converted to a standard NBA contract during the season. Edwards will have 3 years of service time accumulated after the conclusion of this new deal, so he'll be a restricted free agent when it's all said and done.

— Derek Bodner (@derekbodner.bsky.social) 2025-06-27T22:36:12.943Z

Throughout his rookie season, Edwards continued to prove that he deserved a chance to play and so far, the Sixers have rewarded him for that.

Source: https://www.libertyballers.com/2025...sign-new-three-year-deal-2025-nba-free-agency