2025 NBA Draft (2)

[stormi]

VJ at three, I'll take that.

There couldn't be a more perfect match made in heaven than Ace rotting in Charlotte, playing in front of 5K fans per night. Empty caloric stats on a perpetual loser org, and then someone's franchise player's Tobias Harris anchor trade for multiple FRPs sinking their fate of ever winning anything of substance.

[the_process]

Love it. Mention of Maxey at the dinner but no Embiid. Doesn’t mean he wasn’t there but I think it’s noteworthy.

Agree. Maxey is part of the future here, Embiid likely not. I think Maxey would be a better judge of character and work ethic also.

Without question 100%

[Iverson Armband]

I’ll take anyone but mechanical ass VJ at this point.

[the_process]

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Obvious smokescreen. No way Morey takes VJ at #3. Obviously gonna do the diligence in case of a trade down though.

Getting these lesser prospects out of the way before Ace comes in at the end.

Morey purposely leaked this for a reason, and not because he's going to take VJ at #3.

I agree it was purposely leaked. Charlotte at 4 is supposedly in love with VJ. The old trade down and then trade down again maneuver.

[Iverson Armband]

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Obvious smokescreen. No way Morey takes VJ at #3. Obviously gonna do the diligence in case of a trade down though.

Getting these lesser prospects out of the way before Ace comes in at the end.

Morey purposely leaked this for a reason, and not because he's going to take VJ at #3.

I agree it was purposely leaked.

Pretty obviously.

A steak dinner means nothing this time of year.

[WuTang_CMB]

The only thing that seems certain, according to our latest conversations on the matter, is that Philadelphia will be drafting a top prospect in the very early stages of draft proceedings on June 25.

"They’re keeping the pick,” said one Eastern Conference executive, "or they’re trading down a few slots."

The prime candidate at No. 3, at this juncture, appears to be Baylor freshman guard VJ Edgecombe, who sources say visited with the Sixers last week. There's an expectation that Philadelphia will bring in Rutgers' Ace Bailey down the road, but I have not heard of a workout that Bailey has scheduled to date.

Edgecombe is said to have impressed with his work ethic, personality and interviews. He went to dinner with Morey and other Sixers higher-ups. Even Tyrese Maxey, sources say, flew in for the occasion. The Sixers are certainly intrigued by what type of defensive complement Edgecombe could provide their All-Star guard, sources say, in addition to his explosive upside on the offensive side of the ball.


VJ Edgecombe soars at the recent NBA Draft Combine in Chicago.

Edgecombe's workout with the Sixers is the only known visit for the Bahamian national teamer, sources say. Several teams are of the belief he might only work out with Philadelphia, although it's still very early in the draft process.


If Edgecombe does not fly off the board at No. 3, there is an increasing sense among rival teams that he will not slip past Charlotte at No. 4. The Hornets could simply choose to add the athletic guard to a backcourt that already features LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller … or make the selection available while they're on the clock to teams with Edgecombe interest. It's a scenario various teams have mentioned they're preparing for.

The Hornets, remember, engaged both Portland and Memphis on draft night a year ago — while Charlotte was on the clock at No. 6 — since both the Trail Blazers and the Grizzlies held interest in Donovan Clingan. There should be no shortage of trade partners for the Hornets that would be willing to move up for the right to select Edgecombe.

One team that league executives increasingly mention as interested in trading up for Edgecombe: Washington.

And only adding to the intrigue surrounding the Wizards: They hold No. 6 and No. 18 selections in the first round, which has rival teams eyeing them as a potential trade-up partner for both Philadelphia and Charlotte.


Atlanta holds the Nos. 13 and 22 picks but, to this point, has generated little chatter about the prospect of packaging those two selections to try to move.

That's a common suggestion, by contrast, when it comes to other teams that hold multiple mid-to-late picks in Round 1, such as Oklahoma City, Orlando and Brooklyn.

The Hawks made news Monday by adding former Pelicans executive Bryson Graham as senior vice president of basketball operations as well as former Sixers executive Peter Dinwiddie as senior vice president of strategy and analytics. These are the first substantive staffing moves from Atlanta since parting ways with lead executive Landry Fields and elevating Onsi Saleh to general manager.

While the Hawks deployed search firm Sportsology to conduct a wide-ranging search for a president of basketball operations above Saleh — and Atlanta says that process remains ongoing — it seems more likely that Graham and Dinwiddie could result in the most significant front-office additions to Atlanta this offseason. The Hawks still have a large front office contingent even after Fields' ouster, although there has also been considerable chatter in recent weeks that they have also considered adding a senior adviser to Saleh.


There is greater leaguewide curiosity, to be honest, about the Hawks' plans with the roster rather than their draft-night machinations. Atlanta is well positioned below the luxury tax and possesses various trade exceptions that position it as a potential factor in the free agent and trade market.

The Hawks, for example, have been known to be conducting due diligence regarding players that could prove available to absorb via trade, or perhaps sign-and-trade, with the $25 million trade exception they still possess from dealing Dejounte Murray to New Orleans. We've written a lot lately about interest in Indiana's Myles Turner and should add that the Hawks, before the Pacers' run to the NBA Finals, previously had him in their sights as a player who might be a wise target in that price range via sign-and-trade. The more common leaguewide projections now, of course, are that Indiana and Turner are likely to come to terms on a new deal that pays him at least $30 million in average annual value, despite the expected interested from teams such as the Detroit Pistons and the Hawks.

Let's close with a Hawks-related whisper on free agency that seems more definitive: Sources say Atlanta has shown a keen interest in retaining free agent guard Caris LeVert after bringing the veteran scorer to the Hawks as part of the return for trading De'Andre Hunter.

[Negrodamus]

A meeting and dinner doesn't mean anything. Flying in Tyrese Maxey does though.

[stormi]

The only thing that seems certain, according to our latest conversations on the matter, is that Philadelphia will be drafting a top prospect in the very early stages of draft proceedings on June 25.

"They’re keeping the pick,” said one Eastern Conference executive, "or they’re trading down a few slots."

The prime candidate at No. 3, at this juncture, appears to be Baylor freshman guard VJ Edgecombe, who sources say visited with the Sixers last week. There's an expectation that Philadelphia will bring in Rutgers' Ace Bailey down the road, but I have not heard of a workout that Bailey has scheduled to date.

Edgecombe is said to have impressed with his work ethic, personality and interviews. He went to dinner with Morey and other Sixers higher-ups. Even Tyrese Maxey, sources say, flew in for the occasion. The Sixers are certainly intrigued by what type of defensive complement Edgecombe could provide their All-Star guard, sources say, in addition to his explosive upside on the offensive side of the ball.


VJ Edgecombe soars at the recent NBA Draft Combine in Chicago.

Edgecombe's workout with the Sixers is the only known visit for the Bahamian national teamer, sources say. Several teams are of the belief he might only work out with Philadelphia, although it's still very early in the draft process.


If Edgecombe does not fly off the board at No. 3, there is an increasing sense among rival teams that he will not slip past Charlotte at No. 4. The Hornets could simply choose to add the athletic guard to a backcourt that already features LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller … or make the selection available while they're on the clock to teams with Edgecombe interest. It's a scenario various teams have mentioned they're preparing for.

The Hornets, remember, engaged both Portland and Memphis on draft night a year ago — while Charlotte was on the clock at No. 6 — since both the Trail Blazers and the Grizzlies held interest in Donovan Clingan. There should be no shortage of trade partners for the Hornets that would be willing to move up for the right to select Edgecombe.

One team that league executives increasingly mention as interested in trading up for Edgecombe: Washington.

And only adding to the intrigue surrounding the Wizards: They hold No. 6 and No. 18 selections in the first round, which has rival teams eyeing them as a potential trade-up partner for both Philadelphia and Charlotte.


Atlanta holds the Nos. 13 and 22 picks but, to this point, has generated little chatter about the prospect of packaging those two selections to try to move.

VJ and Kon are the most most Morey-coded draft selections outside of Flagg and Harper. I agree with Jailblazers. It's either VJ at 3, or the trade down for Kon.

[zaz102]

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[the_process]

I hate they are considering role players with the 3rd pick in the draft.

I think I'd rather have Beasley Bailey at 3 than VJ.

Wasn't a big fan of Melton the first time, will like him even less this time as a rookie top 3 pick.

[the_process]

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Oh, and he "sees himself as a PG"?



Yep, 100% out. We had one of those, too. Assuming this reporting is correct.

What the hell is this, Groundhog Day??

[stormi]

I hate they are considering role players with the 3rd pick in the draft.

I think I'd rather have Beasley Bailey at 3 than VJ.

Wasn't a big fan of Melton the first time, will like him even less this time as a rookie top 3 pick.

Much closer to a Derrick White / Jrue Holiday style of player as a true 6'5 guard and he has freakish athleticism.

That's an easy #3 on a championship team with a ceiling still yet to explore offensively.

[Negrodamus]

The only thing holding me back from VJ is his wingspan or his height. If he was 6'7 in shoes or had a 6'10 wingspan, I'd be all in with both feet on this pick.

Otherwise, the stats are there even if they aren't perfect.

[the_process]

We have our choice between Beasley, Okafor, Melton-Simmons, Steve Kerr, and Antone Davis.

[Iverson Armband]

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Oh, and he "sees himself as a PG"?

'

Yep, 100% out. We had one of those, too. Assuming this reporting is correct.

What the hell is this, Groundhog Day??

A PG that can’t dribble. Love those types.

[Arsenal]

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Oh, and he "sees himself as a PG"?

'

Yep, 100% out. We had one of those, too. Assuming this reporting is correct.

What the hell is this, Groundhog Day??

LOL VJ has self-proclaimed himself to be a PG. Good enough to draft him at #3 even though he has zero PG skills I guess!

[sodmoraes]

It seems Charlote is pretty high on VJ and Kon, so Morey is just toying with them, with this VJ steak dinner thing. He knows Bailey isnt an optimal pick for them, since they already have Brandon Miller, so he´s just trying to get something of the Hornets.

[Arsenal]

A meeting and dinner doesn't mean anything. Flying in Tyrese Maxey does though.

Correct. It means Morey wants people (e.g. Hornets at #4) to buy the smokescreen.

[WuTang_CMB]

A meeting and dinner doesn't mean anything. Flying in Tyrese Maxey does though.

Interesting though VJ only has philly as a workout and Ace hasn't schedule anything with Sixers. I know theres 2 weeks so still a lot of time (which tends to happen even the week of for work outs) but still.

Looks like VJ is slotted in .. for now.

[zaz102]

Surprising to me. Maybe I have to watch more video, but I didn't see much ball handing or distriubution skills. He seems like an undersized prototypical wing.