NBA Draft 2025 live updates: Dallas Mavericks select Cooper Flagg with first pick, latest news and analysis

He’s the best vertical athlete in the draft. He is already a plus defender, at a young age. He is grading out as an A-plus professional, judging by his predraft workout interviews. It’s a good package for the Sixers, who add a dynamic talent to their backcourt for the second consecutive season.

Does that work out as well as Jared McCain did last season? Philadelphia certainly hopes so.

With the No. 3 pick, Edgecombe proved to have the best blend of high floor and high ceiling of any of the players in his draft tier. His athleticism is truly elite, and it will immediately translate. His defense should get him on the floor in coach Nick Nurse’s rotation right away. If he hits on his swing skills — shooting and ballhandling — he has a real chance to be a star.

He struggled a bit early in his tenure at Baylor but averaged over 17 points per game over his final 17 games, which shows significant in-season improvement. He became more comfortable off the dribble and is already a good passer. The interesting thing with Edgecombe is that he wants to be a point guard. If he gets there, the Sixers have made a very good pick.

Initially, he combines with McCain, all-star Tyrese Maxey and Quentin Grimes, a restricted free agent, to form a dynamic backcourt. Each of the four have different strengths: McCain is an elite movement shooter, Grimes is the one who will generate rim pressure, Maxey is as dynamic as almost any guard in the Eastern Conference, and Edgecombe’s defense and athleticism are two skills the Sixers have long lacked.

It makes for a potentially seamless fit.