With the 2025 NBA Draft lottery order set, experts across the league have wasted no time updating their latest mock drafts. While the first two picks are widely viewed as near-locks, the real intrigue begins at No. 3 — where surprises could start to unfold.

So, who do the experts believe the Sixers will take with the third pick? Let’s take a look at what the major mock drafts are saying.

The Athletic goes with Ace

Several prospects are in the mix for this pick, but Ace Bailey is emerging as a common projection at No. 3. Sam Vecenie of The Athletic currently has the Sixers selecting the Rutgers standout with the third overall pick.

Here’s what Vecenie had to say:

“I expect the Sixers to look into scenarios that involve moving this selection, especially now that they’ve moved up without landing a top-two pick. Their backcourt is already fairly loaded with Tyrese Maxey, Quentin Grimes, and last year’s pick, Jared McCain. There could be some thought to adding a big man behind Joel Embiid, but my read is that Daryl Morey would see that as a poor way to maximize the current core he worked hard to assemble.

Bailey’s range now starts at No. 3 with the Sixers officially in position. They certainly could use a bigger wing to pair with Paul George. That said, Bailey’s range extends a bit further into the lottery. He remains a polarizing figure among executives and has, fairly or not, shouldered much of the blame for Rutgers’ disappointing season.

Yes, he averaged 17.6 points and seven rebounds while shooting 46 percent from the field and 34 percent from three. But his style of play didn’t always promote winning basketball. He settles for long jumpers because he struggles to consistently get to the rim—due in part to a high handle and high center of gravity that makes him easier to knock off his line. Defensively, he wasn’t always locked in unless there was a clear opportunity to go after the ball.

That said, Rutgers was significantly worse when Bailey wasn’t on the floor. Even in Big Ten play, they were only outscored by three points per 100 possessions with him on the court, compared to a staggering 23-point deficit per 100 when he was off, per CBB Analytics. His presence clearly mattered. He’s big, long, a legit shooter, and flashed strong moments defensively in switch-heavy situations.”

Analysis: While I have my reservations about Bailey’s overall polish as a prospect, there’s no denying the flashes of elite shot-making talent. At times, he looks like the next big wing scorer — something every NBA team covets. However, some of his intangibles and decision-making leave room for concern.

The Sixers’ scouting department has earned a good amount of trust in recent years, so it will be fascinating to see how they evaluate one of the most polarizing players in the 2025 class. If they believe in his development, Bailey could very well be their guy at No. 3.

ESPN’s Latest Mock Has Sixers Taking Ace Bailey at No. 3

There’s plenty of draft analysts out there, but none are more plugged in than ESPN’s Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo. In their latest mock, they also have the Sixers selecting Bailey.

Here’s the excerpt on Bailey via Woo:

“Scouting report: Bailey has been more polarizing for scouts than a typical top-five pick, displaying flashes of scoring upside at Rutgers while still at an early stage of his development in other key areas. Lottery teams are eager to get a feel for him in the predraft process, including interviews, to understand how far away he is from contributing positively on an NBA floor.

Wings with Bailey’s combination of size, physical skill and shooting prowess are rare. That coveted archetype has kept his stock largely steady despite his inconsistencies as a decision-maker, ball handler and defender. Some teams are concerned with the risk attached in those areas, but his scoring talent has tantalizing appeal for front offices in search of star power. — Woo

NBA intel and fit: The Sixers can not only breathe easy but celebrate after their pick jumped to No. 3, rather than falling out of the top six and conveying to Oklahoma City. A high-value draft selection gives the Sixers a true silver lining after a 24-58 season, as they try to balance winning around Joel Embiid and building for the future.

Bailey’s shotmaking chops and significant scoring upside would give Philly another strong building block for the long term, in addition to its rising backcourt of Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain. — Woo”

Analysis: Woo echoes many of the prevailing sentiments about Bailey. Most notably, his development timeline will be something to watch closely if the Sixers go this route. While his jumper is clearly legit, there are areas of his game — especially his handle — that need refinement. The Sixers are in win-now mode, and that could make them hesitant to take on a longer-term project. The question becomes: will they pass on Bailey if they feel he’s not ready to contribute right away?

The Ringer weighs in

The Ringer’s mock draft has been thoroughly updated, with fresh rankings and analysis across the board. Here’s what J. Kyle Mann had to say about the Sixers’ potential pick:

“I’ve had Tre Johnson earmarked for Philly for a while because he could be a great plug-and-play fit, but Bailey does a lot of similar things (albeit not quite as efficiently in the movement shooting from 3), while also having more size and defensive upside. Bailey doesn’t have to become a superstar to make an impact in the NBA. His something-from-nothing shotmaking, even without taking a single dribble, will be a helpful option when possessions go south. And once some easy offense comes into his life after he trudged through possessions at Rutgers, it’s highly possible that his strengths will pop even more than they did in college. There will be more hands on the cook line in Philly to throw easy buckets his way, and lord knows he’s hungry for them. Add in some glimpses of big-time help defense, and it’s clear that he can fit into what the Sixers are doing in the short term as his more fantastic, long-term possibilities threaten to materialize.”

Analysis: From a plug-and-play perspective, the Sixers could be an ideal landing spot for Bailey. With Tyrese Maxey, Paul George and Joel Embiid already carrying the scoring load, Bailey wouldn’t be asked to create much offense on his own. Instead, he could focus on what he does best — knocking down tough shots and stretching the floor with his perimeter shooting — while gradually adjusting to the NBA pace. Defensively, he’s not a lockdown presence yet, but his massive wingspan and physical tools would be a welcome addition to Philly’s rotation.

Bleacher Report offers another option

Contrary to what you might expect from this edition of mock draft round-ups, there are several options being considered for the Sixers at No. 3. Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman has Philly selecting Baylor’s V.J. Edgecombe:

“Every team’s tier behind Flagg and Harper will include V.J. Edgecombe. Front offices that value his 100th percentile explosiveness, shotmaking and defensive quickness could slot him at No. 3, particularly if they question Ace Bailey’s handle and tunnel vision, Tre Johnson’s lack of rim pressure and Jeremiah Fears’ shooting.

The draft process should only help illuminate his incredible athletic ability and improving shooting stroke.

Team Fit: The Sixers maybe didn’t get the grand prize at the lottery, but they still rank as one of the night’s big winners. Edgecombe, an S-tier athlete who should set a tone defensively and dazzle in the open court, feels like a fit for Philly regardless if this group moves forward with its win-right-now roster or pivots toward a reset around Tyrese Maxey and lottery representative Jared McCain. —Zach Buckley, NBA Analyst”

Analysis: V.J. Edgecombe is my personal favorite for the No. 3 spot, as he brings immediate skills that should translate from day one, while also offering plenty of long-term upside. He excels in areas Daryl Morey values: a strong transition game, solid defense, and a well-rounded skill set. Despite the Sixers already having depth in the backcourt, Edgecombe’s size gives him the versatility to play multiple positions at the next level — especially if he continues to add muscle.

SB Nation has the Sixers selecting a Duke forward — just not the one you might expect

Finally, we return to SB Nation, where Ricky O’Donnell has released a new mock draft following the lottery. O’Donnell surprises with his pick of Kon Knueppel, who some might not expect to be selected in this range:

“Knueppel didn’t seem like an obvious one-and-done at first blush with limited length and explosiveness for an NBA wing, but his toughness, shooting, and secondary creation skills started building his top-10 hype from the moment he entered Duke. Knueppel is the type of perimeter player who fills in all the cracks in a lineup construction. He’s arguably the best shooting bet in this class after canning 40.6 percent of his threes on 207 attempts and 91.4 percent of his free throws. Knueppel can also run pick-and-roll in a pinch, and proved he can throw a killer lob to the roll man during his season with Maluach. If Knueppel actually measures at the 6’7 he was listed at by Duke, his versatile offensive game is appealing enough to make up for his athletic limitations.”

Analysis: Few prospects are as polished and advanced offensively as Kon Knueppel. While I’d have some concerns about his defensive limitations, especially given he’d likely share the floor with a smaller backcourt of Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain, his offensive skills and ability to space the floor are undeniable. At No. 3, he might be a bit of a reach for my liking, but there’s a lot to like about Knueppel’s game.