In the 2025 NBA Draft, the Philadelphia 76ers added Baylor’s VJ Edgecombe, with the No. 3 overall pick. In Edgecombe, Daryl Morey, Elton Brand and Nick Nurse onboard a guard with both a high ceiling — and the work ethic to reach it.
They apparently did not love any available trade offers on draft night, so they held onto the Bahama native. In the second round, they selected Morehead State bigman, Johni Broome, 35th overall.
With the draft in the rear view, the Sixers now turn their attention to the 2025 NBA Free Agency period.
Liberty Ballers has you covered for every story line you’ll want to follow as the team looks to flesh out the rest of the upcoming 2025-2026 roster — hopefully Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and Paul George will all be healthy enabling Philadelphia to make a championship run.
Sixers’ Free Agency Updates
Quentin Grimes
Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
The Sixers have tendered a qualifying offer of $8.7M to Grimes, making him a Restricted Free Agent, per HoopsHype’s Mike Scotto. Now rival teams will be able to make offers as high as a max, however, the Sixers will have matching rights. ESPN’s Bobby Marks noted that Philadelphia can exceed either apron to retain the former New York Knick, Detroit Piston, and Dallas Maverick. According to Marc Stein and Jake Fischer (via each insider’s respective Substack) Grimes “is projected to land a starting salary of at least $16 million” annually. Stein also reported that the Sixers are confident they’ll be able to afford to keep the Houston native.
Hopefully rivals will be deterred by the Sixers’ ability to match any offer so that the total offer Grimes eventually nets remains a value for Philadelphia. But obviously, Grimes’ camp is hoping for a much higher number than our current expectations:
“The Sixers have been in contact with Grimes and his camp, although the price may end up being steep. Grimes, 25, is looking for a contract that averages $25 million per season, league sources tell The Athletic.”
Guerschon Yabusele
Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images
As we see names like Kelly Oubre, Jr., and Andre Drummond (see links below) opt into their 2025-2026 salaries with the Sixers, in conjunction with the Grimes-likely-to-stay reports above, we can begin to bid a sad adieu to Guerschon “The Dancing Bear” Yabusele.
According to Stein:
“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.”
Kelly Oubre, Jr.
Photo by Melodie Jeng/Getty Images
Oubre, Jr. picking up his $8.4M one-year player option is a terrific value for the Sixers. And the New Orleans native should make intriguing trade fodder too — as a number of teams may covet the springy wing out of Kansas’ services, or simply a relatively cheap expiring salary. The Sixers’ front office can see how the first portion of the season plays out (with regard to Joel Embiid’s health) and decide if they’d like to trade KO for assets, bundle him (along with someone like Andre Drummond plus picks) for a splash upgrade, or simply hold and rely upon the veteran’s top-tier defensive prowess during a playoff push.
Lonnie Walker IV
Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
It doesn’t appear like this homecoming will last very long.
The Sixers have now made decisions on all three of their pending team options ahead of free agency. They have reportedly declined the $2.9 million dollar player option for Lonnie Walker IV, per ESPN’s Shams Charania. Walker had a decent stint playing 20 games for a Sixers team that was largely trying to lose as much as possible by that point in the season. He averaged 12.4 points and 2.5 assists along with 42%/35.4%/80% shooting splits.
The lack of reporting about a potential new deal does not bode well for the return of Walker or Jared Butler. While it’s possible to negotiate a new contract, the Sixers backcourt has become even more crowded now that they’ve drafted Edgecombe. Neither Butler or Walker’s services will be expensive on the open market, but it still doesn’t make a ton of sense for the Sixers to bring either back.
Eric Gordon
Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
As Stein noted in the section on Yabusele above, Gordon, like Oubre, Jr. and Drummond was expected to pick up his player option as well. But that will not be the case. Gordon will now decline his $3.4M player option, becoming an unrestricted free agent, per The Inquirer’s Keith Pompey.
According to Adam Aaronson of The Philly Voice, there is “mutual interest” in a reunion between EG and the Sixers. Philadelphia values Gordon’s shooting and believes he could be a good mentor for Edgecombe, PhillyVoice reports.
The 36 year-old underwent arthroscopic surgery on his injured right wrist last winter. That’s why it’s unlikely there will be much of a market for the long-range sniper and 17 year veteran.
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