The Philadelphia 76ers will not know whether they will have a first-round draft pick in 2025 until the lottery on May 12. The Sixers have a top 6 protected pick and will need some lottery luck to keep that pick. The good news is, after finishing with the fifth-worst record in the league, they will have a 64% chance at keeping that selection.
With that being said, there are some talented players for the Sixers to choose from in this draft. Even if Philadelphia lands in the 4-5-6 range, the Sixers can still get a young player who can help change things in the City of Brotherly Love.
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Bleacher Report performed a lottery simulation–which landed the Sixers at the No. 2 pick–and then did a mock draft. B/R has them selecting Rutgers star Dylan Harper:
Harper pairs phenomenal footwork with craftiness and prodigious scoring ability around the basket. His high-end speed isn’t blazing, but it can feel that way due to his ability to change pace in an instant and his turbo-charged quicks.
His shot is a work in progress, and if it doesn’t come around, he’ll fall short of the Brunson comparison and struggle to pilot an NBA offense on his own.
In a multi-creator offense like Harper would have in Philadelphia, though, he could wreak havoc as a wing-creator who isn’t overtaxed on offense and is therefore able to give more consistent defensive effort than he showed at Rutgers.
Harper had a helluva season for the Scarlet Knights in 2024-25 averaging 19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 4.0 assists while shooting 48.4% from the floor and 33.3% from deep. The 3-point shot will have to be developed, but the Sixers can do that when they get him in the gym–if they select him. Either way, Harper would be a great addition to add to this roster after such a tough season.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: 2025 NBA mock draft: Sixers take Dylan Harper with No. 2 overall pick