The Philadelphia 76ers will have a lot of eyes on them heading into the 2025 NBA draft. After a tough season in which nothing went right for the franchise, the Sixers hold the No. 3 pick and they have a lot of options to turn to.

The Sixers know they need to add some youth to the roster. Therefore, it would be smart to bring in a guy like Ace Bailey or VJ Edgecombe to add to the supporting cast. However, when considering the salary the No. 3 pick will demand, it would also be smart for the Sixers to trade down to create more cap space to bring back Quentin Grimes and Guerschon Yabusele in free agency.

The New Orleans Pelicans, who hold the No. 7 pick in the draft, are a team that is rumored to have a lot of interest in Bailey. The only way they are going to get Bailey is if they move up to No. 3 because one has to believe he will not slide far enough for New Orleans to grab him. The Sixers and Pelicans could hook up for a draft trade that would benefit both teams.

What would a trade look like?

Sixers get: Herb Jones, No. 7 pick

Pelicans get: Kelly Oubre Jr., No. 3 pick

The Sixers would be acquiring a legitimate defender in Jones who can slide into the lineup and knock down an open 3 while also keeping a top 10 pick to add to a roster in need of some youth. They also get off the salary of the No. 3 pick to the No. 7 pick. Per RealGM, the difference in salary is roughly $3 million. Jones had a down year as he was limited to 20 games in 2024-25, but he had a helluva year in 2023-24 when he shot 41.8% from deep and was named to the All-Defensive First Team. He is a guy who can be a legitimate 3-and-D option for a title contender like Philadelphia and he can make a difference by doing the little things for the Sixers on the floor.

Who do the Sixers then take at No. 7?

There are plenty of options. The Sixers probably don’t get a star, per se, at No. 7, but they could go the big route and select Duke’s Khaman Maluach. Philadelphia is in need of some size behind star big man Joe Embiid and Maluach brings that at 7-foot-2 while being a skilled offensive player and an elite rim protector. The Sixers could also look at Oklahoma’s Jeremiah Fears or Arizona’s Carter Bryant with the pick.