The Philadelphia 76ers hold the No. 3 pick in the 2025 NBA draft which is an important tool to helping them bounce back from a miserable 2024-25 season in which nothing went right for them. They were expected to contend for a title, but were ravaged by injuries that destroyed any chances at winning.
With the No. 3 pick, the Sixers can make a selection or they can trade down in the draft. The Brooklyn Nets, for example, could be a trade partner as they hold the No. 8 pick and they can offer up a win-now player such as Cam Johnson, again, just as an example, for the No. 3 pick.
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Should the Sixers trade down, there will be plenty of options for them to choose from. Here are five options should they trade down to the 6-7-8 range:
Kon Knueppel, Duke
Mar 29, 2025; Newark, NJ, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Kon Knueppel (7) drives to the basket against Alabama Crimson Tide guard Labaron Philon (0) during the first half in the East Regional final of the 2025 NCAA tournament at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Knueppel could be a sneaky option for the No. 3 pick even for the Sixers, but he is more of a trade down option for Philadelphia. If the Sixers are thinking spacing and elite shooting, then Knueppel should be their guy. He has a high basketball IQ being able to navigate off screens to get himself open for looks, he competes on the defensive end, and he is an underrated playmaker. There are limitations so he may not grade out as a starter in some cases, but he is for sure a rotation player in this league due to the shooting ability.
Jeremiah Fears, Oklahoma
Mar 21, 2025; Raleigh, NC, USA; Oklahoma Sooners guard Jeremiah Fears (0) controls the ball against Connecticut Huskies during the second half at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: Zachary Taft-Imagn Images
If the Sixers are thinking they need another ball-handler, Fears should be their man. He is a solid point guard with scoring chops as he averaged 17.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 4.1 assists in the 2024-25 season for the Sooners. The knock on him is his 3-point shooting as he shot only 28.4% from deep on 3.9 attempts, but there is a lot of upside there. He is an aggressive driver who can get to the basket and finish up and around taller defenders. Should Philadelphia trade down, Fears should be near the top of the board.
Collin Murray-Boyles, South Carolina
Mar 8, 2025; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks forward Collin Murray-Boyles (30) goes to the basket against the Tennessee Volunteers during the second half at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-Imagn Images
Murray-Boyles is a big draft riser due to his length and versatility on the defensive end. He averaged 16.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.3 blocks while shooting 58.6% from the floor. One has to believe those defensive skills and his agility on that end of the floor will translate to the next level as he can be in a team’s rotation right away due to his perimeter defense. When considering the Sixers will need to defend some of the better perimeter players in the East, then Murray-Boyles would be a great option.
Derik Queen, Maryland
Mar 27, 2025; San Francisco, CA, USA: Maryland Terrapins center Derik Queen (25) reacts during the second half against the Florida Gators during a West Regional semifinal of the 2025 NCAA tournament at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Eakin Howard-Imagn Images
Should the Sixers trade down, Queen should be another great option. He is nimble on the offensive end, skilled enough to make things happen with the ball in his hands, and is a ferocious rebounder. He averaged 16.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 1.9 assists while shooting 52.6% from the floor for the Terrapins in 2024-25 and made some big plays in the NCAA Tournament. He has a knack for being in the right spots at the right time and his guts to make the big shots with the game on the line.
Khaman Maluach, Duke
Mar 15, 2025; Charlotte, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils center Khaman Maluach (9) reacts after a play in the first half of the 2025 ACC Conference Championship game against the Louisville Cardinals at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
Maluach could be an option for the No. 3 pick, but that would probably be a bit of a reach. The 7-foot tall big man is a bit raw offensively as he limited to putbacks and lob dunks off the pick-and-roll. While he does have soft hands to make all of this work on the offensive end, the Sixers would need him to add some type of jumper to his game. Philadelphia needs versatility out of its big men and Maluach would have to add to his game in order to stick. Either way, he’ll be worth the pick in the six, seven, or eight range in this draft.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: 5 trade down options for the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2025 NBA draft