The NBA Draft started at pick number 3. 

Anyone who watches basketball knows about the controversy surrounding the third overall pick in this year’s NBA Draft. With virtually all eyes on the 76ers’ front office, the team went ahead and made the expected selection. 

The top two picks were awarded to the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs, who selected the consensus one and two best players in the Draft. Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper were taken off the board in the blink of an eye, leaving the 76ers with a multitude of options. 

The anticipation has built for days. First, Philadelphia was expected to select Ace Bailey. Then, Bailey cancelled his workout with the team. So, who the Sixers would end up selecting was totally in the air. 

That selection turned out to be VJ Edgecombe, a 6-4 guard, from Baylor University. 

Most 76ers insiders had predicted this pick in the days leading up. Edgecombe was considered the best available pick following Ace Bailey. And let’s be honest, this is absolutely a “hit or miss” pick. Usually, a top-three selection does not require much thought process, but following Bailey’s shenanigans, Daryl Morey was forced to put some hard consideration into this one. 

Let’s get the stats out of the way… Edgecombe averaged 15.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 2.1 steals, and 0.6 blocks. In his lone freshman season at Baylor, Edgecombe made All-Big 12 Freshman Team honors, as well as All-Big 12 Second Team honors. For starters, he was the motor behind the Bears’ short March Madness run. 

The stats are always the first thing that sticks out when analyzing talent, but what makes Edgecombe special goes far beyond the numbers. As mentioned, the 76ers are in win-now mode. This is a pick that cannot be messed up. Rightfully, because Joel Embiid and Paul George are declining, while Philly also has a dynamic young pair of guards in Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain. So out of the gate, what does Edgecombe bring to the table? 

We are talking about a 19-year-old, former five-star recruit from the Bahamas. This kid possesses raw talent and brings about unfathomable athleticism. Just throw on the highlight tape, and everything I’m saying will make sense.

Edgecombe does it on both ends, and it all stems from his leaping ability, speed, and agility. Yes, he can jump through the ceiling, and yes, he can beat his defender with an incredibly fast first step. Additionally, he creates magic both on and off the ball. Scott Drew played Edgecombe in many different positions and roles on what was a good Baylor squad. He brought the ball up, played off the ball, and typically guarded the biggest threat on the other end. Versatility. That is a plus for VJ Edgecombe. However, consistency is not.

And that is the area of improvement. If you want to call it a “downside,” that would be it. Consistency, specifically in the department of shooting, is where the development is needed. Of course, Edgecombe brings about all the natural tendencies that set him apart. But if we are talking about a spot-up shooter, a three-point shooter, or a shooter of any type, Edgecombe is not that guy. 

Ultimately, the Sixers went ahead and selected him over Ace Bailey, Tre Johnson, Kon Knueppel, and many more. So what they saw in Edgecombe’s potential was also much greater than the upfront talent that other top picks have. 

Much of the drama relating to Philly at pick 3 was whether they would prioritize raw talent over developed abilities. The debate really came down to VJ Edgecombe or Texas’ Tre Johnson. Many, including myself, really liked the talent of Tre Johnson. In the end, I believe the Philadelphia 76ers did make the right selection. 

Let me break it down. If there truly was that much of a gap between Ace Bailey and VJ Edgecombe, the Sixers would’ve said to hell with it and taken him in spite of his antics. Spoiler alert, the Utah Jazz did that just three picks later. Daryl Morey saw something in Edgecombe that lit a spark. I’m under the impression that that spark had been lying within the fit, and the potential, based on what he already brings to the table.

Tre Johnson would’ve brought a lengthy wing presence who could shoot the heck out of the ball. He has athleticism, and he has the tools to be great. He certainly lacks in the defensive department, but again, if the 76ers were really that set on taking a shooter, it would’ve been Johnson. 

This is always the concern. Shooting was a knack against both Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain coming out of college. However, the NBA transition has proved to be impactful as both of these guys have improved tremendously in their short time. Edgecombe isn’t even a bad shooter. He shoots the ball at a 43.6% clip from the field, 34% from three-point range, and 78.2% from the line. 

These aren’t the numbers you would love to see from the third overall pick, but it’s about the upside. At just 19 years of age, playing behind two plus shooters and ball handlers, Edgecombe can really establish himself as a better shooter and will have opportunities to play on and off the ball, like he did in college. 

This was the selection. Philadelphia made the right call by overlooking Ace Bailey’s talent and choosing Edgecombe over other notable prospects. I expect Edgecombe to make a subtle impact before blossoming like Maxey and McCain once did. 

Congratulations to Morey and the 76ers, you got this one right. Now, it’s time to see it come to fruition on the court.