76ers draft Baylor star V.J. Edgecombe with No. 3 pick
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The Philadelphia 76ers selected V.J. Edgecombe with the No. 3 pick Wednesday night in the NBA Draft.
Edgecombe, 19, averaged 15 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists for Baylor in his only collegiate season. The 6-foot-5 guard finished the season ranked second among Baylor players in points and assists, and third in rebounds. He shot 34 percent from 3, hit half of his 2-pointers, and made 78 percent of his free throws. His biggest impact was on defense, where he led Baylor with an average of 2.1 steals and was third in blocks with 0.6 per game.
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A freshman from Bimini in the Bahamas, Edgecombe entered the draft after starting 33 of the Bears' 35 games this season. Their season ended in the second round of the NCAA Tournament with an 89-66 blowout loss to Duke. Edgecombe also competed in four games for the Bahamian national team during the 2024 FIBA Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournament, where he averaged 16.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists.
Edgecombe is one of the safest prospects in the draft. He's an elite athlete functionally on the court, and his defense is genuinely tremendous. He is disruptive all over the court on the defensive end and makes opposing players' lives miserable. On offense, Edgecombe is a shooter off the catch who started to show an ability to knock down shots from 3 off movement. He also knows how to cut and play off the ball well, as we've seen in a variety of situations. His mentality to do whatever helps the team most also projects well into his being a positive-value player who helps winning basketball teams throughout his career.
Ultimately, Edgecombe's upside will be tied to whatever level you think he can reach on the ball. Do you buy into his work ethic enough to think he will become a player who can create advantages at the NBA level with his athleticism? Right now, there is a bit of a skill deficit when it comes to handling the ball and shooting pull-ups. He's also not that nuanced in ball screens. I've been using the comparison of Gary Harris if you attached a jet pack to him throughout the season for Edgecombe. That player is probably a top-40 player in the NBA at his ceiling, given that Harris, without this level of athleticism, had a three-year stretch in Denver in which he averaged 15 points, three rebounds and three assists on 47/39/80 shooting splits while getting All-Defense votes in two of those three years. I might be a touch lower than the consensus on Edgecombe's ceiling. Still, a top-40 player projection that I feel is relatively safe makes Edgecombe a top-five player in this class. — Sam Vecenie
Western Conference executive No. 2: 'I think he's more like Cam Thomas than an All-Pro player or something like that. But Edgecombe, to me, has more upside (than Thomas). I like him better offensively — athletically. I like him better defensively. I think he's more of a versatile, all-around player than Cam is. Probably a little more playmaking. … This kid's going to score in his own right, too. He isn't going to be a 12-point-a-game scorer or anything. He's athletic as hell, so he's going to get out on the break and get some points there. He'll do some driving in the half court and get some points there, get fouled. And guys with that profile who weren't just horrendous offensive players in college but who are highly athletic and work at it, they get better offensively in the league. You've got unlimited opportunities to work on your game. Everybody's got practice facilities and the code to get back in. … I'm not saying he's going to be a perennial All-Pro player, but I think he'll be pretty good. And I'd be surprised if he failed.'
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College general manager: 'From the jump, he was a super-mature kid. When coaches are talking, eyes on them. Very coachable. Wants to learn. Wants to get better. Never late. First in and last to leave. Just things you have to tell guys — sometimes you're telling guys who are five- or six-year pros — for him, it came naturally. … Very mature, but there were some things (in FIBA competition) he wasn't used to, the physicality. If the team has direction and has leadership, he'll be fine. He'll be everything they want and more. He's such a good kid, and he's coachable. At Baylor, they were so quiet at the offensive end in the first half. And in the second half, he just takes over.'
Western Conference scout No. 1: 'From the end of the season until now, his jumper has gotten better. It was flat during the year. … When he came to Chicago and shot, I was like, 'Whoa.' He doesn't have that flat shot no more. He's gonna be all right. Because he's so athletic. He can handle the rock and pass the ball. I'm not comparing him to Ant (Anthony Edwards), but whoever gets him is gonna be surprised how he can put the ball on the floor and make plays for others. Look at him at Baylor. He wasn't hogging. He wasn't even the main offense. He was scoring, shot it OK. But he always made passes and made plays for others. And he can defend. I think he can guard twos and ones. He's a combo. Second-side ballhandler. I think he'll be able to guard ones and twos easy. And then later against certain threes, if they go small-ball three. He can guard 6-6 guys — some of them. And he's not gonna back down. He's a tough kid, comes from a tough area.'
Eastern Conference executive No. 1: 'To me, I think he could be the second-best player in this draft. He's a little raw basketball-experience-wise, but he's a great kid. Stephon Castle was rookie of the year. The biggest reason was he was able to defend right away. This guy can do the same thing. He's not a bad shooter.' — David Aldridge
This story will be updated.
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How experts graded Celtics drafting Amari Williams with No. 46 pick
After trading the No. 32 pick to the Orlando Magic, the Boston Celtics acquired a pair of picks in the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft — No. 46 and 57. Boston selected Amari Wiliams with the No. 46 pick. A 7-foot big man, Williams spent last season with Kentucky and averaged 10.9 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game. The 23-year-old also had 10 double-doubles. Advertisement Here's how those around the NBA felt about the pick, as well as what national media graded it. CBS Sports A defensive-oriented center who has great anticipation as a shot blocker, Williams brings intrigue because of his passing and feel from the center position. He's 7-foot with a 7-foot-6 wingspan and his length and high IQ are traits I think are worth developing in this range. Grade: B+ Yahoo Sports Williams is a massive, smart-passing center with good instincts around the rim and legitimate size to defend the paint. These playmaking instincts make him a nice fit for Boston's offensive system. But while he develops as a two-way player for Boston, he needs to add perimeter mobility to defend the modern game. Advertisement Grade: B Bleacher Report With the Boston Celtics entering a gap year without Jayson Tatum, even second-round picks like Amari Williams may get a chance to showcase some talent. Williams offers great size (6′11″ with a 7′5″ wingspan), intriguing vision and disruptive defense around the basket. And he has the kind of fight in him where he'll try to hammer home a dunk even when he doesn't have a clear path to the cup. But he's not a dynamic athlete, nor a shooter, and his handles might not be tight enough for him to be utilized as a playmaker. Still, even after multiple salary-shedding moves, Williams would have a number of reliable targets to look for as a passer. And if there's a coach that can figure out how to deploy a big as unique as Williams, it may be Joe Mazzulla. Advertisement Grade: B+ Sporting News Boston keeps it international, going with Kentucky's British big man. Williams, 23, measures at 7 feet with a 7-6 wingspan and could provide reprieve for the potential loss of free agent Luke Kornet. Grade: B The Athletic Sam Vecenie: This is where we start to get into real question marks as to whether someone is worth a two-way deal. I'm not sure that anyone beyond this point would be, and I'm skeptical I'd do one for Williams. I love the passing, and he's quite long. If a team thinks that they can maybe add some explosiveness to his frame by reducing his weight or thinning out his body, I'd be willing to hear that out. But that would be the key to giving Williams a two-way. Advertisement John Hollinger: I'm a big fan of centers who can pass, and while Williams has other limitations, he is a skilled operator from the high post. Boston also has a great track record of finding and developing fringe centers, witness Luke Kornet and Neemias Queta in recent years. Williams could begin the year on a roster contract if his minimum deal saves the Celtics enough money to help them skirt the luxury tax, but it will likely depend on what else happens with Boston's roster this summer. More Celtics content Read the original article on MassLive.
