CAMDEN, N.J. — In win-now mode, Philadelphia chosen Baylor’s VJ Edgecombe with the No. 3 general choose within the NBA draft on Wednesday evening so as to add their trio of oft-injured All-Stars the group hopes can return to type and make the 76ers a wholesome title contender.
The 6-4, 193-pound Edgecombe boasts explosive athleticism that stands out at both ends, notably as an above-the-rim finisher who creates highlight-reel moments.
The 19-year-old Edgecombe could possibly be a rookie of the 12 months contender or a rotation participant, and his numbers subsequent season will not matter a lot if two-time NBA scoring champion Joel Embiid cannot make a profitable return from knee surgical procedure. Embiid had arthroscopic surgical procedure on his left knee in April and the Sixers had but to replace his situation earlier than the draft.
Former All-Stars and Paul George and Tyrese Maxey slogged by way of injury-plagued season because the 76ers — a franchise with perennial NBA championship aspirations — completed with a woeful 24-58 file that included a 5-31 stretch to shut the season.
Staff President Daryl Morey stated he would spend the summer season attempting make the roster youthful and extra athletic to doubtlessly assist the group combat off the rash of accidents that wrecked the season and supply a little bit of a cushion if the core trio are sidelined once more for lengthy stretches.
He begins with Edgecome, picked over Rutgers star Ace Bailey, who canceled a pre-draft exercise with the 76ers.
Edgecombe completed within the draft mix’s high 10 with a 38.5-inch max vertical leap, had seven video games with at the very least three made 3s and 11 video games with three-plus steals. He shot simply 34% on 3s and made simply 25% in off-dribble jumpers, based on Synergy’s analytics rankings.
Edgecombe grew up within the Bahamas. And now, he’s a assured millionaire.
“We got here from nothing. We’re really blessed simply to be on this place,” Edgecombe stated after he was drafted.
Embiid, Maxey and George performed all of 15 video games collectively this season and the trio performed a mixed 119 video games. Embiid, the 2023 NBA MVP, performed solely 19 video games.
Morey stated in April all three ought to be again at “100%” by coaching camp.
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