Reports: Sixers ‘engaging’ Spurs on trade up for No. 2 pick

Folks, it's getting close to draft time.

Since lottery night, it's felt obvious that there was a gap between picks one and two, and a gulf between two and the rest of the field. The Sixers, of course, landed directly where the debates began - pick three.

According to Michael Scotto, they're kicking up some dust:

Sources: The 76ers have engaged with the Spurs about potentially moving up to the No. 2 pick. For now, the Sixers have zeroed in on four NBA Draft prospects with the No. 3 pick, including a private workout last week with VJ Edgecombe and Ace Bailey visiting Philadelphia next week

— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) June 12, 2025

This comes a day after Jake Fischer reported that the Sixers had held a workout with Baylor's VJ Edgecombe and scheduled one with Rutgers' Ace Bailey.

Fischer and Kyle Neubeck backed Scotto's reporting quickly thereafter.

Combing through the information out there, that leaves two mystery prospects on the Sixers' list. If they're so intrigued by trading up that they're 'engaged' with the Spurs on a deal, logic would suggest that one of those two is probably Dylan Harper, the other head of Rutgers' duo.

So who is the fourth?

Texas sharpshooter Tre Johnson has climbed up mock drafts recently. Duke guard Kon Knueppel should rank highly, too (we'll have a scouting report on him in the coming days!).

None of this is to talk down the reportings of Scotto, Fischer and Neubeck, to be clear. But, timing has a lot to do with these flashes of intel. 

Yesterday, the Sixers were portrayed as being nearly committed to Edgecombe. Then, that quickly shape-shifted to a more open-minded depiction with the reporting of Bailey's scheduled workout. Now, there are four guys in mind and a trade up or down is certainly possible.

In other words, the Sixers are evaluating a number of options and want to maintain some mystery as they get closer to draft time. Keeping their plans unclear obviously helps maintain leverage in trade talks. 

With San Antonio widely assumed to be taking Harper with the second pick, the Sixers' interest in trading up with them reflects a belief that has been shared by those who have paid close attention to this draft class over the last several months - the only two players you feel really good about being stars are Cooper Flagg and Harper. The rest have their respective tricks and upsides, but they have some significant concerns too.

Whoever it is, we'll have an answer in two weeks.

You can read On Pattison's scouting reports on the 2025 NBA draft lottery below:

• Ace Bailey
• Dylan Harper
• Tre Johnson