The 2025 NBA Draft is rapidly approaching, and with it comes a wave of excitement and anticipation. The Dallas Mavericks have a few hours left to make a trade before the draft commences on Wednesday night, but if they don't, they'll be selecting Cooper Flagg with the first overall pick. However, the real intrigue of this year's draft appears to lie elsewhere, and experts have some big questions about the first round. One of the biggest questions is what the Philadelphia 76ers will do with the third pick. At the time of the lottery, it seemed obvious that they would select Rutgers guard Ace Bailey, who was widely viewed as the third-best prospect in the draft. However, Bailey's stock has plummeted since then due to concerns over his actual play and his refusal to work out for any team during the pre-draft process. This means the third pick could be the first inflection point of the night. Will Philly take Baylor wing V.J. Edgecombe, as ESPN, USA Today, and The Athletic all predict? Could the 76ers trade the pick? Will they maybe gamble on Bailey, anyway? The decision will be crucial as it will determine whether the team is still interested in competing in the short term or if they're pivoting to the future after a disastrous 2024-25 season. Another big question is where Ace Bailey will go. He's perhaps the biggest "slide" candidate of the first round, with ESPN and The Athletic predicting he'll go sixth to the Washington Wizards, while USA Today believes he could still go fourth to the Charlotte Hornets. However, The Athletic's Sam Vecenie notes that Bailey's range could extend into "the middle portion of the lottery." A Bailey drop could throw a wrench into the proceedings, and it's worth considering what might happen if a team in the back half of the first round sees him falling and makes an aggressive move up. The trade market has already been active this month, and even the Indiana Pacers made a trade during the Finals. The Boston Celtics are a team to keep an eye on as they try to reduce their massive payroll for next season after star Jayson Tatum suffered an Achilles tear. They've already shipped away guard Jrue Holiday, who was a member of the 2024 championship squad, to the Portland Trail Blazers. Center Kristaps Porziņģis, who is on an expiring contract, could also be a candidate to move. And teams could try to overwhelm the Celtics with a big offer for 2024 Finals MVP Jaylen Brown. The Oklahoma City Thunder are also always on the trade radar. They have two picks in this year's first round, as well as several other assets in future years. As OKC tries to manage keeping their roster affordable around Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren, don't be surprised to hear their name pop up in trade speculation. The 2025 NBA draft is shaping up to be an exciting event, and there are plenty of questions that need to be answered. Stay tuned for more updates as we get closer to Wednesday night's draft.
