The Philadelphia 76ers were the biggest disappointment of the 2024-25 season, and despite handing out big money, they just managed to win 24 games. However, their lost year came with a silver lining: a top-three pick in the loaded 2025 NBA Draft.
With a chance to add another rising star next to Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain, the 76ers have been primarily linked to once-consensus No. 3 pick Ace Bailey. But with Bailey’s stock slipping and canceling a planned visit to Philadelphia, the team is now projected to pivot toward a high-risk, high-reward alternative.
Philadelphia 76ers Predicted To Pass On Ace Bailey For Forward With “Elite Potential”
ESPN’s NBA Draft expert Jonathan Givony recently reported that Bailey had canceled his scheduled visit and workout with the 76ers. The visit would’ve included a private workout and dinner with the front office. It would have been a key opportunity to make his case to the franchise holding the No. 3 pick, but Bailey chose not to attend.
While the Sixers haven’t ruled him out entirely, questions about his unpredictability and physical strength have raised red flags. If Philly decides to go all in on rebuilding, PFSN’s Ian Cummings believes Arizona’s Carter Bryant would be a better choice.
“This is the highest you’ll likely ever see Carter Bryant go in a 2025 NBA Mock Draft, but let’s indulge this possibility — because there have been reaches before,” Cummings wrote. “His production as a freshman in 2024 — just 6.5 points per game, 4.1 rebounds per game, and minimal playmaking — was sparse, but elite potential is there, and Bailey has his own questions.”
“At 6’8″, 220 pounds, with an overwhelming 7’0″ wingspan and a 39.5″ max vertical, Bryant is as traits-rich as they come,” Cummings added. “At just 19 years old, he has a fully built and chiseled frame, with spry explosion and agility, superlative defensive flexibility, and a 37% 3-point mark. A franchise worried about Bailey’s volatility and play strength might prefer Bryant long term.”
As Cummings pointed out, Bryant has rarely been mocked third overall. However, the elite long-term potential is certainly there, and realistically, he is the type of player who could fit on any team as a role-playing bench player who needs time to develop his offensive game.
Carter Bryant showing what he can do in a higher usage role. DAMN. pic.twitter.com/CIFzTxxYbZ
– Quinn Fishburne (@QuinnFishburne) June 11, 2025
Bryant progressed slowly during the first half of the collegiate season, scoring in double figures just once before 2025. As he got more comfortable and his role became more refined, he flashed immense talent and athletic ability that contributed to Arizona’s third-place finish in the Big 12.
Bryant may not be the most polished scorer in the class, but his size, defensive instincts, and two-way potential make him an intriguing fit for a 76ers team looking to reset after a disappointing season. With questions surrounding Bailey’s availability and draft stock, Philadelphia could see Bryant as a more reliable option to develop alongside Maxey and McCain.
