Sixers Land 3rd Pick in 2025 NBA Draft, Expected to Select Khaman Maluach
The Philadelphia 76ers have the opportunity to land a potential replacement for Joel Embiid with the No. 3 pick in the 2025 NBA draft.
The Sixers entered Monday's lottery with a 42.1 percent chance to land inside the top four.
They will pick behind the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs, both of whom do not need big men.
Philadelphia's logical choice with the No. 3 pick is Duke center Khaman Maluach.
Embiid's lengthy list of injuries has affected the Sixers' chances to compete for a championship over the last few seasons.
Tyrese Maxey and 2024 first-round pick Jared McCain headline a collection of guards who already proved they can score at a high rate in the NBA.
Philadelphia's one missing piece is a big man who can either spell Embiid, or play alongside him.
Maluach only averaged 8.6 points and 6.6 rebounds per game in his freshman season at Duke, but that was also on a team with the likely No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg and potential lottery selection Kon Knueppel.
The South Sudan native can be brought along over the next few years to eventually take over Embiid's role on a permanent basis.
If anything, the measurements are impressive. He checked in with a 7' 63/4" wingspan and a 9'6" standing reach at the NBA draft combine, per ESPN's Jonathan Givony.
If Embiid is healthy for the 2025-26 season, Malauch can start his rookie season learning behind the former NBA Most Valuable Player.
Philadelphia could also select another shooter with the No. 3 pick, but from a positional standpoint, Malauch makes a ton of sense to complete the Sixers roster.
