Justin Edwards, 76ers Reportedly Expected to Agree to 3-Year Contract Ahead of NBA FA

The Philadelphia 76ers plan to sign Justin Edwards to a three-year extension after declining his player option for next season, ESPN's Shams Charania reported on Friday.

The new contract includes two guaranteed years and will pay Edwards $2 million in 2025-26, according to Charania.

Edwards would have made $1.9 million next season had the Sixers taken his player option. He signed his original two-year deal with the team after going undrafted out of Kentucky in 2024.

The guard posted on his Instagram story following Charania's report:

Edwards initially joined the club on a two-way contract, but saw his playing time increase as the Sixers dealt with injuries to key players including Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey.

The 21-year-old was signed to a standard NBA contract in early February, after which he spent most of his playing time in the starting lineup when available.

Edwards ended his rookie season in the rotation, having averaged 10.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.0 steals through 44 games and 26 starts.

He shot 45.5 percent from the field, 36.3 percent from three and 69.6 percent from the foul line over that span.

The Sixers currently have more than 93 percent of the 2025-26 cap promised to Embiid, George and Maxey, per Spotrac.

Finding players on affordable contracts like Edwards while building out the roster behind those three stars will be key to helping the 76ers manage the cap next season.

The Sixers have said they expected Embiid to return from knee surgery in time for the start of training camp in September. Healthier seasons from their stars, as well as steps forward from young players like Edwards and Jared McCain, could help the 76ers rebound from the club's disastrous 24-58 campaign.