Two teams near the top of the 2025 NBA Draft are weighing their options. According to Jake Fischer on Marc Stein’s Substack, both the Philadelphia 76ers and Charlotte Hornets are actively listening to offers for their respective No. 3 and No. 4 selections.
Per Fischer, both organizations have signaled to other teams that they are willing to negotiate until they are on the clock next Wednesday. The Sixers, who finished 13th in the Eastern Conference at 24–58, are also reported to have discussed a potential move up to No. 2 with the San Antonio Spurs.
That proposed jump is likely aimed at targeting Dylan Harper, widely projected to be selected immediately after consensus No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg. Harper, a 6-foot-6 combo guard from Rutgers, is regarded as the top backcourt prospect in the class.
The Hornets, who ended the season with a 19–63 record, are similarly open to trading down from No. 4. Charlotte is entering a new chapter under a revamped front office after another year of subpar results.
This year’s draft class features a deep group of top-10 prospects with no clear consensus after Flagg and Harper. According to league executives cited by Fischer, players generating the most buzz include Baylor wing VJ Edgecombe, Duke big man Khaman Maluach, Texas guard Tre Johnson, Oklahoma point guard Jeremiah Fears, and Duke shooter Kon Kneuppel.
Rutgers forward Ace Bailey, once considered a top-three lock, is no longer viewed as a guaranteed early selection, though he remains a strong candidate to go in the top eight.
Philadelphia and Charlotte’s willingness to engage in trade talks adds to the uncertainty at the top of the board. With the Mavericks locked in at No. 1 and San Antonio likely leaning toward Harper at No. 2, the picture becomes murkier from picks 3 to 8.
Sources also indicate interest in centers is heating up toward the back half of the lottery. Maluach, viewed as the top center prospect in the class, has already visited the Pelicans, Wizards, and Hawks. He is expected to meet with the Jazz ahead of the June 25 first round.
