RealGM Basketball Wiretap

16 June 2025

• Kyle Lowry Likely To Return To Sixers Next Season

  Guard Kyle Lowry is likely to return to the Philadelphia 76ers for next season. The Sixers consider Lowry an ideal veteran mentor for young guards Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain.

  The upcoming season would be Lowry's 20th in the NBA. The veteran point guard is an unrestricted free agent, after spending last season with Philadelphia on a veteran minimum contract. In 35 games, Lowry averaged 3.9 points and 2.7 assists in 18.8 minutes per game.

  Retired NBA big man Blake Griffin recently suggested that Lowry could join him as part of the coverage team with Amazon. Lowry could still join Amazon as a sort of player correspondent, but no details have been finalized on that as of yet. The upcoming season will be the first for Amazon as an NBA media partner.

• Pelicans Eyeing Ace Bailey In Trade-Up Scenarios

  The New Orleans Pelicans are reportedly looking at trading up from the seventh overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. The player New Orleans is possibly looking to trade up for is Ace Bailey of Rutgers.

  New Pelicans GM Joe Dumars is reportedly a fan of Bailey's. One rumored trade-up scenario could see New Orleans swap first-round picks withe Philadelphia 76ers, who hold the third pick. That would see the Pelicans send additional assets to the Sixers to move up four slots on the draft board.

  Bailey is considered by some draft analysts to be the third-best prospect in the class, behind Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper. The 6-foot-10 forward averaged 17.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in his lone season at Rutgers.

• Sixers Discuss Trading Up To No. 2 With Spurs

  The Philadelphia 76ers have engaged with the San Antonio Spurs on moving up to the No. 2 overall pick, sources tell Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. Dylan Harper is widely assumed to go second overall regardless of who ends up making the selection as he is considered to be on his own tier behind Cooper Flagg and comfortably head of potential candidates to go No. 3 such as VJ Edgecombe, Ace Bailey and Tre Johnson.

  Harper could be an awkward fit alongside De'Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle in the Spurs' backcourt, but his talent is undeniable and the widespread belief is that San Antonio is comfortable figuring things out along the way.

  The Sixers own the LA Clippers' first round pick in 2028 and they have swap rights with the Clippers in 2029.

  The Sixers have a crowded backcourt of their own in Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain, but Harper has considerably more size to defend wings on defense and functions as a lead guard whereas Maxey and McCain can operate off the ball.

• Ace Bailey To Conduct Private Workout With Sixers

  Ace Bailey is being scheduled for a private workout with the Philadelphia 76ers. It is not yet known if Bailey has scheduled private workouts for any other teams. The Sixers own the No. 3 pick and are also considering VJ Edgecombe.

  Bailey averaged 17.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 33.4 minutes in his freshman season at Rutgers. Bailey is represented by Omar Cooper.

• Sixers Zeroing In On VJ Edgecombe As Hornets, Wizards Also Interested

  The Philadlephia 76ers are believed to be zeroing in on VJ Edgecombe with the No. 3 overall pick. Edgecombe visited the Sixers last week.

  "Edgecombe is said to have impressed with his work ethic, personality and interviews," writes Jake Fischer.

  Tyrese Maxey also flew in to meet with Edgecombe. The Sixers are bullish on how Edgecombe could help offset Maxey on the defensive end of the floor, while the Baylor product also has upside on offense.

  Edgecombe has yet to meet with any other teams and there's been some speculation that he might not conduct any additional ones. The Charlotte Hornets could select Edgecombe at No. 4 if he's not selected by the Sixers.

  Additionally, league executives believe the Washington Wizards have interest in trading up for Edgecombe. The Wizards own the No. 6 and No. 18 selections in the first round.

  "They're keeping the pick or they're trading down a few slots," said one Eastern Conference executive.

• Sixers To Retain Toure Murry As Player Development Coach

  The Philadelphia 76ers will retain Toure Murry as a player development coach for next season, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.

  Murry initially joined the team during the 2023-24 season.

• Sixers Confident In Re-Signing Quentin Grimes

  The Philadelphia 76ers remain confident in their ability to re-sign Quentin Grimes this offseason, according to Jake Fischer of The People's Insider.

  A restricted free agent, Grimes averaged 22.7 points and 5.0 rebounds after the All-Star break.

  The Sixers are also hoping to re-sign Guerschon Yabusele.

  The team is looking to add a dynamic young talent to their core in the upcoming draft.

• Lonnie Walker's Option May Be Tied To Sixers Draft Night

  The Philadelphia 76ers hold a $2.9 million team option for Lonnie Walker IV for next season. Whether the Sixers pick up that option is likely related to what they do on draft night.

  Philadelphia holds the third pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. That most-connected players to the team at that spot are forward Ace Bailey and guard V.J. Edgecombe. The Sixers also have Quentin Grimes, who had a breakout with the 76ers after the trade deadline, as a restricted free agent this offseason. In addition, Eric Gordon has a $3.5 million player option for next season that he's expected to pick up.

  If Philadelphia drafts Edgecombe, they may decline Walker's option, as picking it up could leave the team overstuffed with shooting guards. Walker appeared in 20 games for the Sixers last season. He averaged 12.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 23.9 minutes per game. Walker started last season playing for Zalgiris in Lithuania, before opting out to join the 76ers in February.

• Sixers Focused On Adding 'Dynamic Young Talent' In Draft

  The Philadelphia 76ers are looking to add a "dynamic young talent" in the upcoming draft, according to Marc Stein of The Stein Line.

  Stein recently debunked rumors that the Sixers would trade their third pick for a veteran like Kevin Durant.

  Should the Sixers decide to trade the third pick, they will look to remain in the higher part of the draft.

• Sixers Considered Unlikely To Trade Paul George

  The Philadelphia 76ers are unlikely to consider trading Paul George this offseason unless he were to request a trade. George has three seasons remaining on his four-year, $212 million deal and trading him after a disappointing initial season with the Sixers would be selling him low.

  The Sixers realize their chances of competing are tied more to the health of Joel Embiid than the play of George. George appeared in 41 games with the Sixers where he averaged 16.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.8 steals in 32.5 minutes. George's PER dropped from 19.3 in his final season with the LA Clippers to 14.4 with the Sixers.

  If Embiid were unable to demonstrate he is capable of staying on the floor, the Sixers could readdress the situation starting on December 15 when trade season unofficially begins.

  Last offseason, the Golden State Warriors and Denver Nuggets were amongst the teams who pursued a trade for George. The Clippers, however, preferred their path of letting him sign outright in free agency and reinforcing their roster via newfound cap flexibility.