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Heading into the 2025 NBA Draft, the Philadelphia 76ers are one team that many have their eyes on. Already with a trio of All-Star-level talents, the front office finds itself with a top-three pick in what has been dubbed a loaded class.
With the No. 3 pick, the Sixers find themselves in a bit of an interesting position. While they can take a prospect with a lot of upside, they also have to weigh their current standing as well. Led by the trio of Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Paul George, Philly wants to quickly get back in the mix to compete in the Eastern Conference. Because of this, they need to find a suitable target who can still grow as a player but also help the team from day one.
While breaking down all his intel from across the league, insider Sam Vecenie touched on the Sixers' predicament. Because they are looking to compete right now, they might pass on a touted prospect like Rutgers forward Ace Bailey. Instead, Daryl Morey could be more interested in someone like VJ Edgecombe, who is viewed as a more polished prospect at the moment.
Rutgers’ Bailey has been seen as the biggest upside swing, and he fills a theoretical position of need for Philly as a big wing. But he is also viewed as more of a project by scouts and executives, and this is a Sixers front office that likely needs to win next year to keep its jobs. I’ve also gotten a wider sense of appreciation from NBA front offices for Edgecombe than Bailey.
Standing at 6-foot-5 and 180 pounds, Edgecombe is one of the best athletes in the 2025 class. He showcased his explosiveness regularly during his lone season at Baylor, where he averaged 15.0 PPG, 5.6 RPG and 3.2 APG.
Given their positioning in the draft, it's highly unlikely the Sixers don't walk away with a touted prospect. That said, their desire to be back in the mix to contend in 2026 and beyond is something they'll have to heavily consider when going through their selection process.
More 76ers on SI
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- Rays former first-round pick 'fully recovered' after brain surgery
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Predicting How UNC’s Offense Will Fare vs. NC State
The North Carolina Tar Heels will conclude their season with a road date against the North Carolina State Wolfpack on Saturday. The Tar Heels have been one of the biggest disappointments in college football this season, failing to qualify for a bowl game. That became official after losing to the Duke Blue Devils last weekend, leaving North Carolina with a 4-7 record heading into the season finale. Despite being eliminated from postseason play, the Tar Heels have a lot to play for on Saturday, with a monumental in-state rivalry on tap. Offensively, North Carolina produced its best outing against Duke, as it had a well-balanced attack featuring the passing and rushing attack. The Tar Heels must replicate that same operation against an underrated Wolfpack defense. With that being said, here are statistical predictions for several of North Carolina's offensive players. Gio Lopez Stat line prediction: 20-of-29 for 201 yards, one touchdown, and one interception The junior quarterback has surpassed 200 passing yards in five straight games, and that streak could extend to six games on Saturday. North Carolina State's ability to score in bunches will force the Tar Heels into a pass-heavy game script, which will elevate Lopez's statistical output. Lopez will have to make timely throws against a defense that operates predominantly in man coverage. Jordan Shipp Stat line prediction: 9 targets, 6 receptions for 77 yards and one touchdown Shipp has been the top target in the passing game this season, and that will carry over into the final game of the season. The sophomore receiver's season outlook has been capped by poor quarterback play, as he has accumulated only 581 yards and five touchdowns through 11 games. That being said, this could be Shipp's second consecutive game with at least 75 receiving yards, and third time in four games, where he eclipses that mark. Davion Gause Stat line prediction: 10 carries for 65 yards and one touchdown The sophomore running back managed 63 yards and one rushing touchdown on eight carries last week against the Blue Devils. Gause could easily surpass that mark with a heavier workload against North Carolina State on Saturday. Now, Gause will not be running through the red sea like he was last week, as the Wolfpack's defense is much more dominant up front than what Duke has to offer. However, Gause has demonstrated that he can develop into a workhorse back heading into next season.
Details emerge on Francisco Lindor's alleged incident with Mets teammate
Mr. Smile apparently wasn’t smiling too much about one of his teammates last season. New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor had a "heated confrontation" with teammate Jeff McNeil last June, Mike Puma of the New York Post reported on Friday. Puma writes that Lindor began verbally attacking McNeil on June 20 over a defensive lapse that McNeil had during that day’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies. The confrontation, which was only verbal and never got physical, came in the midst of a seven-game losing streak by the Mets at the time. Puma also reports that the flashy Lindor clashed personalities during the year with the business-like Juan Soto during the season as well. Interestingly enough, the five-time All-Star Lindor also had a confrontation with McNeil in the dugout during a game in the 2021 MLB season. That confrontation did turn physical, and Lindor later offered an extremely unconvincing excuse for the incident. Meanwhile, the incident last June underscored the Mets’ struggles to get on the same page with one another during the 2025 campaign. Despite having a mammoth $342 million payroll, the Mets completely collapsed in the final weeks of the season and missed the playoffs altogether. Now there are rumors that the Mets could make some big changes this offseason, including a potential trade of McNeil. After another apparent confrontation between the veteran utilityman and the four-time Silver Slugger Award winner Lindor, it is clear that something is not quite working right now in that clubhouse.
Jerry Jones claims Jets turned down absurd trade offer involving Micah Parsons, Quinnen Williams
Cardinals' Richard Fitts Reveals Reaction To Getting Traded By Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox made their first major trade of the offseason earlier this week, and Richard Fitts was on the business end of the deal. Fitts started this season in the Red Sox rotation, but injuries and struggles both took a toll. He wound up with a 5.00 ERA in 45 innings, and briefly flirted with a move to the bullpen late in the year before elbow neuritis ended his year early. Now that he's been dealt to the St. Louis Cardinals as part of the package for three-time All-Star Sonny Gray, Fitts is looking forward to competing for a spot in a less experienced rotation. If you like our content, choose Sports Illustrated as a preferred source on Google. Fitts talks trade, Cardinals opportunity Fitts recently shared his mindset on the trade, admitting that he likely had a better chance to stick in the St. Louis rotation than he would have if he'd remained in Boston. “With this opportunity (with the Cardinals), if I am able to stay healthy, I think it’s just going to be a great fit and a way for me to stay in a rotation,” Fitts said, per Alex Speier of The Boston Globe. “I feel like I really grew as a pitcher with the Red Sox. "When I came over from the (New York) Yankees to the Red Sox, it was like, ‘Oh, this would be cool if I get to be a big leaguer over here.’ And now, moving to this opportunity, it’s like, ‘I am a big leaguer. How can I fit into (the Cardinals) rotation?’” Though he would have been buried on the depth chart a bit, the Red Sox definitely weren't happy to see Fitts go. He showed No. 4 starter promise during his September call-up a year ago, including a scoreless start against the Yankees, and he was a spring training darling this year, adding significant velocity and showcasing three breaking balls. While Gray gives the Red Sox a significantly higher floor than they had to start the week, the Red Sox know they incurred some long-term risks by moving on from Fitts and Brandon Clarke. But the beauty of building pitching depth over the past couple of years is that it allows them to take some risks.
Dallas Cowboys' chances of beating Lions just increased with an update the NFL world will hate to hear
The 6-5-1 Dallas Cowboys are looking to extend their win streak to four in a row next Thursday when they take on the 7-5 Detroit Lions on primetime television. Though the Lions are known as one of the best teams in the conference, they are struggling to be consistent on offense, and the defense has serious problems, too. There are a lot of factors that go into Detroit's biggest issues on offense, which was known as one of the scariest units in the league not that long ago. But it all starts with the trenches, where they simply haven't been the same. The Lions' offensive line's struggles reached the point where they had to draw former second-team All-Pro center Frank Ragnow out of retirement. However, Ragnow's return is over before it even got a chance to get going. Lions announce Ragnow failed his physical ahead of Cowboys matchup On Saturday, the Lions announced Ragnow's activation to the 53-man roster isn't happening after he failed his physical. "The medical exam revealed a Grade 3 hamstring strain that will keep him from participating for the remainder of the regular season," the team's statement reads. "For that reason, Frank will not be rejoining the Lions." It was already unlikely Ragnow would play in Week 14 due to his inactivity this year. However, the Lions are reaching must-win territory, so it wasn't out of the question. This update confirms it. It's a disappointing update even though it helps the Cowboys' chances of winning. You never want to see a star's return get ruined before it even starts. But it is what it is in football. With that being said, there's no denying it's an objectively positive development for a Dallas team starving for any break it can get as it tries to make the playoffs. Cowboys' rising DL will face struggling Lions OL Over the last few years, the motor driving the Lions' success was its offensive line. Now that it's struggling, Jared Goff's play is showing flaws, and the run game has been inconsistent. On the other side, the Cowboys' defense is quickly improving. Since Quinnen Williams' arrival via trade, Matt Eberflus' unit has shown an ability to pressure the quarterback and stop the run. While it hasn't been perfect, it's that interior defensive line that's sparked quality play. The Cowboys are 3.5-point underdogs against the Lions heading into Week 14 but this advantage in the trenches could position them to pull off a third consecutive upset. window.addEventListener('message', function (event) {if (event.data.totalpoll event.data.totalpoll.action === 'resizeHeight') {document.querySelector('#totalpoll-iframe-375').height = event.data.totalpoll.value;}}, false);document.querySelector('#totalpoll-iframe-375').contentWindow.postMessage({totalpoll: {action: 'requestHeight'}}, '*'); This story was originally published by A to Z Sports on Nov 29, 2025, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add A to Z Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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