76ers 3 Thoughts: Edgecombe’s Excellent Summer League Debut, What Walker Brings to Philly and More

The NBA draft and opening stages of free agency are in the rearview mirror. As the Salt Lake City Summer League begins, eyes begin to turn towards the play on the court. For the Philadelphia 76ers, summer league basketball carries an extra level of interest as No. 3 overall pick VJ Edgecombe steps onto the floor in a Philadelphia uniform for the first time. While summer league basketball has begun, the Sixers are not done making moves in free agency. In the latest edition of “76ers 3 Thoughts,” a dive into Edgecombe’s summer league debut and where the team is at after the opening week of free agency:

Edgecombe Excels in Summer League Debut Against Utah

The summer league is not about the wins and losses, but rather getting glimpses of what different players are capable of. All eyes were on Edgecombe in his first game wearing a Sixers uniform. While the Sixers lost 93-89 to the Utah Jazz, Edgecombe surely gave fans a ton to be excited about. He finished with 28 points on 13-of-27 shooting to go along with 10 rebounds, four assists, two blocks and a steal.

Edgecombe’s elite athleticism and ability to attack in transition quickly became apparent in Salt Lake City. His first bucket came on a crafty scoop layup. A few minutes later, he exploded down the court and finished off a possession with a highlight-reel dunk.

CLEAR THE RUNWAY FOR VJ EDGECOMBE ✈️🤯

The No. 3 overall pick for the @sixers is showing off his skills on ESPN! pic.twitter.com/c0dGlNEptB

— NBA (@NBA) July 6, 2025

The Sixers were one of the worst teams in the league last season at scoring in transition. Edgecombe’s ability to make plays like the one above should help Philadelphia be better able to capitalize on transition opportunities.

One of the more surprising takeaways from Edgecombe’s performance against the Utah Jazz was his willingness to take pull-up jumpers. He knocked down five pull-up mid-range shots in his summer league debut. For reference, he made 13 pull-up jumpers all last season at Baylor.

smooth as butter. 🧈 pic.twitter.com/qoLAf6U3cb

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) July 6, 2025

Adding a pull-up jumper to Edgecombe’s arsenal would make him much more versatile offensively. He will not always have the same level of success on these jumpers as he did against Utah. However, he should continue to work throughout the summer on adding the pull-up jumper to his skillset.

In addition to his work as a scorer, Edgecombe also flashed a knack for always being around the ball. This can show up on the glass, as it did against Utah when he grabbed 10 rebounds. For someone who is just 6-foot-4 without shoes, Edgecombe possesses a shockingly good ability to rebound the basketball. It should not surprise anyone if he ends up averaging in the neighborhood of four or five rebounds per game.

For as good a night as Edgecombe had, not everything went perfectly. He struggled against Utah’s on-ball pressure and was ineffective as a 3-point shooter. However, fans came away from Edgecombe’s summer league debut with many reasons to be excited about the player he can become.

What Are the Sixers Getting in New 2-Way Signee Jabari Walker?

The Sixers on Thursday night signed Jabari Walker to a two-way contract, as first reported by Shams Charania of ESPN. What will Walker provide for Philadelphia? To begin with, he is a 6-foot-7 forward who should be able to provide much needed wing depth to the Sixers’ roster. In addition to possessing good height, Walker has a 6-foot-10 3/4 wingspan and solid athleticism for someone his size.

Walker, the No. 59 overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft, spent the first three years of his career with the Portland Trail Blazers. He quietly established a role in Portland’s rotation. His best season came in 2023-24 when he averaged 8.9 points and 7.1 rebounds in 23.6 minutes per game.

His best NBA skills are his rebounding and defensive abilities. Walker has thrived on the glass, grabbing 10.0 rebounds per 36 minutes for his career. He has a knack for being around the ball and the desire to fight for contested rebounds. Despite playing in just 16.3 minutes per game, Walker has averaged 1.4 offensive rebounds per contest. On the defensive end of the floor, Walker’s mobility and instincts often put him in good position to contest shots.

There are some concerns about Walker’s ability to impact the game offensively. He will not break down defenders in one-on-one situations. Before last season, he was unable to effectively space the floor. However, he began to figure things out from 3-point range last season. He shot 38.9% from deep on 1.2 attempts per game. Most of his success from beyond the arc came on shots from the corners, where he shot 48.6% on 35 attempts. Walker consistently being able to knock down his 3-pointers, even if at a low volume, will go a long way towards making him a more viable player offensively.

Signing Walker, a player with some useful skills and 188 games of NBA experience, to a two-way contract was a shocking get for the Sixers. At just 22 years old, Walker could in theory continue to improve. If he continues to make strides with his jumper, Walker could earn consistent minutes in the Sixers’ rotation. At worst, his rebounding ability and size should provide some value in Philadelphia.

Where Do Things Stand in Grimes’ Restricted Free Agency?

One week into free agency, the Sixers have yet to re-sign Quentin Grimes. Why is Grimes, a restricted free agent, still on the market? He feels the Sixers’ current offer does not adequately represent his value and is waiting to see if another team wants to make him a better offer. This is a common occurrence with restricted free agents. Grimes, along with Josh Giddey, Jonathan Kuminga and Cam Thomas, are all currently restricted free agents who remain unsigned.

The Sixers possess most of the leverage in the negotiations with Grimes. The market of teams with significant salary cap space to offer Grimes has mostly dried up. Utah, after trading away John Collins earlier on Monday, could create enough cap space to make a run at signing Grimes. Even in that case, the Sixers have the ability to match any offer sheet Grimes receives from another team.

The situation between Grimes and the Sixers might take a while to get resolved. Kelly Iko and Tony Jones of The Athletic on Saturday reported “there has been little to no movement” between the two sides. Until the negotiations conclude, the Sixers have largely decided to play the waiting game with the rest of their minimal free agent assets. If Grimes signs for in the ballpark of $17 million per season, Philadelphia would have just enough space under the second luxury tax apron to use the taxpayer’s mid-level exception (worth $5.7 million). However, the Sixers have shown they are unwilling to use the TPMLE until the Grimes negotiations are concluded.