TITLE: Edgecombe’s Overtime Heroics Headline Eastern Conference Round-Up
SLUG: edgecombe-shines-wizards-pick-hall-williams-deals-cavs-deadline
CONTENT:
Philadelphia rookie guard VJ Edgecombe continued his rapid rise on Tuesday night, piling up 25 points, six rebounds, four assists and four steals in 41 minutes of an overtime win against Memphis. The No. 3 overall pick drilled five three-pointers, including the game-winner with two seconds left.
“VJ has been telling us for three weeks that he deserves to shoot a game-winner,” teammate Tyrese Maxey said after delivering the decisive assist. “I trust him. He took the shot, and he made it. We’re blessed to have him.”
Edgecombe’s immediate impact was possible because Philadelphia retained its top-six protected 2025 first-rounder by finishing low enough in last season’s standings to keep the selection.
Wizards’ 2026 First-Round Pick No Longer a Sure Thing
Washington’s 2026 first-round pick conveys to New York unless it lands in the top eight. After opening the season 1-15, the Wizards have posted a 4-4 record, a turnaround that improves the outlook for the club’s young core but raises the risk of losing that protected pick, David Aldridge of The Athletic reported.
Hall, Williams Sign Two-Year Two-Way Pacts
League sources tell Hoops Rumors that the two-way contracts recently signed by forward PJ Hall with Charlotte and center Malik Williams with Atlanta span two seasons. Should both players remain on those deals, they would reach restricted free agency in the summer of 2027.
Cavs Weigh Deadline Options
Cleveland, 18-16 after a 64-win campaign last year, faces roster questions ahead of the trade deadline. Operating above the second tax apron prevents the Cavaliers from combining salaries in trades, but Yossi Gozlan of The Third Apron notes that mid-sized contracts—such as New Orleans’ Herbert Jones and Jose Alvarado—could still fit within the rules.
Source: Hoops Rumors
