VJ Edgecombe is facing high expectations as the No. 3 pick in this year's NBA draft. As far as one NBA executive is concerned, the Philadelphia 76ers' lottery selection is capable of living up to the hype.In an ESPN survey conducted among 20 NBA executives and scouts, Edgecombe got the majority vote as "rookie who will prove to be the draft's best pick other than Cooper Flagg." One anonymous Eastern Conference GM went on to give a specific projection for Edgecombe's ceiling this season."VJ might be Philly's second-best player by the end of the season, factoring in [Joel] Embiid's uncertain health," the GM said. "He's that good and will thrive playing in Nick Nurse's system."The 76ers locker room that Edgecombe is walking into has been bitten by the injury bug. The core trio of Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey missed a huge chunk of Philly's games last season due to various injuries, with Embiid being shut down in late February.Philadelphia would welcome the contributions of Edgecombe, who averaged 15.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.2 assists during his lone season at Baylor. The Sixers front office is certainly hoping that Edgecombe, who turns 20 next week, will soon manifest the qualities described in various scouting reports: athleticism, high motor and spot-up shooting.With many team executives believing that Edgecombe has "significant untapped upside," much is expected of the Sixers rookie as he begins his NBA career.VJ Edgecombe puts up shots with Jared McCain after Summer League practiceThough veteran stars Embiid and George were intended to be the focal point of the Sixers' offense this past season, the team has stocked up on its cache of young talent. Two of these high-potential players are already spending time with each other in practice.In a video taken after a Summer League practice session in Las Vegas, Edgecombe was seen putting up shots with Jared McCain, who'd been making an early push for 2024 Rookie of the Year before tearing his meniscus last December.In the not-too-distant future, a Sixers backcourt with a fully recovered McCain and an up-and-coming Edgecombe would be a force to be reckoned with in the Eastern Conference.