Having canceled his pre-draft workout with the Sixers this week, Rutgers forward Ace Bailey still hasn’t visited any teams ahead of next Wednesday’s first round. While his unorthodox pre-draft process has fueled speculation that Bailey – long considered a top-three or top-four prospect in this year’s class – may drop further than expected next week, he’s unlikely to slide too far, Jake Fischer writes for The Stein Line (Substack link).
“He’s not falling into the 20s like Cam Whitmore,” a longtime scout told Fischer.
Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer has heard from multiple league sources that Omar Cooper, one of Bailey’s representatives, wanted the Sixers to commit to drafting him at No. 3 prior to Friday’s scheduled workout. However, Fischer cites a source briefed on the process who says Bailey’s camp didn’t insist on an “iron-clad promise” from Philadelphia.
Pompey has also heard from a league executive that Bailey’s reps may want him to play on the East Coast, somewhere between Atlanta and New York. When ESPN had Bailey going to Washington at No. 6 in its latest mock draft, Jonathan Givony suggested that “geography” was one factor worth considering.
According to Fischer, there hasn’t been much chatter connecting Bailey to the Hornets, who hold the No. 4 overall pick. Lottery teams believe the Jazz at No. 5 could be a potential landing spot for the 18-year-old, but Utah is also thought to be high on Duke’s Khaman Maluach and Kon Knueppel, Fischer notes.
The Wizards hold the No. 6 pick and their front office has spoken repeatedly in the past about building around high-character players. While there are no apprehensions about Bailey’s character specifically – one NBA scout described him to Fischer as a “sweetheart” – there are some concerns about his focus, his approach to the game, and his maturity, per Fischer and Pompey.
“He’s not immature like a [butthead]. … He’s goofy,” a scout told Pompey. “Dancing in line. You are doing drills, he’s dancing. ‘Oh, that’s my song.’ … He’s playful, which is age-appropriate.”
The Pelicans (No. 7), meanwhile, have been reported to have interest in Bailey, but league sources tell Fischer’s Substack teammate Marc Stein that New Orleans’ interest has been overstated.
As Fischer writes, with no sense that any specific team in that 3-7 range is locked in on Bailey, there have been teams wondering if he might make it all the way to the Nets at No. 8. As Fischer and Stein previously observed, a number of evaluators and scouts believe there’s a drop-off after the top eight prospects in the 2025 draft class.
Here are a few more Bailey-related notes:
- According to Fischer, NBA teams believe that one reason why Bailey’s pre-draft approach has been so unconventional is that it’s being coordinated largely by Cooper, who is the father of former NBA guard Sharife Cooper and isn’t certified as an NBA agent. While Adie Von Gontard and Daniel Green are officially listed as Bailey’s agents, Cooper is the one believed to be running point during the pre-draft process, Fischer explains.
- Despite the questions surrounding Bailey, some sources who spoke to Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer believe the Sixers should still draft him at No. 3. “You have to take him,” one Western Conference scout said. “But you have to really know what you are getting. He has the highest upside.”
- League sources confirm to Pompey that the Sixers remain interested in moving the No. 3 pick for the right deal. Pompey has also heard from sources that the Wizards, Pelicans, and Nets may also have some level of interest in moving up for the 6’8″ forward.
Shedeur Sanders and his effects have entered the NBA draft….
huh
??????????????
Should be a red flag for any team thinking of drafting him. So is there an injury that he is not telling anyone?
“Bailey’s reps may want him to play on the East Coast, somewhere between Atlanta and New York.”
“Jonathan Givony suggested that “geography” was one factor worth considering.”
Perhaps he’s an enthusiast of homegrown plants or vegetables or smth, and his favourite zucchinis and aubergines grow best in those latitudes.
But seriously, I was hoping that Ace and maybe someone else like Kon go somewhere between 3-5, which would leave one of Tre and especially VJ for the Wizards. But it looks like Ace might end up in Washington, which has a disaster written all over it.
Ace wants to be a chucker.
Wiz won’t impede Bilal’s development they shipped Deni out for that. And he’d have to play the 4.
Nets could be a landing spot if they move Cam Johnson… Cam Thomas can teach him the way of the Chucker.
Raptors are full at wing. Rockets are big game hunting. So they may move this pick. So if he gets to 10 he has lost almost 25M I guaranteed money.
He should go to the sixers and model his play after Paul George’s
Prophetic take im beginning to think, although I prefer vj. Bailey has the potential to become the best player in this draft and come back to bite in the mode of Tatum,if they pass on Ace, IMO.
Bailey is Kevin Durant after improving his shooting accuracy
Only one thing needed
Bailey should be #1 pick overall
If his FG% is
47, 37, 87
Big F
Agree with Sullivan
the NBA is a joke haha
Kon knueppel to jazz is a lock , after all, he’s white
The earth may fall off axis if jazz don’t add him to augment their longstanding white boy ethos