The Wizards, Pelicans, and Nets are all eyeing a move up the draft board to snag Rutgers star Ace Bailey, according to Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer.
With the NBA draft just days away, teams are scrambling to position themselves for top talent. The first two picks seem locked in – Cooper Flagg to Dallas and Dylan Harper to San Antonio.
But things get interesting at pick #3.
Bailey, once considered a can’t-miss top-three prospect, might be sliding down draft boards due to some behind-the-scenes maneuvering by his representatives.
His agent, Omar Cooper, reportedly wanted the 76ers to commit to selecting Bailey before he’d even work out for them. That bold strategy isn’t sitting well with some NBA executives.
“Bailey, once a consensus top-three pick, probably will drop in the draft because of his agency’s tactics,” one league executive told Pompey.
There’s more to the story, though. Another executive revealed Bailey’s team has made it clear they want him playing “somewhere between Atlanta and New York” on the East Coast.
Sources say the 18-year-old’s camp has also told interested teams that the Chattanooga native wants “ample minutes and usage to maximize his full potential.”
Draft Day Maneuvering
The Wizards, Pelicans, and Nets – holding picks 6, 7, and 8 – appear ready to make a move up.
Philadelphia sits in the catbird seat with the third pick, and they’re reportedly open to dealing it “for the right deal.”
“The Sixers scouted several Rutgers games this season and interviewed the 18-year-old at last month’s NBA draft combine in Chicago. So they have a pretty good idea of how his talents will translate,” Pompey wrote.
The third pick could bring in a variety of prospects beyond Bailey. VJ Edgecombe, Tre Johnson, and Kon Knueppel are all in the mix, with Jeremiah Fears, Khaman Maluach, and Derik Queen potentially in consideration too.
Bailey brings an intriguing skill set to the table. At 6-foot-10 and 210 pounds, he’s got the size to play forward but the skills of a guard.
He was a consensus five-star recruit coming out of high school, where he showcased his talents in prestigious events like the McDonald’s All-American Game, Jordan Brand Classic, and Nike Hoop Summit.
His freshman season at Rutgers was pretty impressive. Bailey averaged 17.6 points and 7.2 rebounds while adding 1.3 blocks per game.
He finished 14th in points (527) in the Big Ten, grabbed the 13th most rebounds (215), and ranked 11th in blocks (38).
That performance earned him a spot on the Big Ten All-Freshman team.
We’ll see how it all plays out when the first round of the NBA draft kicks off this Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET.
