In his one season on the collegiate scene, former Rutgers ahead Ace Bailey flashed a bouncy, two-way recreation — making him probably the most compelling prospects within the 2025 NBA Draft.
Standing at 6-foot-10, the previous five-star recruit flaunted a capability to attain from the perimeter, off the dribble and sky above the rim, all whereas inflicting havoc on the defensive finish. Bailey averaged 17.6 factors, 7.2 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and one steal per recreation, whereas capturing 46.0/34.6/69.2 throughout 30 video games.
That stated, listed below are the highest three NBA matches for Bailey.
The 76ers missed the playoffs for the primary time in eight years this season. (Picture by Mitchell Leff/Getty Photos)
The 76ers lacking the playoffs this season was an exaggeration of what their roster is. Joel Embiid and Paul George’s accidents put them behind the eight-ball from the soar, and Tyrese Maxey lacking substantial time was an additional intestine punch. One silver lining for Philadelphia is it now has the third total choose, and Bailey could be an incredible addition.
Bailey would seemingly start subsequent season on Philadelphia’s bench, because it has George and a handful of rotation forwards already on its roster. Talking of George, there are similarities in Bailey’s and George’s frames (6-foot-8), and so they’re every succesful shooters who play at each ends of the ground. George may very well be an ideal mentor for Bailey, and if the previous misses time, the latter steps within the 76ers’ beginning 5.
With Maxey and George again, Quentin Grimes, who broke out to common 21.9 factors per recreation throughout his 28 contests with the crew this season, a wholesome Jared McCain (2024 first-rounder) and Bailey, the 76ers would have sufficient to contend for a top-eight seed within the Jap Convention. In the event that they get Embiid, who will seemingly miss the majority of subsequent season as a consequence of a knee harm, again, then the 76ers would have a preventing probability to make a playoff run.
Plus, likelihood is the 76ers will entertain attempting to maneuver off one or each of George and Embiid if they do not bounce again subsequent season. One 12 months from now, a core of Maxey, Bailey, Grimes — if retained — and McCain could be a professional core for the 76ers to push ahead with, and possibly Embiid is one hundred pc by then.
What may get in the best way of Bailey being a long-term match for the 76ers is the problem they’re going to seemingly have attempting to commerce George ($52.9 million common annual worth) and Embiid ($64.3 million AAV) over the subsequent 12 months, given their continual harm historical past and contracts; Bailey may very well be blocked from enjoying into his potential for the majority of his rookie contract.
The Nets went 26-56 this season. (Picture by Sarah Stier/Getty Photos)
The Nets may gain advantage from Bailey doubtlessly getting out of the highest 5, a situation which may very well be unfolding with the still-18-year-old reportedly but to exercise for any crew. Whether or not it is a commerce up a pair spots from No. 8 (the Nets have picks No. 8, 19, 26 and 27 within the first spherical) or him falling to them at No. 8, Bailey could be a home-run choice for Brooklyn.
Working underneath the mindset that Cam Thomas, Brooklyn’s main scorer over the previous two seasons, is re-signed, the Nets nonetheless want one other participant who can get buckets, and Bailey is anyone who can accomplish that. He may begin in Brooklyn’s frontcourt alongside Cameron Johnson, a main commerce candidate, and massive man Nic Claxton, giving the Nets an athletic scorer with peak.
The Nets had been a good defensive unit of their first season underneath head coach Jordi Fernandez, however they had been additionally twenty ninth within the NBA in area objective share (43.7%) and tied for final in scoring (105.1 factors per recreation). They want one other convicted scorer who can get the ball within the cup in quite a lot of methods.
Brooklyn affords Bailey the possibility to be a featured a part of its offense. Bailey can work out the kinks in his recreation in a high-minute function on a crew the place he may finally turn into its centerpiece. The Nets, who’re projected to have probably the most cap area within the NBA at north of $50 million, may draft Bailey after which deal with signing a degree guard in free company (Josh Giddey? Davion Mitchell?) to get the geese in a row.
Bailey and the Nets are a match. The issue for Brooklyn is that if Bailey does not slide and subsequently prices a haul to maneuver up and draft; buying and selling a number of future first-rounders, which is what a crew buying and selling down would seemingly need, in addition to the No. 8 choose, is not within the Nets’ finest curiosity given their lack of long-term solutions outdoors of Thomas and Claxton.
The Wizards have gained a mixed 33 video games over the previous two seasons. (Picture by G Fiume/Getty Photos)
Washington has a variety of respectable younger gamers, however it was nonetheless final within the Jap Convention final season, and one may argue that it does not have a younger participant with the upside to turn into a No. 1 scorer. If the Wizards draft Bailey, they’ve that.
Alex Sarr is a tantalizing massive man who blocks photographs at a excessive stage, hits the boards and may put the ball on the ground; Bilal Coulibaly performs at each ends of the ground and has gotten extra productive; Bub Carrington and Kyshawn George had scoring spurts of their respective rookie seasons; Corey Kispert is a gradual shooter. Throw Bailey within the combine, and all these expertise begin to complement one another, as there is a layered scorer to take consideration off the remainder of the crew.
If Jordan Poole continues to be a longtime main scorer for Washington, there is a cheap probability he is moved when the franchise can get one or a number of unprotected first-round picks for him in a commerce. Plus, with Kyle Kuzma being traded in February, the aforementioned situation unfolding makes it crucial for the Wizards to have a budding participant who can carry a considerable scoring load.
There’s zero assure that Bailey, his Rutgers teammate Dylan Harper or seemingly No. 1 choose Cooper Flagg will pan out. It is about what crew you are drafted by as a lot as it’s the particular person participant’s arsenal. Bailey had a formidable freshman season, however he was simply scratching the floor of his potential. A 6-foot-10, 210-pound ahead who can rating off the dribble, has a succesful jumper and the wingspan to trigger issues on the opposite finish of the ground is a tough talent set to go up.
In fact, the uncooked nature of Bailey’s recreation at his dimension is the possibility for offensive inefficiency and his 3-pointer seemingly taking time to develop within the NBA. That stated, if Bailey constantly assaults the rack and will get to the free-throw line, the Wizards may have a franchise participant. He offers them a expertise to boast about.
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