NBA Draft Rumors, Hearsay, Hints, Allegations, And Things Left Unsaid: The Bailey Conundrum

What's the floor?

Photo by Chinh Le Duc on Unsplash

Ace Bailey cancelled a workout for the Sixers. That does not prevent them from being able to take him. His being stingy with workouts doesn’t prevent any team from taking him with their pick. He can do what he wants, and he’ll have to go where he’s drafted.

But with Bailey, these are not new questions or issues. He’s a player that I’ve heard this phrase a lot about, “(Team) hopes he’s not there when they pick.” He’s too good to disregard, too complicated to ignore the concerns about. ¹

If Ace Bailey Starts Sliding, Where Does It Stop?

Let’s start with the reality that, because there is so much smoke and nonsense this time of year, making bold proclamations is unwise. Actual executives, draft consultants, and league personnel are routinely surprised by draft selections enough to avoid suggesting that anything is certain.

• The Sixers could just take Bailey at No.3. Just a simple decision based on the best talent available. He would dislike it for any number of reasons, but tough luck, kid, this is where you’re at, so you had better make the best of it.

• Another team can trade up to No.3 or No.4 and take him. The Sixers need big upgrades for a contending core, which makes it harder. But if they pass on him, Charlotte is willing to move back if they can still get one of the guys on their board. That gets more difficult if it’s a team outside the top 8-10; they aren’t going to want to drop too far.

• Again, under Best Talent Available, it’s reasonable for Washington, New Orleans, Brooklyn, or Toronto to just take him.

But if the Sixers take a very reasonable approach and say “OK, if you don’t want to be here, no problem” and no one gives up a pretty considerable amount for that pick, then what?

Charlotte makes the least sense for him. LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and then Bailey? Best Talent Available doesn’t make sense if you already took Best Talent Available at his role in previous drafts.

They can move back, but the Wizards are most consistently cited as the team that might move up with them… is it to get Bailey? You can justify that; I like their young core but I’m a sicko and there’s a space for Bailey if they trade Jordan Poole. He can be the face of the franchise. I would hate that outcome because I think they can build a more modern NBA team with versatility, but it’s hard to argue with the Wizards’ need to take shots like that for a star.

But let’s say they don’t trade up, and they go with Jeremiah Fears, Egor Demin, or Tre Johnson.

Utah at 5 was a really intriguing fit. There have been reports of Utah looking to trade up for that third pick. I think that was likely changed when Austin Ainge was hired and took over operations.

Here’s where the drop gets crazy, after Wizards 6.