NBA Execs Reportedly Have 'Varying Levels of Confidence' About Ace Bailey's Ceiling
Less than a month before the 2025 NBA draft, NBA executives don't seem close to reaching a consensus on projected top-five pick Ace Bailey.
Jeremy Woo of ESPN reported that Bailey has been "polarizing" for team executives this season and that the lack of a shared view has held him back from being the clear option for the Philadelphia 76ers at No. 3 overall.
"Bailey has remained polarizing for NBA executives all season, with the wide understanding that he'll need time to adjust before contributing winning minutes on a good team," Woo wrote. "There are varying levels of confidence around the NBA as to whether he will reach his ceiling ultimately, creating a layer of risk that has held him back from becoming the consensus option at No. 3."
The 18-year-old has a 6'10", 210-pound frame and just finished his only collegiate season at Rutgers. Bailey averaged 17.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists across 30 games. He was named to the All-Big Ten and Big Ten All-Freshman teams.
Despite his personal success, the Scarlet Knights finished 15-17 and missed the NCAA tournament. While he could have elected to run it back and lead the program to the tournament for the first time since 2022, he will instead move to the NBA and be a beacon of hope for a team that struggled in 2024-25.
Duke's Cooper Flagg and fellow Rutgers teammate Dylan Harper were projected to be selected ahead of Bailey by Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman, with Bailey coming off the board third ahead of VJ Edgecombe.
The first round of the 2025 NBA draft is set for June 25 in Brooklyn.
