There's often at least one expected top lottery prospect who faces a precipitous draft fall.
In 2025, that could be Rutgers wing Airious "Ace" Bailey.
In a fresh ESPN mock draft co-written with Jeremy Woo, NBA draft expert Jonathan Givony reports that Bailey has rejected several calls to audition for teams expected to select within the top five — and has, in fact, not worked out for anyone. As such, he is in jeopardy of falling out of the top tier of the 2025 NBA Draft.
Ace Bailey Dylan Harper
Oct 17, 2024; Piscataway, NJ, USA;Rutgers Scarlet Knights guards Airious Bailey (4) and Dylan Harper (2) get ready to grab a rebound in the first half against the St. John's Red Storm at Jersey Mike's Arena.
© Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Now, Givony and Woo project that Bailey will tumble out of the top five this year, and get selected with the No. 6 pick by the Washington Wizards.
The 6-foot-10 All-Big Ten honoree boasts the ceiling and on-court freshman season production that would otherwise merit him being a top-three pick. In 30 games for Rutgers, Bailey averaged 17.6 points on .460/.346/.692 shooting splits, 7.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists per bout.
“Bailey's predraft workout strategy has perplexed some observers, as he has yet to conduct a single known workout to date, having declined invitations from several teams within his draft range," Givony writes of the former Scarlet Knights shooting guard/small forward. "Sources say Bailey's camp has informed interested teams that they believe he is a top-3 player in the draft, but also seeks a clear pathway to stardom, perhaps feeling comfortable that a team will trade up to get him at Nos. 3 or 4, should he drop.”
Givony adds that Bailey's interviews during the 2025 NBA Draft Combine may have turned off interested parties.
Now, Baylor Bears swingman V.J. Edgecombe has emerged as the “leader in the clubhouse” to be drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers with the No. 3 overall pick, per Givony.