Ace Bailey’s draft stock has become one of the biggest storylines heading into Wednesday’s NBA Draft. The Rutgers prospect was initially projected as a top-three pick, but he has slipped across multiple mock drafts in recent weeks. Will Bailey slide like Shedeur Sanders did during the NFL Draft?
The Athletic’s NBA insider Sam Vecenie reported that sources describe Bailey as “a bit immature” and noted that the 6-foot-8 small forward has “struggled with focus.” Bailey didn’t work out for any teams heading into the draft, canceling a scheduled visit with the Philadelphia 76ers just days before it was set to take place.
“His pre-draft interviews with teams at the NBA Draft Combine did not go particularly well, as it seemed like he went into them a bit ill-prepared for what was being asked of him, according to sources,” Vecenie noted.
Ace Bailey
Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Bailey’s pre-draft interview struggles echo what happened with Sanders, who fell to the fifth round before the Cleveland Browns selected him. NFL insiders reported that Sanders’ pre-draft interviews went poorly and that several teams had negative experiences with him. Teams place significant weight on these face-to-face meetings, using them to gauge maturity, IQ, and overall readiness for the professional level.
Bailey is only 18 and has “questionable representation,” according to Vecenie. His agent is Omar Cooper, who previously represented top-five pick Isaac Okoro in 2020. Okoro eventually left Cooper for Excel Sports Management.
Vecenie suggested that Cooper is either “steering Bailey toward a desired location, or he’s bungled the process and will cause an unplanned slide for Bailey on draft night.”
The concerns extend beyond representation issues. Vecenie outlined the fundamental question facing Bailey’s draft prospects.
“The reality is that he just might not be for everyone,” Vecenie wrote. “Bailey is entering the NBA as an 18-year-old and with a game that certainly presents myriad skills as a shotmaker but has an unpolished overall skill set on defense and an inability to consistently read the court. NBA teams are willing to wait for stars to emerge. But they can’t wait forever. The question with Bailey isn’t whether he’ll mature or develop his game; it’s whether he’ll mature and develop fast enough so that the team that selects him is the one that gets the most out of him.”
Despite the slide, Vecenie doesn’t expect Bailey to fall beyond the Washington Wizards at No. 5. The Wizards could pair him with Alex Sarr and Bilal Coulibaly to establish a promising young core alongside veterans Khris Middleton and Marcus Smart.
Bailey’s talent remains undeniable, but questions about maturity and preparation have created uncertainty around his draft position. Unlike Sanders, who had to wait until the third day of the NFL Draft, Bailey likely won’t fall that far. Still, teams will weigh his potential against the risk of selecting a player who may not be ready for the immediate demands of the NBA.
Matt Higgins worked in national and local news for 15 years. He started out as an overnight production assistant ... More about Matt Higgins