The draft is very important for rebuilding teams, regardless of sport. Some teams perennially rebuild, and some retool. Some, like the Spurs, have an actual plan to get on the path they want to be on. They are on that journey now and have used these last several years to rebuild.
They were looking to speed this rebuild up, as they were playing quality basketball until Wembanyama’s injury earlier this season. With that devastating blow, it appears that the Spurs have turned their focus towards the upcoming NBA draft, as the playoffs are no longer a viable option.
With possibly two lottery picks, the Spurs are in a great position to be able to poach the player they feel best fits the Silver and Black culture the organization has built over the last 30 years.
That player is Rutgers’ freshman forward Ace Bailey
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For those unfamiliar with Ace Bailey, he’s a freshman wunderkind for the struggling Big Ten team from Piscataway. Bailey (along with freshman Dylan Harper) was a top-five recruit in the country this past season, and the five-star player committed to play for Coach Steve Pikiell.
Bailey excelled in high school, winning Georgia state player of the year his senior season, and was named a McDonald’s All-American.
Ace is arguably the most versatile player in the country. At 6’10”, Bailey can play guard or forward, playing on the wing most of the time. If need be, he’ll play on the block. His offensive acumen is paramount in his game, as he's one of the NCAA's most impactful scorers (17.6), sitting in the top ten among freshmen.
The Rutgers wing is also an excellent passer, able to look over smaller defenders, and can block shots on the defensive end when needed.
Bailey’s ability to play any position on the floor epitomizes the positionless basketball of today’s NBA. He’d be an asset to whatever team drafts him—likely a top-three in the upcoming draft.
The question then turns to where he fits with the Silver and Black. Bailey becomes another dynamic piece that the Spurs add to continue building with. With the addition of the Scarlet Knights star, the Spurs will have size at all levels and multiple players who can score seemingly at will.
They already have Castle and Wembanyama as building blocks. Adding Bailey strengthens that young core—which still includes veterans like Sochan, Vassell, and elder statesman Keldon Johnson.
The addition of Bailey helps to allow Sochan to focus on what he does best- play defense—while not having to be overly impactful offensively. Adding Bailey provides the Spurs another big who will impact the opponents’ shot selection. Bailey also presents a matchup that other teams can’t ignore, as he’ll likely have the size advantage against anyone he plays while playing the 2 or 3.
Acquiring Bailey won’t be an easy task. [If the Spurs continue their swoon](https://airalamo.com/potential-date-fox-inevitable-surgery-lead-good-things-spurs), their odds of obtaining a top-three pick will be better than they are now. They’ll have two first-round picks, and they'll possibly both be in the lottery. They could package those picks to move up. The prudent move is to make this deal as the draft gets closer so they can judge where teams stand on Bailey’s ability as opposed to the other top prospects.
The Spurs have made great decisions for years now. They’ve acquired these picks and players over the past few seasons to [have the assets](https://airalamo.com/spurs-updated-draft-picks-after-genius-deaaron-fox-trade) to move up and select a player like Bailey. Whatever path they decide to take, they'll make the right call.