NBA Draft Insider shares update on Ace Bailey, likely landing spot as rumors of fall heat up

You don’t often see a prospect trying to fall out of the top-five of his draft. That’s what Rutgers’ Ace Bailey is reportedly looking to do, though, as he continues to confuse some experts and scouts going into the start of the first round on Wednesday.

ESPN’s Jonathan Givony appeared on ESPN Bet Live on Monday to share the latest he had on Bailey going into the 2025 NBA Draft. He says the Wizards at No. 6, Pelicans at No. 7, and Nets at No. 8 continue to come up as his apparent preferences, looking for the perfect fit for him with “geography, minutes, role, opportunity and development” wrote Givony, over the 76ers at No. 3, Hornets at No. 4, or Jazz at No. 5. However, that wouldn’t necessarily rule out him being the selection, whether to keep him or trade him elsewhere, for either Philadelphia, Charlotte, or Utah.

“(Washington) is what we understand to be one of his preferred destinations. Six, seven, or eight – Washington, New Orleans, or Brooklyn. He has declined all invites, invitations from Philadelphia at three, like we’ve said, Charlotte at four, and Utah at five,” said Givony. “Today, we started hearing some rumblings that one of those teams at four or five could just decide to take Ace Bailey with their pick regardless, potentially for a trade. Maybe one of those teams at six, seven, or eight decides to make an aggressive move. Does Washington decided to move to four, you know, to get ahead of New Orleans or Brooklyn? Both of those teams have the assets to move up if they want. So I could really see Ace Bailey anywhere in that four through six range right now.”

As a prospect, Bailey is right there in the conversation in the top-five, if not the top-three behind only Duke’s Cooper Flagg and his college teammate in Dylan Harper. Still, while he’ll be there at three and would be a good projected fit for them, all indications are Bailey doesn’t want to be a 76er, making way for someone like Baylor’s VJ Edgecombe to possibly go at No. 3.

“Ace Bailey had a workout scheduled in Philadelphia, cancelled it and is really sending the signals that he does not want to be there in Philadelphia,” Givony said.

Bailey averaged 17.6 points (46% FG, 34.6% 3PT on 1.6 makes), 7.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.3 blocks, and 1.0 steals per game this season for the Scarlet Knights as a selection to the All-Big Ten Third Team and Freshman Team. That resumé, paired with his potential and possible development, should have him no lower than third-best in this class. That said, these concerns, especially recently in the pre-draft process, has him sliding down several slots.

Over the last week, On3’s James Fletcher, ESPN, and CBS Sports have all mocked Bailey down to No. 6 to Washington. That one at ESPN was done by Givony and Jeremy Woo on Monday with them noting much of the same regarding the situation surrounding Bailey.

“Bailey…(is) continuing to decline workout invites from Philadelphia, Charlotte and Utah, and seemingly preferring the group of teams ranked outside the top five, specifically Washington, New Orleans and Brooklyn at Nos. 6-7-8. This type of slide could cost him $10-15 million if it happens. Bailey’s camp states they ‘feel confident going into the draft process’, which most NBA teams interpret as meaning he has received assurances of being selected by a team considered more advantageous to Bailey in the long term,” Givony wrote. “Despite the negative publicity this move has generated, rival agents are closely monitoring Bailey’s strategy, recognizing the clear benefits of guiding clients to more favorable situations with an eye on maximizing long-term earning potential. Bailey could potentially recoup the money he loses in his first contract with a much larger second contract, especially if he achieves his very high ceiling as an All-Star-caliber shotmaking wing.“

We’ll have to see how this plays out with Bailey able to go several different places, whether to the teams with those picks or in a trade. Even so, it’s clear that there’s a lot going on behind the scenes and in draft rooms when it comes to him as a prospect.