Saturday Shake-Up: Ace Bailey’s Power Play, Charlotte’s Trade Talks and the Nets’ Allure
With four days to go, the top of the draft is full of questions, rumors, and shifting priorities.
Draft Chess or Chaos? Bailey’s Camp Draws Praise, Pushback, and Plenty of Eyes
This is a rare Saturday edition for me—but, hey, the NBA Draft is just four days away. There’s not a lot of time to rest when the phones are buzzing and the news cycle refuses to slow down. And over the last 72 hours, one name has completely taken over the headlines: Ace Bailey.
The Rutgers wing made waves Wednesday night when he canceled a scheduled workout with the Philadelphia 76ers, who currently hold the No. 3 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Bailey was widely projected to be the No. 3 pick from the moment the lottery order was finalized last month. But that projection has started to look shakier by the day. VJ Edgecombe has emerged as a real possibility at No. 3, and Bailey’s decision to pull out of the workout has only added fuel to the fire.
Sources I’ve spoken to insist the Sixers could still go with Bailey. According to one agent:
“[Daryl] Morey doesn’t care about all that noise. If he wants Ace, then that’s exactly who he’s going to take.”
But not every agent shares that optimism. One who represents a projected lottery pick didn’t mince words:
“Ace is f****ing the draft order up.”