2024-2025 College Basketball / NBA Draft

[Covi_Marsh]

Tapping into my Nico Harrison state of mind; tiered draft board as of May 14th, 2025:

T1: Cooper Flagg

T2: Dylan Harper

T3: VJ Edgecombe, Kon Knueppel, Khaman Maluach

T4: Collin Murray-Boyles Noa Essengue, Jase Richardson, Labaron Philon

T5: Nique Clifford, Adou Thiero, Ryan Kalkbrenner, Carter Bryant, Thomas Sorber, Walter Clayton JR

T6: Asa Newell, "Ace" Bailey, Jeremiah Fears, Tre Johnson, Miles Bird, Rasheer Fleming, Hansen Yang, Derik Queen, Noah Penda

Why Ace get quotes ? Lol. You really hate him. VJ can’t shoot off dribble or create either. He’s a 6’4 wing. Rich man Zhaire Smith

[stormi]

Tapping into my Nico Harrison state of mind; tiered draft board as of May 14th, 2025:

T1: Cooper Flagg

T2: Dylan Harper

T3: VJ Edgecombe, Kon Knueppel, Khaman Maluach

T4: Collin Murray-Boyles Noa Essengue, Jase Richardson, Labaron Philon

T5: Nique Clifford, Adou Thiero, Ryan Kalkbrenner, Carter Bryant, Thomas Sorber, Walter Clayton JR

T6: Asa Newell, "Ace" Bailey, Jeremiah Fears, Tre Johnson, Miles Bird, Rasheer Fleming, Hansen Yang, Derik Queen, Noah Penda

Why Ace get quotes ? Lol. You really hate him. VJ can’t shoot off dribble or create either. He’s a 6’4 wing. Rich man Zhaire Smith

Zhaire Smith was a small ball 5 masquerading as an on the ball guard. Sounds a lot like Mr. Bailey actually.

He might have the worst feel for the game in this entire class, including centers.

Dribbling into traffic and chucking up some bull because he got clamped is the foundation of his game

[stormi]

Every player drafted in the first round that has had an assist rate less than 10% and with a usage rate of 25% or higher (since 2008)



The company seems about right, he's another hyper-athletic & low skilled small ball five. Maybe Morey can turn him into Capela and PJ Tucker all in one.

[Covi_Marsh]

Brother, I'd take half the STL% and half the AST% and be fine with taking him. I just wish he didn't have an entire season's sample size of being a massive coward going to the rim.

I wish I could see his stats if I removed March and February. But I'd also like to ask him why he phoned in February and March to such an egregious amount. Even Ben, a guy who made a documentary about how little he cared about playing college ball, still played at a fairly elite level in his final month at LSU. Ace's stats were downright putrid.

I will say he’s a stick. He did attack the rim if he could get a jump on pump fake or a close out where he could get past. But if the lane wasn’t there he was easily hand checked from the rim. the nba regular season, you can flop your way to the FT when your lane is cut off lol. He needs to gain weight tho to attack through contact.

True, and in that regard we can talk about Kevin Durant, a guy who couldn't do the bench (when they did it at the combine) even once. He was painfully weak and skinny. Brandon Ingram is another stickman.

Durant: .396 FTr
Ingram: .351 FTr
Tatum: .381 FTr

Ace Bailey: .243 FTr

If we're going to compare him to some greats, then lets be brutally honest about him and not make excuses for him. He was handed the keys to do whatever he wanted with another top 3 recruit and he sputtered, personally and as a team. There's evaluation in that very fact. All three of those guys were on winning teams and went to the tourney.

Michael Beasley and Bill Walker might be the closest comparison (2 blue chip recruits going to a whatever program for one year) and they made it to the tourney with Beasley putting up historic freshmen numbers definitely worthy of a top 3 pick. I guess Ace is the Bill Walker in this scenario?

I'm really trying to go down the rabbit hole to see what prospect he was like. He really is a product of the modern game where it's cool to be a very tough shotmaker, but the tough shotmakers All NBA guys didn't start like that; they built their game on getting easy buckets at the rim and/or foul line. Emoni Bates? Shabazz Muhammad? He's uniquely outside of every indicator I look for in a star.

His first 19 games showed a top 3 pick. Idk what happened last 11. t the very least he can shoot unlike those athletic freaks who were rim runners. But in regard to the 3 talents you said, KD is a generational talent but Duke gives you roles and runs plays to show your talent. Rutgers were playing street ball. I think he would have produced more at Duke. He basically was out there playing his high school style which was also freestyle if since he didn’t got to a prep school

[Covi_Marsh]

Tapping into my Nico Harrison state of mind; tiered draft board as of May 14th, 2025:

T1: Cooper Flagg

T2: Dylan Harper

T3: VJ Edgecombe, Kon Knueppel, Khaman Maluach

T4: Collin Murray-Boyles Noa Essengue, Jase Richardson, Labaron Philon

T5: Nique Clifford, Adou Thiero, Ryan Kalkbrenner, Carter Bryant, Thomas Sorber, Walter Clayton JR

T6: Asa Newell, "Ace" Bailey, Jeremiah Fears, Tre Johnson, Miles Bird, Rasheer Fleming, Hansen Yang, Derik Queen, Noah Penda

Why Ace get quotes ? Lol. You really hate him. VJ can’t shoot off dribble or create either. He’s a 6’4 wing. Rich man Zhaire Smith

Zhaire Smith was a small ball 5 masquerading as an on the ball guard. Sounds a lot like Mr. Bailey actually.

He might have the worst feel for the game in this entire class, including centers.

Dribbling into traffic and chucking up some bull is the foundation of his game

What 6’9 wing dribbles in traffic outside of Durant? Chucking in traffic was his game because they needed scoring and they weren’t coached to run plays. He produced in catch in shoot and off ball action. Guys you are high on had screens set for them and ran actions. Kon nor VJ can create without a screen. Von shooting numbers were worse and Kon was in a good system. Kon Iq is probably the best but he is limited Ty his athleticism. He is Joe Ingles.

[Negrodamus]

I will say he’s a stick. He did attack the rim if he could get a jump on pump fake or a close out where he could get past. But if the lane wasn’t there he was easily hand checked from the rim. the nba regular season, you can flop your way to the FT when your lane is cut off lol. He needs to gain weight tho to attack through contact.

True, and in that regard we can talk about Kevin Durant, a guy who couldn't do the bench (when they did it at the combine) even once. He was painfully weak and skinny. Brandon Ingram is another stickman.

Durant: .396 FTr
Ingram: .351 FTr
Tatum: .381 FTr

Ace Bailey: .243 FTr

If we're going to compare him to some greats, then lets be brutally honest about him and not make excuses for him. He was handed the keys to do whatever he wanted with another top 3 recruit and he sputtered, personally and as a team. There's evaluation in that very fact. All three of those guys were on winning teams and went to the tourney.

Michael Beasley and Bill Walker might be the closest comparison (2 blue chip recruits going to a whatever program for one year) and they made it to the tourney with Beasley putting up historic freshmen numbers definitely worthy of a top 3 pick. I guess Ace is the Bill Walker in this scenario?

I'm really trying to go down the rabbit hole to see what prospect he was like. He really is a product of the modern game where it's cool to be a very tough shotmaker, but the tough shotmakers All NBA guys didn't start like that; they built their game on getting easy buckets at the rim and/or foul line. Emoni Bates? Shabazz Muhammad? He's uniquely outside of every indicator I look for in a star.

His first 19 games showed a top 3 pick. Idk what happened last 11. t the very least he can shoot unlike those athletic freaks who were rim runners. But in regard to the 3 talents you said, KD is a generational talent but Duke gives you roles and runs plays to show your talent. Rutgers were playing street ball. I think he would have produced more at Duke. He basically was out there playing his high school style which was also freestyle if since he didn’t got to a prep school

Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz were coached by the most dog **** coaches in the country. Those teams had zero cohesion and they played however they wanted all the way to the first overall pick.

I mean, the guy getting selected right above him has the stats that I'm comfortable spending a 2nd or third pick on. Same street ball. He imposed his will on the offense and it worked for him. Ace actually played more mpg than Harper and shot the ball more.

So we have a guy who didn't bang the team into the way he saw fit. He gave up in Feb and March. And the Sixers are the team that's supposed to "fix" him rather than him come here to fix us? I just don't get the allure.

[Covi_Marsh]

True, and in that regard we can talk about Kevin Durant, a guy who couldn't do the bench (when they did it at the combine) even once. He was painfully weak and skinny. Brandon Ingram is another stickman.

Durant: .396 FTr
Ingram: .351 FTr
Tatum: .381 FTr

Ace Bailey: .243 FTr

If we're going to compare him to some greats, then lets be brutally honest about him and not make excuses for him. He was handed the keys to do whatever he wanted with another top 3 recruit and he sputtered, personally and as a team. There's evaluation in that very fact. All three of those guys were on winning teams and went to the tourney.

Michael Beasley and Bill Walker might be the closest comparison (2 blue chip recruits going to a whatever program for one year) and they made it to the tourney with Beasley putting up historic freshmen numbers definitely worthy of a top 3 pick. I guess Ace is the Bill Walker in this scenario?

I'm really trying to go down the rabbit hole to see what prospect he was like. He really is a product of the modern game where it's cool to be a very tough shotmaker, but the tough shotmakers All NBA guys didn't start like that; they built their game on getting easy buckets at the rim and/or foul line. Emoni Bates? Shabazz Muhammad? He's uniquely outside of every indicator I look for in a star.

His first 19 games showed a top 3 pick. Idk what happened last 11. t the very least he can shoot unlike those athletic freaks who were rim runners. But in regard to the 3 talents you said, KD is a generational talent but Duke gives you roles and runs plays to show your talent. Rutgers were playing street ball. I think he would have produced more at Duke. He basically was out there playing his high school style which was also freestyle if since he didn’t got to a prep school

Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz were coached by the most dog **** coaches in the country. Those teams had zero cohesion and they played however they wanted all the way to the first overall pick.

I mean, the guy getting selected right above him has the stats that I'm comfortable spending a 2nd or third pick on. Same street ball. He imposed his will on the offense and it worked for him. Ace actually played more mpg than Harper and shot the ball more.

So we have a guy who didn't bang the team into the way he saw fit. He gave up in Feb and March. And the Sixers are the team that's supposed to "fix" him rather than him come here to fix us? I just don't get the allure.

Well of course I prefer Flagg or Harper. Outside of them, who is going to fix us? Edgecombe, Kon , Tre? None of them will fix us. I don’t want a 100% role player. Give me a role player with upside.

[Covi_Marsh]

Kon is athletically limited although I like his IQ and shooting just not at 3 cuz the upside ceiling isn’t there. VJ Edgecombe shot worse than Bailey and Bailey was horrible his last 11 games. He can’t create as a guard. And he’s 20. He played guard his whole life. If he can’t create now he’s not going to just learn. He’s a 6’4 SF. Josh Hart without the rebounding. That’s valuable but again no upside.

[Negrodamus]

His first 19 games showed a top 3 pick. Idk what happened last 11. t the very least he can shoot unlike those athletic freaks who were rim runners. But in regard to the 3 talents you said, KD is a generational talent but Duke gives you roles and runs plays to show your talent. Rutgers were playing street ball. I think he would have produced more at Duke. He basically was out there playing his high school style which was also freestyle if since he didn’t got to a prep school

Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz were coached by the most dog **** coaches in the country. Those teams had zero cohesion and they played however they wanted all the way to the first overall pick.

I mean, the guy getting selected right above him has the stats that I'm comfortable spending a 2nd or third pick on. Same street ball. He imposed his will on the offense and it worked for him. Ace actually played more mpg than Harper and shot the ball more.

So we have a guy who didn't bang the team into the way he saw fit. He gave up in Feb and March. And the Sixers are the team that's supposed to "fix" him rather than him come here to fix us? I just don't get the allure.

Well of course I prefer Flagg or Harper. Outside of them, who is going to fix us? Edgecombe, Kon , Tre? None of them will fix us. I don’t want a 100% role player. Give me a role player with upside.

https://www.fiba.basketball/en/events/fiba-olympic-qualifying-tournament-2024-valencia-spain/teams/bahamas#statistics

16ppg, 6rpg, 4apg on a team with Buddy Hield, Deandre Ayton, and Eric Gordon. 3rd in scoring, 2nd in assists. Mind you, this was before going to Baylor.

He has star ability in there, but will take developing. He can play right away however as a high effort defender/slasher off the bench as he gets bigger and improves on his ball handling.

[Covi_Marsh]

His first 19 games showed a top 3 pick. Idk what happened last 11. t the very least he can shoot unlike those athletic freaks who were rim runners. But in regard to the 3 talents you said, KD is a generational talent but Duke gives you roles and runs plays to show your talent. Rutgers were playing street ball. I think he would have produced more at Duke. He basically was out there playing his high school style which was also freestyle if since he didn’t got to a prep school

Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz were coached by the most dog **** coaches in the country. Those teams had zero cohesion and they played however they wanted all the way to the first overall pick.

I mean, the guy getting selected right above him has the stats that I'm comfortable spending a 2nd or third pick on. Same street ball. He imposed his will on the offense and it worked for him. Ace actually played more mpg than Harper and shot the ball more.

So we have a guy who didn't bang the team into the way he saw fit. He gave up in Feb and March. And the Sixers are the team that's supposed to "fix" him rather than him come here to fix us? I just don't get the allure.

Well of course I prefer Flagg or Harper. Outside of them, who is going to fix us? Edgecombe, Kon , Tre? None of them will fix us. I don’t want a 100% role player. Give me a role player with upside.

Ben Simmons was a dog. I was happy with that pick. Who knew he wouldn’t wanna get his Ft down and was mentally weak. I never liked Fultz. His game was soft to me. Didn’t like Ball either. Didn’t watch Tatum to give an opinion on him. Ben did make all nba and was a 3x all star. His lack of getting better hurt him.

[ExplosionsInDaSky]

Bailey won't be expected to take all the crazy stupid shots if we draft him. He'll be a spot up shooter that's showcased as a 3&D player his first few years. The hope is that Bailey can develop on a winning team and eventually lead the way. I'm not opposed to taking him if that's the plan. Bailey and Edgecombe make the most sense if we're looking for high ceiling prospects that can contribute early as role players until they take the next step.
If you want more scoring and you want it now, you go Tre Johnson, but you're not getting the two-way star that you're potentially getting with Bailey or Edgecombe.

Are we looking at fit? Or are we looking for the best available talent? My assumption would be fit with a future due to the roster we have in place. IDK, I kind of hate this 3rd pick deal because it's essentially the pick that'll decide where all the others go. I hope there's a way for us to move up OR the Spurs pull a shocker and take someone else. A lot is left to be determined. We've got a month of workouts and interviews paired with rumors and hot takes. Draft night will be fun.

[Covi_Marsh]

Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz were coached by the most dog **** coaches in the country. Those teams had zero cohesion and they played however they wanted all the way to the first overall pick.

I mean, the guy getting selected right above him has the stats that I'm comfortable spending a 2nd or third pick on. Same street ball. He imposed his will on the offense and it worked for him. Ace actually played more mpg than Harper and shot the ball more.

So we have a guy who didn't bang the team into the way he saw fit. He gave up in Feb and March. And the Sixers are the team that's supposed to "fix" him rather than him come here to fix us? I just don't get the allure.

Well of course I prefer Flagg or Harper. Outside of them, who is going to fix us? Edgecombe, Kon , Tre? None of them will fix us. I don’t want a 100% role player. Give me a role player with upside.

https://www.fiba.basketball/en/events/fiba-olympic-qualifying-tournament-2024-valencia-spain/teams/bahamas#statistics

16ppg, 6rpg, 4apg on a team with Buddy Hield, Deandre Ayton, and Eric Gordon. 3rd in scoring, 2nd in assists. Mind you, this was before going to Baylor.

He has star ability in there, but will take developing. He can play right away however as a high effort defender/slasher off the bench as he gets bigger and improves on his ball handling.

Is that not his Baylor numbers? He still can’t get to the rim without a screen because he cant create either and his off dribble numbers are bad. And it’s worse because he’s been a guard all his life. He didn’t play big at any level.

[stormi]

Why Ace get quotes ? Lol. You really hate him. VJ can’t shoot off dribble or create either. He’s a 6’4 wing. Rich man Zhaire Smith

Zhaire Smith was a small ball 5 masquerading as an on the ball guard. Sounds a lot like Mr. Bailey actually.

He might have the worst feel for the game in this entire class, including centers.

Dribbling into traffic and chucking up some bull is the foundation of his game

What 6’9 wing dribbles in traffic outside of Durant? Chucking in traffic was his game because they needed scoring and they weren’t coached to run plays. He produced in catch in shoot and off ball action. Guys you are high on had screens set for them and ran actions. Kon nor VJ can create without a screen. Von shooting numbers were worse and Kon was in a good system. Kon Iq is probably the best but he is limited Ty his athleticism. He is Joe Ingles.

I don't want the pity card now. I want Amazing Ace to be held to some sort of standard here. We're not talking about a late lotto prospect, we're not talking about a pick in the 20s or a 2nd rounder. We're discussing the third overall pick.

The popular player for this pick is hitting all time lows in specific benchmarks: BPM, FTr, FT%, HC Rim Frequency %, Assist to Turnover etc and there's a precedent against players like this defying the odds.

You can blame Rutgers for this but in real time the guy next to him was in rare air with his unassisted slashing off the dribble company and had huge playmaking numbers. Harper actually had it worse because he had to play with Ace, while Ace got to play with Harper.

I genuinely don't think Ace will be able to contribute positively in a structured setting until he's in year 6 and buys into a supercharged 3&D role (barring the jumper comes around). He'll be a championship piece somewhere along the axis of Otto Porter and Andrew Wiggins to that Warriors team in 2022. Until then he'll be somewhere on a bad team shooting his teams out of games on huge usage ala Knicks Barrett / TWolves Wiggins.

Also, RESPECT Jinglin' Joe, I watched him walk down a Paul George that was 3rd in MVP voting in the playoffs for six straight games.

[Negrodamus]

Well of course I prefer Flagg or Harper. Outside of them, who is going to fix us? Edgecombe, Kon , Tre? None of them will fix us. I don’t want a 100% role player. Give me a role player with upside.

https://www.fiba.basketball/en/events/fiba-olympic-qualifying-tournament-2024-valencia-spain/teams/bahamas#statistics

16ppg, 6rpg, 4apg on a team with Buddy Hield, Deandre Ayton, and Eric Gordon. 3rd in scoring, 2nd in assists. Mind you, this was before going to Baylor.

He has star ability in there, but will take developing. He can play right away however as a high effort defender/slasher off the bench as he gets bigger and improves on his ball handling.

Is that not his Baylor numbers? He still can’t get to the rim without a screen because he cant create either and his off dribble numbers are bad. And it’s worse because he’s been a guard all his life. He didn’t play big at any level.

So he got his Baylor numbers before going to Baylor while playing against a bunch of pros? Bodes well for him working out in the league I suppose!

[AI_Efficiency]

Zhaire Smith was a small ball 5 masquerading as an on the ball guard. Sounds a lot like Mr. Bailey actually.

He might have the worst feel for the game in this entire class, including centers.

Dribbling into traffic and chucking up some bull is the foundation of his game

What 6’9 wing dribbles in traffic outside of Durant? Chucking in traffic was his game because they needed scoring and they weren’t coached to run plays. He produced in catch in shoot and off ball action. Guys you are high on had screens set for them and ran actions. Kon nor VJ can create without a screen. Von shooting numbers were worse and Kon was in a good system. Kon Iq is probably the best but he is limited Ty his athleticism. He is Joe Ingles.

I don't want the pity card now. I want Amazing Ace to be held to some sort of standard here. We're not talking about a late lotto prospect, we're not talking about a pick in the 20s or a 2nd rounder. We're discussing the third overall pick.

The popular player for this pick is hitting all time lows in specific benchmarks: BPM, FTr, FT%, HC Rim Frequency %, Assist to Turnover etc and there's a precedent against players like this defying the odds.

You can blame Rutgers for this but in real time the guy next to him was in rare air with his unassisted slashing off the dribble company and had huge playmaking numbers. Harper actually had it worse because he had to play with Ace, while Ace got to play with Harper.

I genuinely don't think Ace will be able to contribute positively in a structured setting until he's in year 6 and buys into a supercharged 3&D role (barring the jumper comes around). He'll be a championship piece somewhere along the axis of Otto Porter and Andrew Wiggins to that Warriors team in 2022. Until then he'll be somewhere on a bad team shooting his teams out of games on huge usage ala Knicks Barrett / TWolves Wiggins.

Also, RESPECT Jinglin' Joe, I watched him walk down a Paul George that was 3rd in MVP voting in the playoffs for six straight games.

Respectfully, I don’t understand the focus on Bailey’s offensive game. I didn’t watch him, but people that did seem to view him more as a defensive prospect, and we will hope that because he’s only 18 he could grow in other areas (plus he can hit an open 3 so he should be able to stay on the court). Here is an evaluation from the Ringer (they have him at 3 btw) and Jaden McDaniels is the comp.

“The worries about Bailey’s limitations in the face of pressure will be lessened if he creates a positive trade-off on the defensive end. Luckily, he’s already started on that path. He can really contort and sit as low as necessary to move with smaller handlers while also extending to dissuade would-be shooters as he’s closing on them. His supplemental rim protection is rare for a player of his size and offensive potential. Ace may be best suited to follow the example of Jaden McDaniels and leverage his physical tools to become a defensive terror—only, with much, much more to offer on offense. He still has the upside to develop into a primary option on offense, but if that doesn’t pan out, becoming a rangy merchant of havoc isn’t a bad fallback option.“

[Covi_Marsh]

Zhaire Smith was a small ball 5 masquerading as an on the ball guard. Sounds a lot like Mr. Bailey actually.

He might have the worst feel for the game in this entire class, including centers.

Dribbling into traffic and chucking up some bull is the foundation of his game

What 6’9 wing dribbles in traffic outside of Durant? Chucking in traffic was his game because they needed scoring and they weren’t coached to run plays. He produced in catch in shoot and off ball action. Guys you are high on had screens set for them and ran actions. Kon nor VJ can create without a screen. Von shooting numbers were worse and Kon was in a good system. Kon Iq is probably the best but he is limited Ty his athleticism. He is Joe Ingles.

I don't want the pity card now. I want Amazing Ace to be held to some sort of standard here. We're not talking about a late lotto prospect, we're not talking about a pick in the 20s or a 2nd rounder. We're discussing the third overall pick.

The popular player for this pick is hitting all time lows in specific benchmarks: BPM, FTr, FT%, HC Rim Frequency %, Assist to Turnover etc and there's a precedent against players like this defying the odds.

You can blame Rutgers for this but in real time the guy next to him was in rare air with his unassisted slashing off the dribble company and had huge playmaking numbers. Harper actually had it worse because he had to play with Ace, while Ace got to play with Harper.

I genuinely don't think Ace will be able to contribute positively in a structured setting until he's in year 6 and buys into a supercharged 3&D role (barring the jumper comes around). He'll be a championship piece somewhere along the axis of Otto Porter and Andrew Wiggins to that Warriors team in 2022. Until then he'll be somewhere on a bad team shooting his teams out of games on huge usage ala Knicks Barrett / TWolves Wiggins.

Also, RESPECT Jinglin' Joe, I watched him walk down a Paul George that was 3rd in MVP voting in the playoffs for six straight games.

Ehh I’ll just say this. Ace Bailey played big at public school and sorry Rutgers at 18 has better shooting numbers than VJ and had a bad 11 game stretch. VJ went to prep school, played for Bahamas, played guard his whole life and bout to be 20. He not going to learn to dribble at this point. Dylan Harper is way better than both of them. Less athletic, even ran slower then Bailey the the combine. But his dad his was an nba player and he went to a prep school. He understand how to get the player behind him and get to the rim. And it will only get easier for him in the league. But between Bailey and VJ I’m taking Bailey over a guard who had his whole life to learn to create cuz he played guard, and overseas.

[Covi_Marsh]

What 6’9 wing dribbles in traffic outside of Durant? Chucking in traffic was his game because they needed scoring and they weren’t coached to run plays. He produced in catch in shoot and off ball action. Guys you are high on had screens set for them and ran actions. Kon nor VJ can create without a screen. Von shooting numbers were worse and Kon was in a good system. Kon Iq is probably the best but he is limited Ty his athleticism. He is Joe Ingles.

I don't want the pity card now. I want Amazing Ace to be held to some sort of standard here. We're not talking about a late lotto prospect, we're not talking about a pick in the 20s or a 2nd rounder. We're discussing the third overall pick.

The popular player for this pick is hitting all time lows in specific benchmarks: BPM, FTr, FT%, HC Rim Frequency %, Assist to Turnover etc and there's a precedent against players like this defying the odds.

You can blame Rutgers for this but in real time the guy next to him was in rare air with his unassisted slashing off the dribble company and had huge playmaking numbers. Harper actually had it worse because he had to play with Ace, while Ace got to play with Harper.

I genuinely don't think Ace will be able to contribute positively in a structured setting until he's in year 6 and buys into a supercharged 3&D role (barring the jumper comes around). He'll be a championship piece somewhere along the axis of Otto Porter and Andrew Wiggins to that Warriors team in 2022. Until then he'll be somewhere on a bad team shooting his teams out of games on huge usage ala Knicks Barrett / TWolves Wiggins.

Also, RESPECT Jinglin' Joe, I watched him walk down a Paul George that was 3rd in MVP voting in the playoffs for six straight games.

Respectfully, I don’t understand the focus on Bailey’s offensive game. I didn’t watch him, but people that did seem to view him more as a defensive prospect, and we will hope that because he’s only 18 he could grow in other areas (plus he can hit an open 3 so he should be able to stay on the court). Here is an evaluation from the Ringer (they have him at 3 btw) and Jaden McDaniels is the comp.

“The worries about Bailey’s limitations in the face of pressure will be lessened if he creates a positive trade-off on the defensive end. Luckily, he’s already started on that path. He can really contort and sit as low as necessary to move with smaller handlers while also extending to dissuade would-be shooters as he’s closing on them. His supplemental rim protection is rare for a player of his size and offensive potential. Ace may be best suited to follow the example of Jaden McDaniels and leverage his physical tools to become a defensive terror—only, with much, much more to offer on offense. He still has the upside to develop into a primary option on offense, but if that doesn’t pan out, becoming a rangy merchant of havoc isn’t a bad fallback option.“

Offense is what will make him a star. I want to draft him because I believe he will be a great 3&D with a ceiling that could be more. This is a wing league now. And they are the hardest to find. I’m don’t want to draft Joe Ingles and Josh Hart ceiling guys because they can fit day 1.

[ExplosionsInDaSky]

I'll take Bailey over Edgecombe but it's by a slim margin. I really think as of now it comes down to those two with Tre Johnson flirtatiously hanging around. Maybe Kon makes a jump and we shock the world? IDK but I think it's between Ace, Edgecombe, and Johnson. Those three are Morey-Esque players.

[Negrodamus]

I’ll respectfully agree to disagree that Edgecombe is a non-creator. He definitely needs work in areas, but these be the cards we were dealt in this draft and there’s no clear cut stud at 3. He put together an insanely good advanced stats season as the main guy who played a mix of on and off ball. I won’t feel completely confident, but he might be the most confident ill feel of the options near 3.

[Jojothewhale]

I would hope we all realize what a mental leap it is to ask a player to go from what Bailey currently is to a Jaden McDaniels archetype.

I know he has a reputation as a hard worker. This is a completely different animal. You’re essentially asking him to give up on being a star and the future earnings and fame that come with it. And you want him to do this before he fails at it. I have no way of knowing how he would respond to it, but my point is that neither does anyone else including Bailey himself. That is quite the ask from a teenager.