2024-2025 College Basketball / NBA Draft

[sodmoraes]

May be hopium talking, but Bailey seems like a kid who can still grow a bit, not that makes a lot of difference, since he has good size already.

[Jailblazers7]

Based on all the analysis so far, I’m feeling pretty comfortable with a lot of potential outcomes because the draft is a strong one overall. There are 3-4 prospects I’d be happy with at 3 (I’ve come around on Ace a lot in recent days) and a trade down to the 5-10 range has a lot of appeal too. We’re in a strong position and I trust Morey so I’ll probably be relaxing until draft night.

[the_process]

Regarding insider questions on Ace and his personality. And their season. Not a lot, but.... The boy loves basketball. Works hard, infectious personality and good in locker room. He's a Leo, like myself and Anthony Edwards. There's a sense of arrogance, but it's just playful and comes from positivity and staying positive to lift yourself and keeping those you lead confident.

Watch on YouTube

It's Ace guys... Gotta be Ace

MPJ could be an all star now if he weren't drafted into a 4th option situation for a contender and his severe injuries. If MPJ were on the Warriors in that system to replace Klay.... whole new career. These things matter, and I need a refresher on how Dylan thrived and Ace didn't. I've made it a point to not bash any of these players to argue for one but they both had different roles and both overall individually performed well enough to be top 3 picks, and both lost more than people thought as a team.... And Dylan was the point guard and according to some the best player, but Ace gets the backlash for that disappointment.

Back to MPJ comp... to be clear... Besides the length and ability rise up over defenders without much ball handling.... There not the same players. MPJ today doesn't even come close to Ace's footwork to get shots off. Those difficult shots he takes are counters to defensive coverage and extra help. I agree that you don't want a steady diet of that on this team, but it's also next level stuff. Like Durant said... Ace has a better mid range game than he did coming into the league.

Learn handles and defense from George, learn mid post game and foul baiting from Joel. Maxey work ethic and you got Durant

Can't read into this too much; I question his bias as a guy who wants to keep his job.

This is written like it's coming from Ace's dad

[Negrodamus]

Ace Bailey is also 2 inches shorter, standing reach is an 1.5 lower and is 10lbs lighter (at time of combine) than MPJ. I feel like Porter is a natural size for PF while Ace will get abused and should only be defending wings at least early on.

Yea I mean, he's 18 and you'd project to him to be your future starting SF after sitting behind George for 1-2 years. Porter was also 1 year older when drafted than Ace is now.

I also think it's kinda silly we're getting caught up in Ace's height when: A) he'll be wearing shoes when he plays, like everyone else and B) his wingspan is 7'0.5"

I'm not getting caught up in his height, he's (6' 7.50'' w/o shoes) legitimately 2 inches shorter than Porter (6' 9.5'' w/o shoes).

[Negrodamus]

Watch on YouTube

I actually come away feeling like Riley is the more dynamic player on offense between him and Bailey. Does things off the dribble to get teammates involved or takes it himself. Bailey for sure makes more difficult shots though.

[Jojothewhale]

With Kasparas, when Im watching him, I’ve always doubt on how does he beat his man in the NBA with that speed? How does he get his shot off without elite athleticism? But like Brunson, he’s crafty enough to make it work. And when he can’t, he knows how to draw contact and get to the line.

Defensively, he reminds me of guys like Podziemski or McCain, tough, physical, always locked in, and smart enough to read the game and stay in the right spots.

The reason I haven’t brought him up is that this is the entire discussion. He’s not athletic enough to do what he does well at the NBA level. He might be able to finesse his way through that, but it would require him being an outlier. How much you want to bet against the odds is going to vary wildly and no one can really be right or wrong. You’re throwing a low percentage dart that no one can predict with consistency.

[76ciology]

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/45179882/2025-nba-mock-draft-projecting-all-59-picks-post-combine-cooper-flagg-dallas-mavericks

Intel and fit: This is where the draft gets really interesting, as the 76ers are unsurprisingly signaling they are looking at a wide group of prospects, consisting of Bailey, VJ Edgecombe, Tre Johnson, Khaman Maluach, and Kon Knueppel.

We need to present that Bailey is the clear #3 prospect, so other teams are convinced and motivated to trade up with us.

[Negrodamus]

Just finished that whole Illinois vs Rutgers game. Kasparas played terribly. Harper was great. Ace played like how Wiggins played at Kansas (uninspiring). Will Riley could become the steal of the draft if he puts on some weight. Very intriguing handles at that height.

[76ciology]

[x]

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=bJcUtOCSwzTqqyZgysWpbQ[/x]

Wolves should draft this guy. A+ for marketing

[Snotbubbles]

Ace Bailey is also 2 inches shorter, standing reach is an 1.5 lower and is 10lbs lighter (at time of combine) than MPJ. I feel like Porter is a natural size for PF while Ace will get abused and should only be defending wings at least early on.

Yea I mean, he's 18 and you'd project to him to be your future starting SF after sitting behind George for 1-2 years. Porter was also 1 year older when drafted than Ace is now.

I also think it's kinda silly we're getting caught up in Ace's height when: A) he'll be wearing shoes when he plays, like everyone else and B) his wingspan is 7'0.5"

I'm not getting caught up in his height, he's (6' 7.50'' w/o shoes) legitimately 2 inches shorter than Porter (6' 9.5'' w/o shoes).

It's possible that Bailey could still grow a few more inches over the next couple year and when all is said and done be closer to 6'9" or 6'10" barefoot. He's still only 18 so he may have a couple years of growing to do.

[76ciology]

I can’t believe Morey is shopping the 3rd overall pick. You dont trade a generational prospect like Ace Bailey for Giannis.

[M2J]

Regarding insider questions on Ace and his personality. And their season. Not a lot, but.... The boy loves basketball. Works hard, infectious personality and good in locker room. He's a Leo, like myself and Anthony Edwards. There's a sense of arrogance, but it's just playful and comes from positivity and staying positive to lift yourself and keeping those you lead confident.

Watch on YouTube

It's Ace guys... Gotta be Ace

MPJ could be an all star now if he weren't drafted into a 4th option situation for a contender and his severe injuries. If MPJ were on the Warriors in that system to replace Klay.... whole new career. These things matter, and I need a refresher on how Dylan thrived and Ace didn't. I've made it a point to not bash any of these players to argue for one but they both had different roles and both overall individually performed well enough to be top 3 picks, and both lost more than people thought as a team.... And Dylan was the point guard and according to some the best player, but Ace gets the backlash for that disappointment.

Back to MPJ comp... to be clear... Besides the length and ability rise up over defenders without much ball handling.... There not the same players. MPJ today doesn't even come close to Ace's footwork to get shots off. Those difficult shots he takes are counters to defensive coverage and extra help. I agree that you don't want a steady diet of that on this team, but it's also next level stuff. Like Durant said... Ace has a better mid range game than he did coming into the league.

Learn handles and defense from George, learn mid post game and foul baiting from Joel. Maxey work ethic and you got Durant

I agree with you. Besides that, i know MPJ before back injury was a diferent animal, but, even so, i think he didnt have Ace´s athletic abilities? Bailey is a pretty good athlete, and that will make a diference on his game in the NBA.

Also as ball handling is Ace's weakness, it's probably twice as advanced as MPJ today.

[Negrodamus]

Yea I mean, he's 18 and you'd project to him to be your future starting SF after sitting behind George for 1-2 years. Porter was also 1 year older when drafted than Ace is now.

I also think it's kinda silly we're getting caught up in Ace's height when: A) he'll be wearing shoes when he plays, like everyone else and B) his wingspan is 7'0.5"

I'm not getting caught up in his height, he's (6' 7.50'' w/o shoes) legitimately 2 inches shorter than Porter (6' 9.5'' w/o shoes).

It's possible that Bailey could still grow a few more inches over the next couple year and when all is said and done be closer to 6'9" or 6'10" barefoot. He's still only 18 so he may have a couple years of growing to do.

I hear you; I'm hoping we draft Kasparas (will turn 19 on May 29th) and he grows to 6'6 without shoes so we have new Luka.

[ProcessDoctor]

Another perspective/setting expectations post:

Since 1955, when the NBA MVP was officially called that, only 36 (37 if you count SGA) different players have ever won an MVP.

That equates to roughly 0.5 MVP winners per NBA draft.

[Negrodamus]

https://www.phillyvoice.com/sixers-news-analysis-nba-mock-draft-rumors-tre-johnson-stats-highlights-interview-player-comparison-rutgers-ahmed-jama/

Tre is just Buddy Hield. We have to be real about him.

[Iverson Armband]

https://www.phillyvoice.com/sixers-news-analysis-nba-mock-draft-rumors-tre-johnson-stats-highlights-interview-player-comparison-rutgers-ahmed-jama/

Tre is just Buddy Hield. We have to be real about him.

Yeah, that’s not what I got from that article at all.

[Iverson Armband]

Where’s the video of Edgecomb’s game against Duke in the tourney?

[url]

Watch on YouTube

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I was being facitious lol, but thanks. VJ “Invisible” Edgecomb

[Negrodamus]

https://www.phillyvoice.com/sixers-news-analysis-nba-mock-draft-rumors-tre-johnson-stats-highlights-interview-player-comparison-rutgers-ahmed-jama/

Tre is just Buddy Hield. We have to be real about him.

Yeah, that’s not what I got from that article at all.

The defensive projection for Johnson is much bleaker than the offensive end, and despite his measurements I’m more pessimistic on how he’ll develop defensively than consensus. As stated in the question, Johnson has a slight frame, and doesn’t compensate for the subpar physical tools with exceptional defensive instincts. As an on-ball defender, Johnson obviously struggles with larger wings, and doesn’t have the lateral movement to stay in front of smaller perimeter players. Off-ball, he had frequent lapses executing Texas’ defensive scheme, even though he was frequently tasked with defending the opponents’ weakest perimeter scorer.

Perhaps most concerning with Johnson’s defensive projection, and what has me most skeptical he’ll ever develop into a positive or even neutral defender, is his inability to contribute on the glass. For his size and length I’d wager Johnson is one of the weakest rebounders I have evaluated.

Honestly I don’t ever see Johnson becoming a significant threat as an interior scorer

So he's a pure gunner who only takes midrange and outside shots and plays no defense nor rebounds. I think that was basically Buddy's senior year.

[FireMorey]

I think he's a better ball handler with more athleticism and general agility than Hield. Doesn't mean he won't be more than just a shooter at the NBA level though, but I think his potential is much higher than Hield's ever was.

[Iverson Armband]

https://www.phillyvoice.com/sixers-news-analysis-nba-mock-draft-rumors-tre-johnson-stats-highlights-interview-player-comparison-rutgers-ahmed-jama/

Tre is just Buddy Hield. We have to be real about him.

Yeah, that’s not what I got from that article at all.

The defensive projection for Johnson is much bleaker than the offensive end, and despite his measurements I’m more pessimistic on how he’ll develop defensively than consensus. As stated in the question, Johnson has a slight frame, and doesn’t compensate for the subpar physical tools with exceptional defensive instincts. As an on-ball defender, Johnson obviously struggles with larger wings, and doesn’t have the lateral movement to stay in front of smaller perimeter players. Off-ball, he had frequent lapses executing Texas’ defensive scheme, even though he was frequently tasked with defending the opponents’ weakest perimeter scorer.

Perhaps most concerning with Johnson’s defensive projection, and what has me most skeptical he’ll ever develop into a positive or even neutral defender, is his inability to contribute on the glass. For his size and length I’d wager Johnson is one of the weakest rebounders I have evaluated.

Honestly I don’t ever see Johnson becoming a significant threat as an interior scorer

So he's a pure gunner who only takes midrange and outside shots and plays no defense nor rebounds. I think that was basically Buddy's senior year.

Gonna gloss over his very good and growing play making ability?