Ace Bailey Cancels Sixers Visit; Sixers Not Ruling Out Drafting Bailey

[RealGM Wiretap]

Ace Bailey canceled Friday's visit with the Philadelphia 76ers, sources told Jonathan Givony and Shams Charania of ESPN.

Bailey has now declined meeting with multiple teams within the No. 3 and No. 8 draft range.

Despite the cancellation, the Sixers have not ruled out drafting Bailey with the third pick. They are also unlikely to move down in the draft. 

Daryl Morey has previously selected players without a workout, including Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain.

Bailey's camp believes that while he is a top-3 player in the draft, they are seeking a team with a clear path for minutes and usage. Bailey's team also believes that the Wizards, Pelicans, or Nets will be aggressive in looking to move up and draft him.  

Via Jonathan Givony & Shams Charania/ESPN

[Rebound Mound]

It seems like an intelligent move by him and his peers to go to the Pelicans or Wizards... the Nets could be a nice option because of his great coach.

[the_process]

"Unlikely to move down"? Stupid, stupid, stupid.

[MrTFE]

He should remember how acting like this worked out for Shedeur Sanders

[dubbmotta]

He should remember how acting like this worked out for Shedeur Sanders

Terrible comparison, basketball and football two different sports. He’s trying to go to BK so he can get minutes in a big market. Not the first player to do this.

[puja21]

He should remember how acting like this worked out for Shedeur Sanders

Terrible comparison, basketball and football two different sports. He’s trying to go to BK so he can get minutes in a big market. Not the first player to do this.

How did it workout for Josh Jackson in basketball ?

Canceled his Boston workout while Ainge and Stevens were mid-flight

In Phoenix he got his big minutes

Also got stuck playing for not one, not two, but THREE coaches and two GMs in less than one year
(Watson, Triano, Igor / McDonough + James Jones)

Got zero development, zero defensive accountability.

Had exactly two vets (Chandler/Dudley) and tons one dimensional blackhole teammates who also didn't defend (TJ Warren, Greg Monroe, Bledsoe, House)

They lost 124 games in two years and he was out of the NBA forever just weeks after his 25th birthday.

Versus Boston was coming off an ECF with Horford and rookie Jaylen Brown and went back a 2nd time during Jackson's rookie season.

Absolutely matters where you're drafted and picking minutes over structure could hurt a kid -- esp one who lacks strength and rebounding talent

[puja21]

He should remember how acting like this worked out for Shedeur Sanders

Terrible comparison, basketball and football two different sports. He’s trying to go to BK so he can get minutes in a big market. Not the first player to do this.

How did it workout for Josh Jackson in basketball ?

Canceled his Boston workout while Ainge and Stevens were mid-flight

In Phoenix he got his big minutes

Also got stuck playing for not one, not two, but THREE coaches and two GMs in less than one year
(Watson, Triano, Igor / McDonough + James Jones)

Got zero development, zero defensive accountability.

Had exactly two vets (Chandler/Dudley) and tons one dimensional blackhole teammates who also didn't defend (TJ Warren, Greg Monroe, Bledsoe, House)

They lost 124 games in two years and he was out of the NBA forever just weeks after his 25th birthday.

Versus Boston was coming off an ECF with Horford and rookie Jaylen Brown and went back a 2nd time during Jackson's rookie season.

Absolutely matters where you're drafted and picking minutes over structure could hurt a kid -- esp one who lacks strength and rebounding talent

Since I posted this, The Athletic's Sam Vecenie made these remarks about Ace Bailey on a podcast:

There is a maturity question, a focus question, that I've gotten from 8 to 10 NBA teams. And you see it on the court as well. He is a player who does not engage defensively nearly enough. He misses help rotations, he misses tags on the weakside roller. You look at Ace Bailey physically and 95% of the public would probably say Ace is a way better defender than Kon Knueppel. Knuepple was a better defender this year because he was stronger through his chest and had the ability to hold the line defensively on drives. And then additionally he was just always available. He always there. And yes he wasn't as disruptive as Ace at Ace's apex moments of engagement, but you could rely on him. And that's the biggest thing when you're talking about defense. You just needs guys you can trust to be consistently available for one another.

It presents this concern, given the questions about maturity and focus. Is he actually on the timeline of the drafting team, or are they developing him for another team's timeline. We're willing to wait for stars and for kids to figure it out -- but that timeline is shrinking given the depth of the NBA right now. Can we wait? Can he develop by the time he's 20 or 21? What if it isn't until 25? Is anyone able to wait 7 years for him to develop? That's kind of a hard sell.

I think the team that drafts Ace at the end of the day just needs to be one that has a really strong locker room, has a group of vets that can help show him the way and everything. He's going to shoot you out of games. He's going to make bad decisions. He is not a player that reads the court well right now.

The feedback I've gotten from Ace Bailey's interviews at the Combine is not great, even aside from the Philly situation. He wasn't removed from anyone's board. But teams felt like he kind of went in not well prepared for them.

^this is why it shouldn't be about ego or minutes & his people shouldn't want him to go to a franchise that lacks structure.

He went on to say "even strategically I think [the Philly cancelation] makes no sense. I think it has been so poorly handled by Ace's representation. I think it's reflected, unfortunately, upon him. When I do think it's them that is the problem here. And where it's landed is that Ace is now entering the NBA with a target on his back."