Ace Bailey drama adds wild card atop 2025 NBA Draft

Before the college basketball season even began, this draft class was praised for its star power at the top.Three difference-making talents — Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey — were going to be selected in the top three, in some order.The trio all had strong seasons to back up their considerable talents, even if Harper and Bailey didn’t reach the NCAA Tournament playing for Rutgers.

But then last week, reports began to leak that Bailey and his representatives didn’t like the idea of him winding up with the 76ers.They preferred him on a rebuilding team — like the Wizards, Pelicans or Nets — where he would have a major role from Day 1.

Then, he canceled a workout with Philadelphia.Some experts have him falling several spots.Suddenly, there is uncertainty as to how this draft will go, after the top two.

Throw in the recent big trades — Kevin Durant going from the Suns to the Mavericks, the Celtics dealing Jrue Holiday to the Trail Blazers for Anfernee Simons and the Celtics sending Kristaps Porzingis to the Hawks as part of a three-team deal — and there is a growing belief this could be a fascinating few days in Brooklyn.“This feels like a very unique draft, in the sense that there are more smoke screens, there is more trade chatter and just subsequent uncertainty across the board,” NBA draft analyst Matt Babcock said in a phone interview.“Talking to teams, agents, it’s pretty wild right now.

There’s the potential of a lot of activity.… I think players have wider ranges than they do in most years.”If the 76ers don’t take Bailey, they could opt for uber-athlete VJ Edgecombe of Baylor at No.

3.Other options include guards Tre Johnson (Texas), Kon Knueppel (Duke) and Jeremiah Fears (Oklahoma).“It’ll be like the year Chicago took Patrick Williams at [No.] 4,” an NBA scout said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

“Whatever happens with [Bailey], if he’s not [No.] 3, everything is a crapshoot after that.”There will ...