When it comes to NBA draft prospect Ace Bailey, the ceiling is the sky and the floor is the core of the Earth. There is no in between.
Bailey has significant strengths that have awed NBA front offices. Despite controversy regarding his height, Bailey has a frame around six feet eight inches tall, which pairs alongside his seven-foot wingspan and eight-foot-eleven standing reach. Bailey has also showcased the ability to hit circus-level shots. If a defender is in his face, he is still willing to shoot the ball.
Bailey ended the season with Rutgers averaging 17.6 points on 46% shooting from the field and 34.6% from deep. The Tennessee native scored 20 or more points on nine occasions, including a 39-point performance against Indiana and a 37-point performance against Northwestern. That said, Bailey had six performances where he scored 10 points or less.
Decision-making is always going to be the biggest question mark when it comes to Bailey. It appears he has no intention of changing his shot-chucking tendencies.
“The shots I work on in workouts are the shots I take in games," Bailey said in a draft combine interview. “What might be a bad shot to you, you don’t work on, but I work on it.”
Bailey’s shot tendencies can be debatable as a positive or negative asset. However, other aspects of his game are 100% positive or 100% negative.
He is freakishly athletic and a ballhawk when it comes to grabbing rebounds and swatting shots. However, he makes lots of simple mistakes when it comes to help defense and playmaking.
There is unlimited potential when it comes to Bailey’s ability to compete at the pro level. However, it is questionable if he can reach those limits due to his glaring red flags.
So, where is the best fit for this potential lottery ticket-winning selection?
That fit is the Brooklyn Nets.
If a team selecting Bailey wants him to reach his potential, they must realize he needs to be the face of the team. Bailey is going to command the ball. He is going to dribble a lot. He is going to take a lot of shots.
That immediately rules out teams such as the Philadelphia 76ers, Washington Wizards and New Orleans Pelicans. Selecting Bailey would be a determinant for what these teams are trying to build. Bailey will never reach his offensive ceiling without regressing the offensive abilities of players around him. It would be silly for these teams to take that risk.
But this is an ideal selection for the Nets. They need a potential star like Bailey to bring eyes back to a struggling franchise. They can let Bailey develop into the star player he has the potential to be.
The Nets allowed Cam Thomas to be the leading scorer, and he did a great job, averaging 24 points on 31.2 minutes per game. However, Thomas will never be a star player for a franchise. He is too small and can’t play defense for his life. Bailey will come into the league a better defender, while having the tangibles to become an elite defender.
The streets of Brooklyn are loud. There is always constant noise. Yet the sound of the Brooklyn Nets creating success has been silent. They need a young star to build a franchise around. No more trading for older stars and being completely young and mediocre. They need a young star who can have time to grow into his mold and become elite. This is why Bailey, who is a high-risk selection, would thrive best in Brooklyn.