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[Saba Sports News] One of the top prospects in the upcoming NBA Draft is raising eyebrows by consistently declining pre-draft workouts.
In his latest mock draft, ESPN’s Jonathan Givony reported that former Rutgers star Ace Bailey has left some front offices “perplexed” by his approach.
Despite being projected to go early in the draft, Bailey has not worked out for any teams so far. He has, however, scheduled a workout with the Philadelphia 76ers later this week.
According to Givony, Bailey’s camp has informed teams that the high-scoring wing views himself as a top-3 talent and is seeking a “clear pathway to stardom.”
That stance has led to speculation that Bailey may be avoiding teams with established stars — such as the Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs, and 76ers — where he might be forced to take on a smaller role early in his career.
Bailey averaged 17.6 points and 7.2 rebounds per game as a freshman at Rutgers and is widely seen as one of the most gifted players in this year’s class.
However, opinions on his long-term upside vary, and his unwillingness to engage fully in the pre-draft process could end up hurting his draft position.