As the Philadelphia 76ers weigh their options with an injury-plagued roster, the No. 3 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft is acting as a rare source of hope. The proper selection could be the key to unlocking the 76ers' long-term potential, as well as overcoming concerns about the current veterans' availability.
As fate would have it, one of Philadelphia's top rumored draft targets, Ace Bailey, already has the perfect mentor waiting for him in Philadelphia: Paul George.
Bailey is one of four players who have been mentioned as preferred targets at No. 3 overall. It's a product of the momentum that he built in high school and carried into college, establishing himself early on as a game-breaking scoring threat.
According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, Philadelphia is so eager to have the opportunity to select their top target that they're willing to trade up to No. 2—and Bailey is one of the players they're considering.
Sources: The 76ers have engaged with the Spurs about potentially moving up to the No. 2 pick. For now, the Sixers have zeroed in on four NBA Draft prospects with the No. 3 pick, including a private workout last week with VJ Edgecombe and Ace Bailey visiting Philadelphia next week
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) June 12, 2025
Bailey has become a somewhat polarizing figure in NBA Draft circles, but his undeniable upside would fit perfectly on a team that has his archetype waiting to teach him the intricacies of the game.
Paul George is the ideal mentor for 76ers draft target Ace Bailey
Bailey enters the NBA as a player with prototypical size, length, and athleticism for a modern wing. He also has a solid handle, the ability to finish both above and below the rim, and the form on his jump shot to become a knockdown shooter.
By most means and measures, Bailey fits the George archetype of tall wings who can attack, play without the ball, space the floor, and even distribute at a commendable level.
The hurdles for Bailey will be similar to the concerns that George faced coming out of college. Physicality can offset much of what they, as college players and incoming rookies, bring and brought to the table offensively. It unfortunately renders their incredible skill sets less efficient than they should be.
The upside: George has improved against pressure to the point that he's scored 18,697 career points and averaged 23.3 points on .442/.389/.863 shooting between 2013-14 and 2023-24.
With George as his mentor, Bailey can gain early insight into what a player with his style of play, frame, and strengths and weaknesses can expect. He'll also have an opportunity to practice against one of the best defenders of the past decade.
That should prepare Bailey for the trials and tribulations of playing NBA games better than almost any experience he could otherwise gain.
Furthermore, George can help Bailey understand what will be expected of him on the defensive end of the floor. Perhaps he won't reach the level that George has managed to sustain, but he's already proving to have significant upside on that end of the floor—and, in Philadephia, he'd have an All-Defense mentor.
There's no guaranteeing that the 76ers will select Bailey at the 2025 NBA Draft, but with George available to take him under his wing, it's hard to imagine a more ideal fit.