Off-putting Ace Bailey realization creates a controversial path for the 76ers

A little over a month ago, the Philadelphia 76ers obtained the third overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and were immediately linked to Ace Bailey – who has developed into the most polarizing prospect in the class. To further fuel the fire, the latest intel from Jonathan Givony of ESPN raised a series of red flags surrounding Bailey, which could encourage the 76ers to focus on V.J. Edgecombe instead.

Red flags on Bailey have been raised

In his latest mock draft, Givony revealed that Bailey’s draft stock has fallen due to his “unwillingness to conduct a workout with any team up to this point. Bailey reportedly believes he is a top-three player in the upcoming draft and wants to be selected by a team that will provide him a clear pathway to stardom.

“Bailey's pre-draft workout strategy has perplexed some observers, as he has yet to conduct a single known workout to date, having declined invitations from several teams within his draft range,” Givony said. “Sources say Bailey's camp has informed interested teams that they believe he is a top-3 player in the draft, but also seeks a clear pathway to stardom, perhaps feeling comfortable that a team will trade up to get him at Nos. 3 or 4, should he drop.”

However, Adam Aaronson of The Philly Voice reported that a 76ers source revealed to him that Bailey never refused to visit Philadelphia and that he’ll participate in a workout this week. This all stems from Jake Fischer, who initially confirmed the 76ers’ interest in both Edgecombe and Bailey last week. Edgecombe had a successful meeting with Philadelphia recently that involved a workout and dinner, which Tyrese Maxey attended.

What should the 76ers make of this?

There are a lot of different ways to interpret Givony’s spiel on Bailey’s mindset, but the biggest aspect is his desire for stardom. This could be chalked up to confidence, but it’s fair to wonder if this need could prevent him from accepting a smaller role with the 76ers. With Maxey, Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Jared McCain likely returning next season, Bailey would need to primarily operate off the ball and play within the flow of the offense.

The issue is that Bailey may want to be the offense and if so, his potential fit in Philadelphia sounds like a disaster. If he were an efficient three-level scorer and sound decision-maker at Rutgers, perhaps it would be a different story. But, Bailey is an all-around raw prospect and if he wants to evolve into a star by taking a high volume of shots each game, then the 76ers aren’t the team for him. It’s reasonable to fear that Bailey could mold into a black hole – settling for contested mid-range shots and killing the flow of the offense.

To his credit, Philadelphia is set to be the only team Bailey will meet up with at this point, which should count for something. Still, the way his camp is handling his pre-draft process is disturbing and the 76ers could be one of the many teams who are scared away. The 76ers’ interest in Bailey should remain, especially if he has a successful workout, but his questionable motives may cause them to reconsider.

V.J. Edgecombe is the answer

Philadelphia needs someone who will embrace winning by scaling down if needed, but also has the upside to mold into an all-star and Edgecombe epitomizes that. While many are rightfully concerned about the potential back-court logjam of Maxey, McCain, Edgecombe, and Quentin Grimes, there’s equal reason to feel optimistic. Teams such as the Oklahoma City Thunder, Indiana Pacers, and even the Minnesota Timberwolves found postseason success by playing a guard-heavy rotation that consistently applied defensive pressure and steady offense. 

With Edgecombe’s ferocious point-of-attack defense and off-ball skill set, he perfectly aligns with that vision. Although he still has room to grow as a shot-creator and playmaker, there’s no reason to believe those weaknesses will be permanent. If Philadelphia goes the Edgecombe route, then it must prioritize acquiring more athletic front-court players through the draft and free agency to supply a stable defensive infrastructure that enables it to have a guard-heavy rotation.