If Ace Bailey slides within the draft, the Spurs ought to attempt to commerce up for him

Whereas there should not many doubts about what the Spurs will do with the second general choose within the 2025 draft, there was extra uncertainty about their second lottery choice. Stories point out that they may not use it in any respect, buying and selling it away for veteran assist as an alternative, which might make sense.

A riskier however fascinating possibility could be to commerce up if somebody falls, sending out future draft picks to safe one other younger cornerstone this 12 months. As a substitute of utilizing property to land a veteran star like Kevin Durant, the Spurs can attempt to land a second high-upside prospect, and one could possibly be obtainable.

Ace Bailey has refused to work out for groups apart from the 76ers to this point, and he might slide if Philadelphia picks one other route, in keeping with ESPN’s Jonathan Givony. If that’s the case, he could be an fascinating goal.

Now, the considerations about Bailey transcend exercises. He’s a dangerous prospect. He measured poorly on the mix in comparison with expectations, standing at nearer to six’8 as an alternative of the 6’10 he was described as by Rutgers. His greatest trait is his scoring, however he wasn’t environment friendly in school, largely as a result of he was overreliant on his jumper. Ace made 34.6 of his threes and shot very well from mid-range, however he didn’t get to the road loads and barely bought to the rim. He floated within the perimeter partly as a result of he didn’t have the ball dealing with to get inside persistently and was bothered by physicality. It’s not simply his shot choice that wants enchancment, however his general decision-making, as proven by the truth that he really had extra turnovers than assists. He confirmed flashes on protection, utilizing his size and athleticism effectively at instances to dam or hassle photographs, however he wasn’t constant on a workforce that underachieved.

Will he work on fixing these flaws? That’s an enormous query, as a result of he has a star’s mindset that would find yourself hurting his inventory. His confidence in his personal expertise is what might scare groups away, together with the Spurs. Bailey doubtless desires large minutes and a featured position straight away as a result of he believes he’s prepared for it, in keeping with Givony. His feedback from the mix bear that out. His shot choice is a serious trigger for concern for groups, however he stated that what could be a nasty shot for others isn’t a nasty shot for him.

When requested to call two strengths and a weak spot, he stated he has no weaknesses and greater than two strengths.

There’s nothing fallacious with confidence, however Bailey appears to lack self-awareness at this level. Once more, he’s one of many youngest prospects within the draft, and his expertise is plain, so it’s not exhausting to see why he may lack maturity however have bravado to spare. Plus, his shot-making actually is particular. It’s not possible to observe him hit a few of these extremely robust seems to be and never be mesmerized. The counter right here could be that creating straightforward photographs is significantly better than flattening robust seems to be, however the postseason reveals that you just want guys who will simply get a bucket when nothing else works. Ace is a grasp at it. The diploma of issue of among the photographs he makes is so excessive that you just typically overlook he’s the one who creates the hurdles. The upside is actual. He might finally change into a star.

It might most likely take him some time to get there, nevertheless, and he may gain advantage from the construction and lowered expectations that the Spurs can provide. Ace might slot in instantly as a ground spacer (38.7 p.c on catch-and-shoot threes) whereas offering athleticism and power on protection, like Kawhi Leonard did again within the day. The Silver and Black produce other high-level younger expertise in tow, so the teaching workers might deliver him alongside slowly, giving him freedom to make the most of his shot-making whereas attempting to assist him refine his shot choice. If Harper is the choose with the second general choice, reuniting the 2 former Rutgers stars might create a cushty setting for each. Sliding down the draft might humble Bailey, and seeing San Antonio need him sufficient to maneuver as much as get him might make him respect the franchise.

The difficulty is that regardless of his flaws, there are groups that may be completely satisfied to draft him and maintain him. For Bailey to the Spurs to be even barely reasonable, he’d need to fall previous not solely the 76ers but in addition franchises that want top-tier expertise and have proven previously they don’t seem to be afraid to take dangers, just like the Wizards, Hornets, and Pelicans. In some unspecified time in the future, uncooked talent and elite athleticism override considerations about maturity, so except the concerns improve, the value to commerce as much as get him could possibly be too steep.

Nonetheless, the Spurs ought to no less than discover the potential for utilizing their draft capital to pounce if Bailey or anybody else who might probably change into part of their core out of the blue drops or groups forward of them seem open to buying and selling down or out of the draft. Simply because it was good to maneuver the eighth general choose for future draft capital final 12 months, it could possibly be the play to focus on another person within the lottery this 12 months if others make their alternatives attainable. If some mixture of younger gamers and picks is in play for 37-year-old Durant, it’s rational to no less than think about using a few of those self same property to maneuver up if the suitable prospect is obtainable.

It’s unlikely the Spurs get Bailey. They may not even be fascinated about him, and there could possibly be a bidding conflict for his providers. Buying and selling up from 14 might show tough. Probably the most reasonable situations contain San Antonio buying and selling the choose for veteran assist or retaining it and choosing the right participant obtainable on their large board.

If issues get chaotic on draft night time, nevertheless, it may not be the worst thought to be aggressive if somebody slides and the chance to land a high-level younger expertise presents itself.