NBA Draft 2025: Anonymous scouts give fascinating take on Ace Bailey vs. Cooper Flagg

There’s going to be a fascinating decision regarding Ace Bailey in the 2025 NBA Draft if he gets to the No. 3 overall pick. Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper, out of Duke and Rutgers respectively, are expected to go to the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs at No. 1 and 2.

But Harper’s teammate Bailey, the expected third pick and widely regarded as the third best prospect, is a bit of an enigma. The Philadelphia 76ers, who earned the No. 3 pick via the lottery, have a monumental decision on their hands to keep their tiny championship window open with Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Paul George going into next season.

Bailey is seen as a logical fit with players like that, plus second-year man Jared McCain who was on his way to Rookie of the Year buzz before a season-ending injury. Heck, some believe Bailey could be better than Flagg based on the upside. But, as anonymous NBA officials told The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Keith Pompey, that’s one big if.

“But Bailey is the one if he hits. If he hits, he’s better than Cooper Flagg,” an anonymous scout told Pompey. “He’s more athletic. If they’re going one-on-one, I got Ace. I might be wrong, but I’m going with Ace. But the intricacies of a playoff game and knowing your assignments and stuff like that, I’m going with Cooper. I trust Cooper 100%.”

Bailey finished his lone season with the Scarlet Knights averaging 17.6 points per game, 7.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists, shot 46% from the floor and 34.6% from three-point range. Unless Philadelphia gives up a monumental package to move up to No. 1 or 2 for Flagg or Harper, Bailey seems to be the option.

However, On3’s latest NBA Mock Draft from James Fletcher III has the Sixers taking Baylor star VJ Edgecombe. “VJ Edgecombe comes into the NBA Draft as an intriguing wing prospect, bringing great length for his size,” Fletcher III writes. But what is the best pick for Philadelphia at No. 3? The debate now seems to center around Bailey or Edgecombe.

But as a previous scout said, Bailey has the potential to be better than Flagg. But as an organization, that’s a lot of potential and not a sure thing.

“You have to take him,” a Western Conference scout said of Bailey. “But you have to really know what you are getting. He has the highest upside. But why hasn’t he been more productive in the nuts and bolts, things that count? And there’s little things he doesn’t do.”