Latest odds indicate polarizing prospect could slide during 2025 NBA Draft

Rutgers Scarlet Knights guard Ace Bailey, perhaps the most divisive prospect in the 2025 class, could be sliding down teams' boards before the first round of the NBA Draft on Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET. 

Bailey reportedly canceled a pre-draft workout with the Philadelphia 76ers, who hold the No. 3 pick in the draft. That has likely hurt his draft stock. On Monday, ESPN Bet's X account shared his odds of going third overall have dropped from -125 to +400. 

If Bailey slides on draft day, he shouldn't fall outside the top 10. In their latest mock draft, ESPN's Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo have the Washington Wizards taking him with pick No. 6. 

"Bailey's predraft workout strategy has perplexed some observers, as he has yet to conduct a single known workout to date, having declined several invitations from teams within his draft range," wrote Givony. 

Givony added teams "question" whether one outside the top five has promised Bailey it will trade up and take him. Still, should teams be willing to do that for a potential boom-or-bust prospect? 

Bailey (6-foot-10, 200 pounds) averaged 17.6 points per game on 46% shooting from the field in 30 games for Rutgers during the 2024-25 season. But he may be a ball hog, as he logged just 1.3 assists per game and posted a below-average assist-to-turnover ratio (0.6). 

Bailey has since scheduled another workout with the 76ers, per Givony, but the previous cancellation possibly raised more questions about the polarizing prospect. Couple that with concerns about his game, and it's easy to see why Philadelphia would pass on him.

If the 76ers do that, where Bailey will land may become even more murky.