Bailey focused on hoops amid curious draft path

NEW YORK -- Ace Bailey has worked retired for zero teams and canceled connected one, but the NBA draught imaginable doesn't look excessively bothered by immoderate questions of his maturity.

"I tin power what I tin control. Me playing basketball," Bailey said Tuesday connected the eve of the archetypal circular of the draft.

Bailey mostly deflected questions from the media Tuesday astir however helium has gone astir the draught process.

When specifically asked wherefore helium canceled a workout with the Philadelphia 76ers, who clasp the No. 3 wide pick, Bailey responded by saying: "I'm conscionable blessed to beryllium successful this presumption I americium close now. That's all. Take it day-by-day."

When further questioned astir canceling with the 76ers, Bailey said, "I'm focused connected basketball."

A 6-foot-8 guardant who tin people similar fewer players successful this year's draught class, Bailey was erstwhile projected arsenic a top-three pick. Instead helium could find himself waiting a spot longer than his chap freshman teammate astatine Rutgers, Dylan Harper, who mightiness spell astatine No. 2 to San Antonio.

In their latest mock draft, ESPN draught analysts Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo person Bailey going No. 6 wide to the Washington Wizards.

But Bailey's actions -- orchestrated by cause Omar Cooper -- could beryllium causing uncertainty among NBA executives and adjacent players.

Sixers prima Paul George questioned Bailey's way to the draft.

"I mean, I deliberation if I'm Ace Bailey I can't get huffy if my banal drops," George said connected "Podcast P with Paul George." "But he's canceled each workouts. Like helium hasn't worked retired for immoderate team. So, I deliberation they made a large woody 'cause we were scheduled to enactment him retired and helium canceled the time of. But helium hasn't worked retired for immoderate team. But you're not successful a presumption to beryllium making those demands. Make it to the league first. It's for definite the radical astir him. I don't cognize who's representing him, but I don't deliberation they're going astir it the close way."

ESPN NBA draught expert Jay Bilas said Tuesday helium wasn't bothered by Bailey declining to enactment retired for teams if helium and his cause had a circumstantial destination successful mind. Bilas noted NFL stars John Elway and Eli Manning manipulated their mode to preferred teams during their draught years, truthful wherefore not Bailey? It worked retired conscionable good for those aboriginal Super Bowl champion quarterbacks.

"I wouldn't docket thing and past cancel out," Bilas said. "That's a question of professionalism, but he's 18 years old, truthful he's navigating this process for the archetypal time, truthful I'm not bothered by that excessively much."

Bailey averaged 17.6 points and 7.2 rebounds successful his lone play for Rutgers, which had a losing grounds adjacent with him and Harper. Bailey tin onslaught the overgarment and agelong defenses with his range. He changeable 34.6% from beyond the arc and had 5 games successful January with astatine slightest 4 3-pointers.

Harper spoke glowingly of his Scarlet Knights teammate.

"He's the funniest teammate successful the locker room," Harper said of Bailey. "If the vigor is down, he's going to bring the vigor up. Him successful the locker country is astir apt the champion happening that's astir apt going for him. His vigor is contagious and you're going to consciousness it whether you privation to consciousness it oregon not."

Information from The Associated Press was utilized successful this report.