The Phantom Workout

When my data alerts pinged about Ace Bailey’s canceled Philadelphia 76ers workout, my analyst Spidey-senses tingled. The Rutgers phenom has become this draft’s most intriguing mystery - the only American prospect who hasn’t laced up for a single NBA team.

The Cold Hard Facts:

• Per ESPN sources, Bailey abruptly canceled his June 10th Philly session
• Zero workouts conducted with any franchise to date
• 76ers still reportedly considering him at No. 16

Reading Between the Data Points

As someone who crunches draft analytics for breakfast, I see three possible scenarios here:

1. Medical Red Flags: Maybe those rumored knee concerns from his freshman year resurfaced during private evaluations.
2. Draft Promise: There’s whispers of a top-10 team guaranteeing to take him regardless of workouts.
3. Agent Games: Super-agent Rich Paul (who reps Bailey) might be playing 4D chess with teams’ draft boards.

The advanced metrics love Bailey’s two-way potential - his 6’10” frame with guard skills screams modern NBA wing. But zero workouts? That’s either extreme confidence or something fishy in the scouting reports.

The Philly Factor

The Sixers’ interest fascinates me. They need exactly what Bailey provides: length, shooting (37% from three), and switchable defense. Daryl Morey loves high-upside swings, but would he gamble on a prospect who won’t even work out?

Funny thought - maybe Joel Embiid scared him off with those notoriously brutal pre-draft workouts. I’ve seen grown men quit after Philly’s infamous “suicide sprints with the Cameroonian giant” drill.

What’s Next?

With the draft just days away, Bailey’s camp is playing this like a poker hand. My predictive model gives him:

• 42% chance of going lottery despite no workouts
• 28% chance of sliding to late teens
• 30% chance this becomes another “