The NBA world was filled with hype going into the 2025 draft, especially with headliner Cooper Flagg. But after him, one of the most sought-after prospects was Rutgers forward Ace Bailey, known for his combination of size, skill, and scoring ability. Bailey entered the draft with the spotlight on him, but for all the wrong reasons. At the center were the questions about his representation and draft strategy, led by his agent Omar Cooper.

Much has been speculated about the nature of Bailey’s draft. Reports from the time indicate that multiple top-five teams were prevented from getting him to do workouts with them, including #3-pick-holding Philadelphia and #5-pick-holding Utah. Insiders believed that this was a way for Bailey to force his way to Washington, where he had indicated interest.

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