Ace Bailey Might Be Intentionally Trying To Fall To The Bulls

Back in 1981, Isaiah Thomas had a problem. The star Indiana guard knew he was going high in the NBA draft. Unfortunately, the team he wanted to play for the most, the Chicago Bulls, didn’t pick until 6th. He desperately wanted to join his hometown team to become its savior. So he enacted a strategy of intentionally trying to sabotage his draft stock, bombing meetings and lazing through workouts to turn teams in the top 5 off of him. Sadly, the Detroit Pistons weren’t fooled. They took him #2 overall. He became a Hall of Famer and led them to two championships, but he had to watch Michael Jordan enter the role he’d so badly wanted. It is why the two hate each other to this day. Now, there is a possibility Ace Bailey might be enacting the same plan.

The Rutgers forward was seen by many as a favorite to be the #3 pick in this draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. That no longer appears to be the case. Still, he should go within the top 6. It appears he is actively trying to change that. According to Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times, some feel Bailey is intentionally sabotaging his draft stock in an effort to fall.

Then there’s Bailey, the wild card in all of this. He reportedly has ‘‘shrunk’’ from his winter listing of 6-10 to being just taller than 6-7, has canceled interviews with every team and has refused to work out for anyone.

One rumor is that he wants to play in a major market, where he thinks he can be the main attraction, so there’s some self-sabotage going on. Might that market be Chicago? Considering Karnisovas has given no indication he’s looking to move up from No. 12, it’s very unlikely — even if Bailey slides to No. 6 or No. 7.

Ace Bailey seems to have two options if this is true.

Charlotte (#4), Utah (#5), Washington (#6), and New Orleans (#7) don’t qualify as big markets. The first possible spot is Brooklyn (#8), which is in the country’s largest market of New York. The issue is forward isn’t their primary need at the moment. Most believe they’re targeting help at guard. Houston would’ve been next at #10, but they traded for Kevin Durant. That pick now belongs to Phoenix, which also isn’t a big market. That leaves the Bulls at #12. They hope to move on from Patrick Williams and Nikola Vucevic, meaning they’ll have significant questions in the frontcourt.

If Ace Bailey wants to go somewhere he can be a centerpiece immediately. Chicago makes plenty of sense. Even with the self-sabotage, experts still struggle to believe he will slip out of the top six. Somebody will take a chance on his talent, even if it risks angering him. Either the Bulls have to get really lucky, or they have to consider trading up.