The Philadelphia 76ers are projected to select Ace Bailey with the third overall pick in the 2025 draft. Jonathan Givony of ESPN stated on May 19 that Philadelphia should select Bailey because he is a natural fit with the rest of the organization’s roster.
Bailey — widely considered this draft’s third-most-talented prospect — is the natural fit here, as he could seamlessly slide into the Sixers’ lineup at shooting guard, small forward or power forward, operating alongside any of their current players.
Nick Nurse’s Offense: Built for the Frontcourt
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I disagree with Jonathan’s assessment as Ace Bailey would not be optimized in Philadelphia’s offensive system. 76ers head coach Nick Nurse has installed a system that relies on front court players to be the focal point of the team’s offense.
Nick Nurse likes to position a frontcourt player between the free-throw line and the three-point line. This positioning gives the frontcourt player two different options: start a ball movement sequence or isolate the defender.
On February 9, Justin Edwards had the ball on the left wing with eleven minutes to go in the first quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks. Edwards passed the ball to Paul George, who had established a post position at the free-throw line against Taurean Prince.
Upon receiving the ball, George turned around to face the basket and passed the ball to Joel Embiid. He ended the position by making a three-pointer from the left wing. As the play was happening, Kelly Oubre and Tyrese Maxey spent the entire possession standing behind the three point line.
These plays contributed to Philadelphia ranking 11th in passes per game over the past two seasons, averaging 287.4. However, there are instances where the frontcourt player believes he has a favorable matchup.
On January 4, Joel Embiid passed the ball to George, who stood on their left wing in the first quarter against the Broken Nets. George realized that center Noah Clowney was guarding him. Consequently, he took a couple of steps to the basket before taking a step-back jumper, which he made.
Why Ace Bailey Looks Like a Fit—on Paper
The flexibility within the Nurse’s system contributed to Philadelphia ranking fourth in isolation possessions over the past two seasons, averaging 10.2 per game. At first glance, Ace Bailey would feel comfortable in Philadelphia’s offense because he prefers to take mid-range jumpers. According to Hoop Intellect, Bailey attempted 110 off-the-dribble twos at Rutgers. He converted 36.4% of those attempts.
However, Bailey is unlikely to be a frontcourt player who is the focal point of Philadelphia’s offense. The team has indicated they plan to have George and stay on the roster next season.
On April 14, President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey stated that his main goal going into the 2025 off-season was to assemble a better supporting cast around the team’s stars.
“We feel good about those three guys. Our three All-Stars,” Morey said on Sunday. “I have to do a better job putting a supporting cast around them.”
Consequently, Ace Bailey would spend significant time standing behind the three-point line. Unfortunately, similar to his college teammate Dylan Harper, Bailey was a below-average shooter at Rutgers University. He shot 34.6% on 4.5 attempts per game during his only college season.
Philadelphia’s current roster and Ace Bailey’s skill set indicate that the team isn’t the right landing spot for him.
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