The New Orleans Pelicans may be watching their dream scenario come to life before their eyes as the 2025 NBA Draft inches closer. Rumors have been swirling that Ace Bailey could slide significantly come draft night, and it's possible he falls right into the Pelicans' lap when pick number seven is announced. There have obviously been plenty of rumors connecting Bailey and New Orleans, and the Pelicans may see him as their Brandon Ingram replacement.
For those who have kept up closely with this draft cycle, it's not surprising to see Bailey fall so far in draft projections. There have been plenty of concerns about his shot selection and overall offensive polish, enough to make General Managers around the league think twice about drafting him in the top three, where he was once a near-lock. Now, add in the concerns that have come with him being the only American prospect to not conduct a workout with any NBA team, and you've got a perfect recipe for him to tumble on draft night.
Of course, these concerns should not be things Pelicans fans turn a blind eye to, either. A raw prospect who won't work out for anyone around the league and continues to fall in the projected draft order? The guys who become All-Stars and All-NBA players don't typically take this path in the pre-draft process.
Ace Bailey may still be on the board when pick number seven comes
So drafting Bailey, even if he falls to the seventh pick, is going to feel like a bit of a risk. Still, even when there are some red flags, getting a guy who many are low on can often end up being a win. If the public perception of a player has wrongfully shifted completely in one direction, going the other way can sometimes be the right move.
The kind of raw talent Bailey carries is significant. He's got the kind of explosive athleticism and defensive versatility that would make him a real fit alongside Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy as the next core member of this team. He'd be able to develop as a secondary offensive creator behind those more established guys, with the potential to grow into a primary offensive option down the road.
At the end of the day, the front office wants who they want. If Ace Bailey is still available to them by the time the seventh pick rolls around, it's going to be hard envisioning a scenario in which the Pelicans don't press the button and bring the Rutgers prospect to New Orleans.