As the Brooklyn Nets reportedly eye a bold move to snag him, Ace Bailey, Rutgers’ standout forward, is generating major buzz ahead of the 2025 NBA Draft. A projected top-three pick, Bailey dazzled during his freshman season, averaging 17.6 points and 7.2 rebounds while shooting 46% from the floor.
The 6-foot-9 athlete, with a 7-foot wingspan, impressed scouts with his transition play and spot-up shooting. Analysts have begun drawing parallels between Bailey and former Net Kevin Durant, wondering if he could be the next superstar to anchor Brooklyn’s future.
Brooklyn Tipped to Trade Up for Ace Bailey, Durant Comparisons Swirl
As the 2025 NBA Draft approaches, talk around Rutgers forward Bailey continues to heat up, and the Brooklyn Nets have emerged as a possible destination—if they’re willing to make a bold move. CBS Sports analysts Kyle Boone and Adam Finkelstein discussed Bailey’s upside and potential fit in Brooklyn, with Finkelstein declaring,
“I would love to see Ace Bailey in Brooklyn.”
A consensus top-three prospect, Bailey enters the draft cycle with a reputation built on elite physical tools and scoring instincts. Listed at 6-foot-8 with shoes, the explosive wing is known for his highlight-reel finishes and ability to change a game’s momentum with a single play.
“He’s a high-level athlete,” Finkelstein said, noting that Bailey can “jump over people and flush it.” Still, Bailey is far from a finished product. “Really low assist rate, poor assist-to-turnover percentage… doesn’t get to the rim as frequently as you’d expect in the halfcourt,” he added.
Despite these areas for development, the Nets’ current rebuilding state may offer an ideal environment.
“He needs to be in a situation where he’s got freedom to experiment… where development is emphasized over immediate results,” Finkelstein explained.
Brooklyn, which holds four first-round picks, may be able to make a move if Bailey starts to slide outside the top three.
“There is star upside here,” Finkelstein emphasized. Comparisons to Kevin Durant have surfaced not only because of Bailey’s physical profile and scoring ability, but also due to Brooklyn’s previous success in nurturing young talent into valuable assets.
Boone acknowledged the possible pairing but raised concerns about redundancy with Brooklyn’s Cam Thomas.
“It feels like, go get a Cam Thomas, but you already kind of have a Cam Thomas at home,” he said. Finkelstein responded, “I don’t love those two playing together,” though both agreed that Bailey’s upside could be too tempting to ignore.
If the Nets believe in their player development program, trading up for Bailey might mirror the very path that once brought Durant to Brooklyn—this time, in the form of a rising star still waiting to bloom.
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