For months now, Cooper Flagg has been the name on every draft board, highlight reel, and NBA scout’s lips. The Duke star has been widely assumed to be the surefire No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. But after the March Madness finals, the conversation shifted slightly from hype to actual performance. And another name sneaked into the conversation.
That name is none other than Rutgers star Ace Bailey. Despite being overshadowed all season by Dylan Harper and Flagg in the headlines, Bailey is now heating up as perhaps the biggest wildcard in this year’s draft.
He is a polarizing presence on court and has gone from being the “other guy” on a struggling Rutgers squad to someone credible voices are calling the best player in the class.
Mavericks’ Next Star? Boogie Cousins Thinks It Should Be Ace Bailey and Not Cooper Flagg
When the Dallas Mavericks won the NBA Draft Lottery with just a 1.8% chance, it felt like a blessing in disguise. After the season that saw Kyrie Irving sidelined and Luka Doncic overworked, the Mavericks’ GM, Nico Harrison, will likely do the obvious. Take Flagg and rebuild around a Doncic-Flagg core.
But DeMarcus “Boogie” Cousins, a four-time NBA All-Star, sees a different option that might work great when thinking long term.
Boogie Cousins would pick Ace Bailey over Cooper Flagg with the #1 pick in the NBA Draft 🤯
“He’s the closest thing we’ve seen to Tracy McGrady.”@boogiecousins | @GeorgesNiang20 | @MichelleDBeadle | @TeamLou23 | @ChandlerParsons pic.twitter.com/G9yEyrDxpY
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) May 20, 2025
On the latest episode of Run It Back, Cousins went on to say that if he were in charge, he’d take Ace Bailey No. 1 overall.
“Ace Bailey getting hot again,” Cousins said with conviction. “To me, Ace Bailey is the number one pick… I think he’s the closest thing we’ve seen to a Tracy McGrady.”
That McGrady comparison might sound like a stretch, but Cousins is not the only one saying it.
A growing group of scouts and analysts is beginning to see something special in Bailey’s game. He has something unpredictable, explosive, and potentially franchise-altering. While there is no denying that Flagg is the safe bet, Bailey might be the bigger swing with a higher ceiling.
Cousins even went on to talk about the deeper implications for Dallas. “You already got rid of one Great White Hope, you can’t get rid of the next,” said Cousins. While words may be tongue-in-cheek, the message was simply that choosing Bailey would be bold, but possibly brilliant.
History has often shown the world that bold moves can define franchises. Bailey, for all the hot takes surrounding him, has the kind of offensive arsenal that can change a team’s trajectory. He is a three-level scorer.
Bailey is comfortable pulling up from 20 feet or sinking fadeaways under pressure. He’s shown he can make guarded jumpers at a 48.1% clip. Though his shot selection raised eyebrows at Rutgers, it’s also what makes him so intriguing. He is not afraid to take the shots most wouldn’t even consider. But there are criticisms around Bailey, too.
One of the biggest things critics point out is his inconsistencies. To add on, it does not help that Rutgers, despite boasting two top-five prospects, finished 15-17 and missed the NCAA Tournament. But that of course, does not tell the full story.
Bailey’s individual skill set was never in doubt. At 6’7.5” with a 7-foot wingspan, Bailey’s physical profile is comparable to that of Michael Porter Jr.. Porter, too much like Bailey, came in with an avalanche of skepticism. And unlike Porter, who played just three college games, Bailey has been performing all season.
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Teams like the 76ers (pick No. 3) and Wizards (No. 6) are reportedly very interested, and it’s hard to imagine Bailey slipping past either of them. His mix of shooting mechanics, length, and upside makes him one of the most tantalising prospects available.
The Flagg vs. Bailey debate might come down to one simple question: Would you rather have the most polished player in the draft, or the one who might become a superstar?
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