In the second installment of the Difficult Evaluations series, Rafael Barlow and Leif Tuling dive into one of the most polarizing prospects in the 2024 NBA Draft: Rutgers freshman Ace Bailey. Rafael is locked in on Bailey as the clear No. 3 pick, citing his athleticism, defensive tools, and high-upside scoring ability. Leif, however, has concerns about Bailey’s erratic shooting performances and the wide variance in his production from game to game.

The two debate Bailey’s floor versus his ceiling, whether he projects as a franchise cornerstone, and how his archetype translates to the NBA. Rafael makes the case that Bailey is a much safer prospect than people realize, while Leif lays out different player comparisons and questions whether Bailey is truly ready to be a team’s offensive engine. They also discuss how Bailey stacks up against other tough evaluations, with Rafael arguing that Kasparas Jakucionis is actually a more difficult prospect to assess.

Bullet Points & Timestamps
Ace Bailey’s floor vs. ceiling – 2:36
Bailey’s hot and cold shooting nights – 4:17
Is he a franchise player? – 8:50
Rafael explains why Ace Bailey is a safe choice – 13:07
Leif shares different archetypes and player comps – 16:05
Is Bailey ready to be given the keys to a team? – 24:52
Ace Bailey: A difficult evaluation, or is Kasparas Jakucionis even tougher? – 30:30