Because of him, this draft has become interesting.

In just a few days, the 2025 draft will take place, and our main focus is certainly on what position Yang Hansen will be selected. However, aside from that, there aren't many highlights in this draft. Flag had locked in the first pick a year ago, and the Spurs will undoubtedly choose Harper. But the emergence of a "troublemaker" has made the remaining picks in this draft quite uncertain.

Fans following the draft know that this "troublemaker" is Es-Bayley, who was originally predicted to be selected third by the 76ers. Recently, Bayley has been surrounded by negative news, and his projected draft position has been falling continuously.

Originally, Bayley was supposed to have a workout with the 76ers, who hold the third pick, and they had already arranged flights, hotels, and dinners. However, Bayley unilaterally broke the agreement, leaving the 76ers in the lurch.

In the past few days, Bayley's agent has been causing trouble as well, rejecting all workout invitations. Currently, Bayley is the only high-ranked prospect who has not participated in any individual workouts. Moreover, his agent has stated that a fee is required for Bayley to grant interviews.

Bayley and his team's recent actions seem to be signaling to all teams not to draft him. This is quite rare in recent drafts. With rookie contracts continuously increasing, missing one position can mean a significant amount of money. Players typically try to improve their draft positions to secure a higher first salary.

Bayley's team claims that he possesses the strongest talent among this year's draft class, hoping to join a team that can provide him with a clear path for growth, including plenty of playing time and a defined role in the strategy. In other words, Bayley wants to have unrestricted shooting privileges immediately, allowing him to take shots freely.

Therefore, the 76ers are undoubtedly the last team Bayley wants to go to, as they have stars like George, Embiid, and Maxey, along with last year's standout rookie McCain, meaning Bayley would hardly get any touches.

The fourth-ranked Hornets have Ball and Miller, and Bayley has also declined a workout invitation from the fifth-ranked Jazz. It seems that the sixth-ranked Wizards, the seventh-ranked Pelicans, and the eighth-ranked Nets are the three options Bayley prefers, especially the Nets, who could immediately offer him unlimited shooting opportunities.

Rutgers University men's basketball official Twitter revealed that the day before the draft, Bayley will throw the first pitch for MLB's New York Mets. It seems the Nets' intentions are quite clear.

Of course, we cannot rule out the possibility of the 76ers firmly choosing Bayley, as both Maxey and McCain were selected without individual workouts with the 76ers.

In addition to wanting to control the draft outcome, Bayley's team has been making questionable moves lately, which may also indicate a desire to hide their flaws and not expose more weaknesses. After all, Bayley's behavior was relatively normal before the combine.

Bayley was previously projected to be a top-three pick, which certainly has its merits. He averaged 17.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.0 steals, 1.3 blocks, and 2.0 turnovers at Rutgers, with a shooting percentage of 46.0% and a three-point shooting percentage of 34.6%.

He is one of the most outstanding wings in this draft, possessing a high offensive ceiling and excellent defensive skills, capable of switching on multiple positions, with exceptional athleticism. Comparing him to players like McGrady, Wiggins, and George makes it clear what kind of expectations people have for him.

However, during the physical testing at the combine, Bayley underperformed. He originally listed his height as 2.08 meters, suitable for a forward position. But ultimately, his barefoot height measured only 201.9 cm, and he weighed just 92 kg, which is somewhat on the smaller side for a forward. Some of his dynamic testing data also showed declines (though there is a possibility of intentional underperformance).

Bayley is definitely not the type of player who will just play a straightforward 3-and-D role; he has very high aspirations. It remains to be seen whether he has the ability to match that ambition. Bayley's team's current actions may seem self-destructive, but what if he ends up in the team he desires and performs as a core player? How would you evaluate his maneuvers then?

On June 26, the draft will take place, and Bayley's destination will finally be revealed.