There is reportedly a belief within the NBA that Ace Bailey's agent, Omar Cooper, is trying to ensure he lands with an East-Coast team in the 2025 NBA draft.

Late Wednesday night, Rutgers freshman and potential top-three pick Ace Bailey canceled a scheduled visit with the Philadelphia 76ers -- the team slated to pick third in the NBA Draft-- prompting questions about the curious handling of his pre-draft process and where his stock sits leading into next Wednesday's draft.

Kobe Bryant heard all those insults and more during the run-up to and in the aftermath of the 1996 NBA draft — so much vitriol and indignation directed at a teenage phenom who understood and trusted his talent more than most people in pro basketball did then.