Ace Bailey had his eyes set on a few teams going into the 2025 NBA Draft, but there’s one team that didn’t make his favorites list.
Reportedly, Bailey’s agent informed a top-five team that they would not “report” if they decided to select him, according to ESPN.
Considered a strong contender as the No. 3 prospect, he ultimately landed with the Jazz at Pick No. 5. This nomination raised eyebrows, especially after a pre-draft period that didn’t exactly go in Bailey’s favor.
Bailey had clear preferences for teams picking 6, 7, and 8—specifically the Wizards, Pelicans, and Nets—but he was reportedly non-committal about the 76ers at No. 3, the Hornets at No. 4, and the Jazz at No. 5.
It’s not entirely clear which teams he preferred to avoid, but it seems Utah wasn’t one of them since they selected him.
“I can only control what I can control,” Bailey commented on the buzz surrounding his choices leading up to the draft. “They have their opinions.”
The 18-year-old wing from Rutgers noted that he didn’t even realize the Jazz were interested in him until after the pick was made.
As for the negative feedback he’s been getting, many suggested directing it at his agent, Omar Cooper, for guidance.
Cooper defended Bailey, stating that the pre-draft experience was anything but typical. “Every NBA team saw him perform in Chicago. He had 18 interviews. They reviewed his medicals. They saw him run and jump. They even took his measurements,” he explained.
“When Davion Mitchell skipped a workout with the Raptors, it didn’t spark criticism. Similarly, when Evan Mobley didn’t work out in Cleveland, no one cared that he was picked up anyway.”
While Bailey wasn’t enthusiastic about joining the Jazz, it appears the team looked beyond his pre-draft narrative.
“He’s great,” said Austin Ainge, president of basketball operations for the Jazz, during his introductory press conference in Salt Lake City. “We talked to him, and you could see he was really excited. We’re all looking forward to what’s ahead.”
Bailey’s teammate from Rutgers, Dylan Harper, has been one of his strongest advocates, and it seems like the Jazz organization has done its homework on Bailey’s character.
“We’ve made numerous background checks and are gathering information,” Ainge noted. “Everyone enjoys being around Ace.”
