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The Utah Jazz selected Rutgers wing Ace Bailey with the fifth overall pick despite his representatives informing at least one top-five team he wouldn't report if drafted, according to ESPN sources. The Utah Jazz selected Bailey fifth overall despite his refusal to work out for the team. Bailey's pre-draft strategy created significant intrigue in the run up to the first round of the 2025 NBA draft on Wednesday.

"I can control what I can control," Bailey said when asked about critics questioning his happiness with Utah. "They feel how they feel."

Agent Omar Cooper defended Bailey's pre-draft approach as standard business practice. Cooper noted that Bailey completed 18 team interviews and participated in a Chicago workout attended by all NBA franchises.

"Every NBA team watched him work out in Chicago. Everyone got his medical. They watched him run and jump. They got his measurements," Cooper told ESPN.

Rival teams believed Bailey's camp preferred the Washington Wizards, who held the sixth overall pick. Washington successfully drafted Alex Sarr second overall in 2024 after he avoided workouts with the Atlanta Hawks, who were selecting at No. 1.

The Wizards possessed an ideal roster fit for Bailey's wing skills and scoring ability. However, Utah's secretive draft plans under new president Austin Ainge caught rival teams off-guard.

Utah finished with the league's worst record but fell to fifth in the draft lottery. The Jazz capitalized on Bailey's availability at a position where he wasn't expected to remain.

"He's great. We were able to speak with him. He was super excited. We're super excited," Ainge said Wednesday night. "His scoring gets a lot of attention, deservedly so. He's very skilled for his size."

Cooper declined to address specific questions regarding Bailey's future relationship with the Jazz organization.

Via Jonathan Givony, Tim Bontemps/ESPN

If any player ever refuses to report, ban them from the league and give the team that picked them the same level of extra pick in the following year's draft.

Problem solved. At least for the league.

Can't solve stupid for the player.

deeps6x wrote:If any player ever refuses to report, ban them from the league and give the team that picked them the same level of extra pick in the following year's draft.

Problem solved. At least for the league.

Can't solve stupid for the player.

Oh yeah, sure thing.Lol smh

AWIZZINGBULLET wrote:

deeps6x wrote:If any player ever refuses to report, ban them from the league and give the team that picked them the same level of extra pick in the following year's draft.

Problem solved. At least for the league.

Can't solve stupid for the player.

Oh yeah, sure thing.Lol smh

just talking, if they refuse to report that team still has their rights. Utah has to convince him to play for below his value, or trade him as a distressed asset. You cannot force someone to want to work somewhere.

Heh, stellar start.

Ace will fit in perfectly with this Utah team. They need a guy with star potential.

I mean imagine you apply for a solid job, making millions of dollars, but refuse to do the most modest and simple tasks that certain job requires.
Cannot make this up!

Oh, yeah... forced to play for an NBA Team. Such a drag.

I would ban those clowns for 5 years from playing in the league. There are enough teams to chose from worldwide.

No rookie should refuse anything. Be glad you made it into the league. Appreciate it !

Kid is an idiot. You can see in his interview. Talks like a thug. His diva escapades not working and if he doesn’t report to Utah should just ban his arse!

Only in today’s world can you posture like a hood rat and also be a prima donna.

Top four teams and the Wizards at six avoided a huge headache. I hope Utah holds his draft rights and doesn’t sign his rookie deal so he gets nothing.

deeps6x wrote:If any player ever refuses to report, ban them from the league and give the team that picked them the same level of extra pick in the following year's draft.

Problem solved. At least for the league.

Can't solve stupid for the player.

how is the player stupid?

foreigngrammar wrote:I mean imagine you apply for a solid job, making millions of dollars, but refuse to do the most modest and simple tasks that certain job requires.
Cannot make this up!

Oh, yeah... forced to play for an NBA Team. Such a drag.

I would ban those clowns for 5 years from playing in the league. There are enough teams to chose from worldwide.

such a working class point of view lol