Welcome Ace Bailey!

[babyjax13]

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[Catchall]

From CBS Sports -- https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/...-flagg-ace-bailey-all-first-round-selections/

I give this an enthusiastic "A." His upside is significant. He didn't work out for them but Utah was not going to get bullied by Bailey's representation. They took the best prospect on the board. I believe he's a top three prospect in the draft. He's a jumbo wing, high-level athlete and tough shot-maker. If everything clicks, he could have the highest upside in the draft. Ace Bailey is going to have an opportunity to have an immediate impact. I think in the long run this can work out very, very well for the Jazz. Grade: A

[Catchall]

From SI -- https://www.si.com/nba/nba-draft-first-round-grades-every-selection-from-cooper-flagg-to-no-30

5. Utah Jazz: Ace Bailey, Rutgers Scarlet Knights​

Grade: A​

After plenty of headlines about Bailey’s unorthodox predraft process, the Rutgers product lands at No. 5 in Utah. Bailey’s camp reportedly attempted to position him to land with a team like Washington or Brooklyn, but instead, the Jazz took the dive on a clear top-three talent in this draft despite not getting the chance to work him out prior to draft day. It’s a clear win for Utah to land Bailey after falling on lottery night to No. 5 despite his decision-making warts that have sometimes plagued him throughout his young career. Even if this is a boom-or-bust pick, it’s a risk the Jazz needed to take.

[Catchall]

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[Inigo Montoya]

We'll find out very soon if the Jazz are that team.

[Daddy 801]

He is going to report. No one is giving up millions of dollars. And if he doesn’t….we call his bluff and wait and he doesn’t get paid u til he reports.

What’s gonna happen…we lose more games at the start of the season? Oh my….please don’t hurt us!!!

[Daddy 801]

Having said my negative remarks about a potential issue I don’t think will happen….

I am excited about this pick. Even if Tre ends up being better I still think we are so far from having our main guy we have to swing for the fences. And it seems to me he has tremendous upside. Clearly it’s up to him how much he develops, but if he has a hard work ethic he should become a good player. Hope he doesn’t let outside noise distract him.

[Wolverine]

Didn't do press conference - a little concerning. We'll see if he shows up Monday.

[Jammer]

He needs to fire his representation. Kevin Armstrong of NJ Advanced Media reports that Bailey's Agent, Omar Cooper, had legal issues in his past, as he was charged with attempted murder and possession with intent to distribute cocaine on or by school properties in the 1990’s, and indicted in 2003 for possessing a machine gun and a black short-clip Uzi. Cooper served 6 months for the cocaine conviction, while the other charges were dropped.

Hope the kid is not another Len Bias. In the 1980’s the Celtics drafted Lenny Bias with a #2 pick, who was described as Michael Jordan-like. Problem was that one of Bias’ Maryland teammates was a university drug dealer, who had been advancing Bias product against his future earnings. Bias died 2 days after the draft when his heart stopped due to cocaine inhalation. None of the 3 or 4 teammates that Bias was partying with bothered to call for medical help until about 2 hours passed and he was quite dead by then.

Hopefully this kid is not into Cooper for a similar debt, and who knows what kind of vig.

Cooper is somewhat of an odd choice by such a prominent talent. Cooper is the Founder & CEO of Lifestyle Sports Agency, whose other clients include Tariq Francis and Babatunde Akingbola. Omar Cooper has a Twin Brother Sharife Cooper. Bailey has been associated with Cooper since HIGH SCHOOL.

HOWEVER, since Omar Cooper is NOT AN NBA Player's Association CERTIFIED AGENT, he cannot provide counsel to Bailey or represent Bailey in any contract negotiations. Yet, Bailey has referred to Cooper as his Agent.

My gut tells me that this kid needs help.

[Jammer]

Worth Repeating.

HOWEVER, since Omar Cooper is NOT AN NBA Player's Association CERTIFIED AGENT, he cannot provide counsel to Bailey or represent Bailey in any contract negotiations. Yet, Bailey has referred to Cooper as his Agent, and Cooper has been a part of Bailey's Life since his High School Days.

My gut tells me that this kid needs help.

[Catchall]

"He's thrilled to be going to Utah. Obviously it's an honor to be selected in the top 5 of the NBA Draft, and you know we think he can do a lot of great things out there..."

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[Catchall]

Didn't do press conference - a little concerning. We'll see if he shows up Monday.

The Jazz haven't done a press conference. The intro press conference is supposed to be next week in Utah with all three draft picks. There might have been some media interviews the night of the draft or day after by local media that Ace didn't do.

[Jammer]

"He's thrilled to be going to Utah. Obviously it's an honor to be selected in the top 5 of the NBA Draft, and you know we think he can do a lot of great things out there..."

Read on Twitter

Saw the video. Hopefully he means it.

[Inigo Montoya]

I really don't appreciate Bailey's management's shifting of the goalpost when addressing him not working out for any team. They keep saying that it's overblown and that many teams picked players who didn't work out for them, which is true, but it doesn't address the question they were asked about Bailey's process of not working out for any team.

[Catchall]

This guy Omar Cooper seems to be a bit of a shady influence. He's been the one trying to steer Ace to certain destinations. He isn't a registered agent, however, and the professional agency needed to step in and clear the air.

Ironically, Omar Cooper's effort to steer Ace away from teams near the top of the lottery is the biggest reason the Jazz were able to draft Ace. Otherwise, he'd probably be in Philadelphia.

[Inigo Montoya]

This guy Omar Cooper seems to be a bit of a shady influence. He's been the one trying to steer Ace to certain destinations. He isn't a registered agent, however, and the professional agency needed to step in and clear the air.

Ironically, Omar Cooper's effort to steer Ace away from teams near the top of the lottery is the biggest reason the Jazz were able to draft Ace. Otherwise, he'd probably be in Philadelphia.

The thing is that the line they are feeding the media about 'many players didn't work out for the team that drafted them' is used not only by Cooper but by his other representation like in the video posted above, when the issue and the question that is asked of them is about that he didn't work out for any team at all and he might be the first American prospect to ever do so. So while it may have been Cooper's idea for him to not work out for any team, the answers they are giving are still not helping their client and that can't be pinned only on Cooper.

[Hoops Addict]

Welcome Ace.

Is this guy Omar Cooper really his agent?

Online article says he did 6 months for cocaine possession.

I hope the Jazz spoke to his mom about bad influences.

[Jammer]

Welcome Ace.

Is this guy Omar Cooper really his agent?

Online article says he did 6 months for cocaine possession.

I hope the Jazz spoke to his mom about bad influences.

Read the thread above and you will see the answer.

[Daddy 801]

The stuff about his rep is pretty wild. But I don’t put a lot of concern into not working out. If my client was discussed as the number 1 prospect coming out of high school and had a good enough season to know he is a top 5 pick I don’t know I would let him do workouts. I would do interviews for sure, but I’m not sure I would care about workouts. I’d just tell the team there is plenty of footage of his play and you know what you are getting.

I’m not saying that is the right move, but it’s not crazy to me. Maybe an agent thinks workout will just hurt his draft status. And it’s the agents job to do what’s best for the client.