Ace Bailey’s representative told Team Prafting was in the top five and he would not report it
Ace Bailey didn’t expect to hear the name of Utah jazz and the fifth pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Before the event began, Bailey decided to skip workouts on every NBA team, which led to speculation that he might have had a team promise.
Despite publicly expressing his desire to play for teams such as the Washington Wizards, the New Orleans Pelicans and the Brooklyn Nets, the Jazz eventually chose the Rutgers star. But there is more to this story.
Ace Bailey’s representative urges a lottery team not to choose him
ESPN’s Jonathan Givony and Tim Bontemps reported Thursday: “Bailey’s representative told a team to draft the top five they don’t want the team to choose [him]and he won’t report whether they do so. ”
Givony and Bontemps also reported that rival teams believed Bailey’s preferred team was the Wizard. Giveney reported Wednesday that the Jazz was not on Bailey’s list.
It is not clear whether Utah is Bailey’s team said he wouldn’t choose whether or not. Bailey said it was out of control after being selected, and he reportedly “didn’t know” that jazz was interested in drafting him.
“I can control what I can control,” Bailey said when selected, saying something to people who don’t think they’re happy with the Jazz. “They feel how they feel.” But me and I, I, I, I focus on basketball, they do what they are doing, so it happens. ”
Danny Ainge of Utah says Bailey is very excited
Danny Ainge, president of Jazz basketball business, reportedly told Givony that he hadn’t “damn” the 18-year-old wanted to play in Utah.
However, Ainge chose Ace Bailey on Wednesday night.
“We were able to talk to him. He was very excited,” he said. “We were very excited. We were looking forward to a very bright future. His score received a lot of attention, [and] That should be true. He has a very skilled figure.
“But looking at a lot of his movies, his defensive efforts, especially his rebounding. A lot of weak obstacles, his joy and energy for the game. We did a lot of background calls and work and everyone loved being around the ace.”
Ace Bailey is expected to be the third pick
Additionally, Pele was expected to be the top three in the draft for most of the season, so he is likely to drop to No. 5 as he is the only American player to not have a workout with the team.
Bailey is a 6-foot-10-inch, 210-pound defender, a consensus five-star recruit and one of the top players in the 2024 class. In high school, he participated in the 2024 McDonald’s All-American Tournament, the Jordan Brand Classic and the Nike Hoop Summit.
In 30 games of the freshman season (all starts), Pele averaged 17.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.0 steals, 1.3 blocks and 33.3 minutes of games, while shooting 46% from the field and 34.6% from three-pointers.
The Jazz also selected Florida star Walter Clayton Jr.
