Regardless of Ace Bailey's desires, Jazz made right move drafting him

New York Times

8 hours ago

On Wednesday night, the Utah Jazz did the necessary: They used the No. 5 pick of the NBA Draft to select Ace Bailey, a move that, for the first time in more than a year, sent real waves of hope through their fan base.
The Jazz had to do that. They lost 65 games in grand fashion this past season. They were arguably the worst team in the league. And then, they got very unlucky in the lottery, falling to the fifth pick, which was their worst case. They needed to leave the draft with a player who has All-Star and All-NBA potential. Bailey has some major warts as a player, warts that give him a low floor to go with his high ceiling. But nobody can argue with the ceiling. At 6-foot-9 and one of the best shooters in the draft, Bailey has as much potential as almost anyone in the field.
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On Thursday night, reports surfaced that Bailey is having second thoughts about reporting to the Jazz, which has forced the Jazz to address the situation. The Rutgers product was clearly and visibly not happy being selected by Utah. In the days and weeks leading up to the draft, it became clear that Bailey and his representation were trying to force a desired outcome from Wednesday night. Bailey didn't work out for a single team, the only lottery prospect to not do so. He had a workout scheduled with the Philadelphia 76ers, but that workout was canceled. On Thursday night, Avery Bradley, Utah's vice president of player development, seemed unbothered by the situation. But the fact that the situation is being talked about forced him to talk about it.
'For me, it is my understanding that all of our draft picks will be here this weekend and preparing for summer league,' Bradley said.
If you look at things with common sense, it seems very far-fetched that Bailey would do anything other than report to the Jazz and begin his professional basketball career. The Jazz front office is run by Austin Ainge, Danny Ainge and Justin Zanik. When Zanik traded Donovan Mitchell, Mitchell was dealt to the Cleveland Cavaliers when there was immense pressure to trade him to the New York Knicks. And when has anyone known someone with the last name of Ainge to be intimidated?
The Jazz knew through the actions of Bailey's representation that Bailey wouldn't do backflips if Utah selected him. The Jazz didn't care. They took him anyway. And that's exactly what they should have done. Utah is not a destination in free agency among star players. The Jazz, in the past three years, have tried to trade for players, only for their agents to step in and tell them that player wouldn't sign an extension. Those are some of the things that Utah's front office can't control.
Ace in the hole, out west 🏔️💜#TakeNote | #NBADraft pic.twitter.com/HQhCtVEl6R
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) June 26, 2025
But drafting a player? That's the one avenue of player acquisition that's completely within Utah's control. In many ways, this is the plight of the small-market team in the NBA. There are some outlier destinations, such as the San Antonio Spurs. But for the most part, the NBA is agent-driven when it comes to the free-agency market and the trading of significant players who are on short-term contracts. Player empowerment is a good thing. That being said, Bailey's situation seems extreme.
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On Thursday night, the Jazz should have been taking victory laps for a strong draft that includes Florida star Walter Clayton Jr., one of the most dynamic guards of the first round. And the masses should be talking about how Bailey fits into head coach Will Hardy's system. Most likely, it will turn out that way because there is little recourse for a player once a franchise drafts him and assumes team control. But even a smidgeon of doubt is something the Jazz and a fan base starving for something good to latch on to shouldn't have to deal with.
'I think there is always going to be outside noise,' Bradley said. 'But Ace's dream was to get drafted, and he's blessed to have been drafted by the Utah Jazz. We are excited to have him. We are excited to get him here and excited to get him a part of our family, so he can begin to show who he is as a player.'
If nothing else, this shines a light on the cat-and-mouse game of the predraft process. Bailey's situation has been extreme. But in terms of the predraft game of chicken his representation played, led by agent Omar Cooper, it isn't all that atypical. A decade ago, the Jazz had to deal with a prospect openly not wanting to be drafted by them. A young Dante Exum told reporters that he wouldn't work out in Utah because the Jazz already had Trey Burke playing point guard, who was a lottery pick the year before.
Utah, ironically, had the No. 5 pick in that draft. The Jazz front office scoffed at the notion of being scared off and, sure enough, took Exum because he was the top player on its board. Now, given the results of that draft, they probably should have taken Marcus Smart or Julius Randle. But that's a conversation for another day. The point is the Jazz front office has a history of not giving in to what a prospect wants.
The irony of it all, from a basketball standpoint, is that Bailey and his representation should be overjoyed with where he landed. Bailey's team made it clear during the predraft process that it wanted Bailey to be in a situation where he could make a significant impact in his rookie season. Depending on what Utah does in free agency, Bailey has a real chance to start at small forward or shooting guard on opening night.
Bailey's ability to shoot, with or without movement, is something that Hardy has been able to unlock in the past. It is no coincidence that Lauri Markkanen became an All-Star level player under Hardy, and his system of playing with the pass, instead of playing with the dribble. Bailey is arguably one of the two best shotmakers in the draft, with Tre Johnson his competition. His size allows him to play to spots and shoot over defenders. He is a very good vertical athlete and someone who, by all accounts, will work hard to improve his game. In a basketball sense, Bailey and Utah are a terrific match.
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The question of whether players want to land in Utah is one that's been around for generations. And the irony is that multiple players who have left the Jazz over the years have expressed remorse concerning their choices. Deron Williams, a star point guard under the late and great Jerry Sloan, is the best example. What the Jazz have going for them is opportunity. Their facilities are top-notch, in comparison to the rest of the league. The Jazz try hard to make their players feel comfortable within the team and the community.
Obviously, the appeal of the big market and the big city isn't there. Players love nightclubs and nightlife. Salt Lake City, as a city, is more cultural and more active than it will ever get credit for. But even with a district of clubs, led by Lake Effect on Saturday nights, that are terrific and draw a bunch of people weekly, can SLC compare to a New York or Los Angeles? Of course not. And players want to be a part of that. You can't blame twentysomethings for wanting the life of twentysomethings.
Agents know this, and that's why the predraft process gets messy. Players decline to work out. Agents decline to provide medicals for teams. Agents try to steer players toward desired destinations. It's a tale as old as time. But usually, once a player gets drafted, he gets drafted. The shenanigans stop. Of course, there are times when player reaction makes for a funny story on draft night. Bailey looked like he needed to blink twice because he was in danger when shaking commissioner Adam Silver's hand Wednesday night. Collin Murray-Boyles looked less than pleased that he was drafted by the Toronto Raptors. A decade ago, Zach Lavine looked heated when he was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Way back when, Steve Francis looked distraught to be drafted by the then-Vancouver Grizzlies.
These things happen, and for whatever reason. A position and pathway to playing time may not be there. Maybe the player doesn't like snow. Maybe the state taxes are high. There are differing reasons. But usually, the player realizes the money that's at stake, shows up and begins the countdown toward unrestricted free agency.
In all likelihood, that's what will happen with Bailey and the Jazz. And if that happens, Bailey is talented enough to become a terrific NBA player. But the fact that this has been a thing is something that may spark conversation at the highest levels of the NBA. And it shines a light on what has become a dirty game behind the scenes during the predraft process. And, make no mistake. It's a game that's been played for generations.
Bailey's game was played out for the public to digest. That's the only difference.