Sixers star Paul George changes stance on Jazz rookie Ace Bailey
Utah Jazz rookie Ace Bailey caught a lot of flack for his draft strategy leading up to the June 25 night. He canceled a workout with the Philadelphia 76ers--who held the No. 3 pick--as well as workouts with every other team who had an interest in the Rutgers star.
Bailey fell to the Jazz with the No. 5 overall pick and will look to make an impact in Utah. He averaged 13.5 points and 7.0 rebounds in two summer league games--both in Salt Lake City--for the Jazz.
Sixers star Paul George--who was a staunch Bailey supporter--questioned his draft strategy leading up to that night. On the latest episode of "Podcast P with Paul George", the Sixers' star changed his stance on the strategy:
I want to kind of retract what I said. How can we get on a kid that kind of knows what he wants? We're not in his shoes. He wants to do it his way. He's good enough, he's got the talent, he's gonna go where he wants to go. That's his decision. It could have backfired, but it didn't. He's still in a great situation; he still gets to showcase what he could do. He had a great game too. He went crazy, showed his potential, a flash of it.
Time will tell if Bailey will turn into the star player that many believe he can be with Utah. The Sixers, in turn, selected Baylor's VJ Edgecombe with the No. 3 overall pick as he looks to join a talented backcourt in Philadelphia. Bailey will look to give the Jazz that cornerstone piece they need to continue their rebuild.
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