Latest news with #AveryBradley
New York Times
12 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Regardless of Ace Bailey's desires, Jazz made right move drafting him
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. Advertisement 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 — 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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.
New York Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
How Carlos Boozer, Avery Bradley are helping the Jazz brain trust for NBA Draft
Carlos Boozer strode confidently through Zions Bank Basketball Center, the Utah Jazz training facility. Once upon a time, he walked this space as a player. Those were his All-Star days. His Olympian days. The days of Deron Williams, Andrei Kirilenko and the late, great Jerry Sloan. The days of Utah's powder blue uniform. Advertisement Today, Boozer is back with the organization, and, along with Avery Bradley, is a key cog in a front office tasked with selecting the fifth pick in Wednesday night's NBA Draft. Utah's war room will be different for Boozer, not only because he's no longer a player, but also because the building has undergone renovations since his playing days. And we're talking about a front office that has transitioned in general managers from Kevin O'Connor to Dennis Lindsey, to Justin Zanik, to Danny Ainge, and now to Austin Ainge. 'This place has really transformed,' Boozer told The Athletic. 'You see the kitchen over there? That used to be our weight room. This has been fun. It's been a long time coming. I love that I'm back, and it's a huge honor to be working for the Jazz. It's a little different to be on this side. 'But, I want to do my part to build this team back up to being a contender, because that's where this franchise belongs. I love this fan base and this town. It reminds me of my hometown in Alaska. So, this has been a huge honor, and it's brought back so many memories.' Whomever the Jazz select with the fifth pick, whether it be Tre Johnson, Ace Bailey or someone like Jeremiah Fears, Boozer and Bradley will have been key figures in that selection. Officially, Boozer is a scout, and Bradley is the vice president of player development. They both have dreams of one day running their franchise in an executive role. However, in this draft cycle, Boozer and Bradley have both been entrusted with key parts of the scouting and recommendation process. 'They both have a unique perspective, having played the game at a high level for so long,' Austin Ainge told The Athletic. 'It's something that I have leaned on and relied on. They have a lot of trust.' Their roles have been simple yet essential: observe workouts, engage in conversations about the prospects and interact with them. In several key workouts and interviews, the two have been front and center, offering their opinions about what they saw and how prospects have reacted to workouts, whether in groups or individually. Advertisement From Austin Ainge's point of view, the experience that Boozer and Bradley accumulated as players who experienced many different situations became an asset for the Jazz. And everyone knows that a lot is at stake for a Utah organization that needs to get this draft correct. The Jazz will pick fifth on Wednesday night, and whoever they select needs to be a hit. The Jazz have nice players on their roster. Isaiah Collier turned in a terrific rookie season at point guard. Keyonte George continues to evolve as a scorer and a potentially dynamic offensive player. Walker Kessler has emerged as a cornerstone. Kyle Filipowski and Taylor Hendricks both possess a wealth of talent. Cody Williams had a rough rookie season, but the Jazz still hold a lot of hope for the former lottery pick. However, what Utah lacks is a player who projects to be an All-NBA level talent, the kind of player the Oklahoma City Thunder assembled on their path to a championship. That's the task of the Jazz this draft cycle. They know they have to find one of those kinds of players, which is why bringing in Boozer and pairing him with Bradley could pay dividends. 'I think having the perspective of being a player is helpful,' Bradley said. 'Seeing players that could model and resemble some of the players that we've played with and have been in locker rooms with helps. What Carlos and I have wanted to do is help Austin and Justin (Zanik) and Danny (Ainge) in the process.' What has helped Boozer and Bradley in this cycle is their background as players. They were both McDonald's All-Americans and at the top of their respective high school classes. So, they both know what it's like to be superstars at the youth level, much like almost anyone the Jazz will draft on Wednesday night. However, they both had to find ways to sustain success after college. Advertisement Boozer, after a standout career at Duke, fell to being a second-round pick. Why? Because, as a big man, he played relatively under the rim and was only around 6 foot 9 as a power forward. There were concerns about his athleticism and how well he would defend at the NBA level. He turned out to be a great player. He broke out with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and in the peak of his career with the Jazz, he was one of the better power forwards in the Western Conference. Jazz fans haven't soon forgotten his legendary Game 7 road performance against the Houston Rockets in 2007, when he scored 35 points and grabbed 14 rebounds. That was the last season the Jazz advanced as far as the Western Conference finals. Bradley was the top player in his high school class. After college, though, he went from star to role player. And then, he went from role player to being one of the most valuable role players in the league. What prevented him from being a star was being a tweener offensively, neither a point guard nor a shooting guard. What made him the guy almost every contender would want on their team during his prime years was his defense. He was, for much of his prime, one of the very best guard defenders in basketball, his long arms, penchant for playing hard and quick feet completing a great defensive package. When Boozer and Bradley evaluate, they tend to focus on strengths rather than weaknesses: What a player is capable of doing, rather than what they can't do. 'For sure, I'm a tougher critic when it comes to the defensive end of the floor,' Bradley said. 'I think watching the guys gives us a lot of good perspective, each and every day. Carlos was great on the offensive end, so that brings one perspective. When we watch guys, we are trying to project what they will be. We are trying to build a culture that is defensively focused. I think if we can find a way to grow the right culture, we will have the chance to be very successful.' What will be fascinating for Boozer next season is that he will be in a position to scout his sons, with the decent chance that one of them may end up playing for the Jazz. Twins Cameron and Cayden Boozer will be freshmen at Duke this upcoming season. Cam is a 6-foot-10 power forward who projects as one of the top three picks of the 2026 NBA draft. He is a player with very few weaknesses on either side of the floor and has been among the best high school players in the country for years. Advertisement Cayden is one of the best and mature point guards in the class. At 6-5, he has terrific size for his position and is one of the smartest point guards in the class. He projects as a first-round pick. The twins were very small when Carlos was playing for the Jazz. And Carlos promises that scouting them professionally won't be much different from watching them as a father, because, as a father, one can sometimes be the harshest critic for the son. However, ask Carlos about his sons, and the glowing nature of how he talks about them shines through. Above all else, he is a proud father. 'I don't think it will be anything new,' Boozer said. 'I've been evaluating them for their whole careers. I enjoy being a dad and pushing and challenging them. I'm certainly looking forward to getting on campus at Duke, watching them and evaluating the highs and lows and their growth process. Bradley, 34, and Boozer, 43, being relatively young, bode well for their second careers. The fact that they are both recently retired gives them a unique opportunity to impart wisdom to the potential draftees. Whether that pick turns out to be Bailey, Johnson or whomever, Boozer and Bradley will have had a significant hand in that selection. (Photo of Avery Bradley, Carlos Boozer and Austin Ainge: Carlos Avila / Utah Jazz)
