All’s well that ends well between the Utah Jazz and their controversial rookie Ace Bailey.
On Friday, the team addressed the rumors surrounding the No. 5 overall pick of the 2025 NBA Draft amid speculation that he doesn’t want to play in Utah.
ESPN’s Jonathan Givony reported on Friday afternoon that Bailey is scheduled to report to Utah this weekend with Sunday penciled as his introductory press conference.
“We’ve had good communication with Ace Bailey and his representatives,” the Jazz representative told ESPN on Friday. “We feel good about everything. Ace and his family are coming to Utah tomorrow. We’ll have a press conference on Sunday and a practice on Monday.
“This has always been the plan, including for our other rookies, Walter Clayton and John Tonje — to let them go home and collect their belongings, and then fly right to summer league from Salt Lake City.”
Bizarre Pre-Draft Process
The Jazz are high on Bailey, who was the consensus No. 3 pick all year, until his bizarre pre-draft process painted him as a diva for refusing to work out with teams in the top five and canceled a scheduled visit to the Philadelphia 76ers at the last minute.
Bailey did not attend a single workout.
Getty Ace Bailey (R) shakes hands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver (L) after being drafted fifth overall by the Utah Jazz.
With the drama surrounding the 6-foot-9 rookie, Online sportsbook Bovada has released odds for his next team if he holds out.
The Los Angeles Lakers are the betting favorites to land at +235, following reports that Bailey is “having second thoughts” about reporting to the Jazz. The Dallas Mavericks (+350), Phoenix Suns (+400), Toronto Raptors (+450) and the Miami Heat (+575) round up the top five teams in the betting list. The Chicago Bulls (+650), Brooklyn Nets (+750) and the Boston Celtics (+850) are also in the mix.
Givony’s report should calm the situation down.
Ace Bailey ‘Thrilled’ to Play in Utah, Says New Spokesman
Getty Ace Bailey poses on the red carpet prior to the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 25, 2025.
Andrew Witlieb of GSE Worldwide, who was introduced as Bailey’s representative in an interview with Front Office Sports, allayed earlier fears of his client that he’s holding out after the Jazz selected him despite declining to attend a pre-draft workout with them.
“He’s thrilled to be going to Utah,” Witlieb told Front Office Sports. “Obviously, it’s an honor to be selected in the top five of the NBA Draft.
“We think he can do a lot of great things out there. He certainly should get a ton of playing time, and he’ll have a lot of chances to show what he can do. So we think it’s a great situation for him basketball-wise.”
Witlieb clarified that it was Bailey’s longtime manager, Omar Cooper, who spearheaded their pre-draft strategy.
“This was led by his longtime manager Omar Cooper, who we’re partnering with on this,” Witlieb said. “And Omar really focused more on fit, rather than going third in the draft. He wanted somewhere where Ace could have the best possible basketball fit for his game and we think Utah is one of the best places he could’ve gone.”
Omar Cooper Pushes Back
In a previous interview with Givony, Cooper defended their actions.
“Every NBA team watched him work out in Chicago,” Cooper previously told ESPN. “He did 18 interviews. Everyone got his medical. [Teams] watched him run and jump. They got his measurements. They watched him shoot in drills.
“No one said anything when Davion Mitchell canceled a workout with the Toronto Raptors for the No. 4 pick. No one criticized Evan Mobley when he didn’t work out for Cleveland, and they drafted him anyway.
“There is nothing uncommon about how Ace Bailey’s pre-draft process was handled.
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