Ace Bailey Reportedly Declined Jazz Workout Invite Before 2025 NBA Draft

Ace Bailey declined an invitation to work out for the Utah Jazz ahead of the franchise's No. 5 selection in the 2025 NBA draft, insider Jake Fischer reported on Wednesday.

ESPN's Jonathan Givony previously reported that Bailey had declined a workout invitation from the Jazz in addition to invites from the Philadelphia 76ers, who hold the No. 3 pick, and the Charlotte Hornets, who are currently set to draft at No. 4.

According to Fischer, "numerous teams are operating under the belief that Bailey did not hold an official visit with any team in the lottery and that his advisers want to steer him to a team that can offer a healthy shot profile and on-ball creation opportunities."

Fischer wrote that he sees the Washington Wizards' No. 6 pick as Bailey's floor in the upcoming draft. Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman projected in his final mock draft that Bailey would go to the Wizards.

Bailey was scheduled to work out for the Sixers on the Friday before the 2025 draft. He cancelled two days prior to the meeting, Givony and Shams Charania reported for ESPN.

According to Givony, most NBA teams believe Bailey has "received assurances of being selected by a team considered more advantageous to Bailey in the long term, considering factors such as geography, minutes, role, opportunity and development."

Whichever player is chosen by the Sixers at No. 3, where Bailey was initially projected to go as a consensus third option behind Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper, is projected to receive a $50.4 million rookie contract by Spotrac.

Bailey would be slated to make $13 million less than that over the first four years of his contract if he slides out of the top five and goes to the Washington Wizards at No. 6.

Givony has noted that Bailey could be hoping to make up that gap by earning a larger second deal on a team ready to offer him more playing time.

The former Rutgers star himself, however, has not provided clear answers as to his motivation heading into the draft process. When asked about his motivation behind cancelling and declining workout invitations during Tuesday media availability, Bailey repeatedly told reporters he was "just focused on basketball."

Bailey's potential slide down the draft board will ultimately shape the rest of the first round, starting with whether or not the Sixers trade down or use their pick to select a player like Baylor's VJ Edgecombe. All eyes will be on the No. 3 selection when the 2025 draft begins at 8 p.m. ET in Brooklyn.