Ace Bailey's Reps Reportedly Told Team Drafting In Top 5 He Wouldn't Show Up If Picked

Ace Bailey's decision to skip workouts with every NBA team ahead of the draft led to suspicions that he potentially had a promise from a team and was trying to steer his way to that organization.

On Thursday, ESPN's Jonathan Givony and Tim Bontemps lent further credence to that belief, reporting that "Bailey's representatives informed a team drafting inside the top five they didn't want that team to select the Rutgers wing, and that he wouldn't report if they did."

During ESPN's NBA draft broadcast, Givony said agent Omar Cooper didn't confirm Bailey would report to the Jazz:

"And now the big question is, are we going to see him in Utah any time soon," Givony said. "I asked Omar Cooper his thoughts on his clients future in Utah and he declined to answer those questions."

Givony and Bontemps also reported that rival teams believed Bailey was hoping to land with the Washington Wizards. He was ultimately selected by the Utah Jazz instead, although Givony reported Wednesday that Utah was not one of Bailey's preferred destinations.

Not that Utah's front office cared:

It remains to be seen if Utah was the team Bailey said he wouldn't report to if selected. That obviously could make for an awkward summer, though Bailey didn't indicate any unhappiness on Wednesday night:

But Bailey should have received plenty of playing time and on-court experience for the rebuilding Jazz. He may even be their No. 1 option offensively if they trade veterans like Lauri Markkanen, John Collins, Collin Sexton and Jordan Clarkson.

The Jazz likely will be busy on the trade market, hoping to acquire younger players and assets and keeping themselves in the running to be at the top of next year's lottery, when players like AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson are expected to be available.

If playing time was a concern, the team that might have made the most sense to spurn was the Philadelphia 76ers at No. 3. The Sixers have a veteran-laden roster led by Joel Embiid, Paul George, Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain, and shots may have been tougher to come by than they would have been in destinations like Utah, Charlotte, Washington, New Orleans or Brooklyn.

Perhaps the exact team Bailey told to lose his number will eventually be leaked. Either way, he's a Utah resident now.