Ace Bailey Plans to Report to Jazz amid NBA Rumors, Will Have Press Conference
Ace Bailey will report to the Utah Jazz this weekend after being selected by the franchise with the No. 5 pick in the 2025 NBA draft, the team told ESPN's Jonathan Givony on Friday.
"We've had good communication with Ace Bailey and his representatives," the Jazz said. "We feel good about everything. Ace and his family are coming to Utah tomorrow. We'll have a press conference Sunday, and a practice 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."
Givony had previously reported that Bailey turned down an invite to work out for the Jazz ahead of the draft, and that the former Rutgers standout seemingly wanted to go to a team outside of the top five picks.
Bailey also declined opportunities to work out for the Philadelphia 76ers, who held the No. 3 pick, and the Charlotte Hornets, who drafted at No. 4.
The Sixers, who were originally tied to an interest in Bailey, ultimately drafted Baylor's VJ Edgecombe, while the Hornets turned to Duke's Kon Knueppel.
Givony and Tim Bontemps reported on Thursday that Bailey's representatives had "informed a team drafting inside the top five that they didn't want that team to select the Rutgers wing and that he wouldn't report if it did."
Bailey's manager, Omar Cooper, told ESPN that there was "nothing uncommon about how Ace Bailey's predraft process was handled," and noted that teams had gotten to watch him work out during the scouting combine, per Givony and Bontemps.
Andrew Witlieb, another one of Bailey's representatives, then told Front Office Sports that Bailey was "thrilled" to join the Jazz.
“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. It’s a great situation for him, basketball-wise.”
Jazz Vice President of Player Development Avery Bradley told The Salt Lake Tribune's Andy Larsen on Friday, "It is my understanding that all of our draft picks are going to be here this weekend and preparing for summer league."
The Salt Lake City Summer League is set to begin on July 5. The Jazz are hosting the Memphis Grizzlies, Oklahoma City Thunder and 76ers for the six-game round-robin event.
