Jazz Select Ace Bailey at No. 5 Overall in NBA Draft

Ahead of the draft, representatives for Ace Bailey advised teams with top-five picks not to select the Rutgers forward, stating Bailey would refuse to report if drafted by such a team. The specifics of which teams were targeted were not revealed.

The Utah Jazz ultimately chose Bailey with the fifth pick. Jazz President of Basketball Operations, Austin Ainge, expressed enthusiasm about acquiring a player of Bailey’s talent, highlighting his scoring ability, skill, defensive effort, and rebounding instincts. Ainge also mentioned that Bailey’s upbeat attitude and energy impressed the team during discussions.

“He’s excellent. We spoke with him, and he was very excited. We see a bright future ahead. His scoring stands out, but his defense and rebounding are impressive too. He brings energy and joy to the game.”

Ainge, son of veteran executive and current Jazz CEO Danny Ainge, noted that Bailey is well-liked among team staff and is a good fit with the young roster the Jazz are building. Bailey expressed a desire to grow alongside his teammates and learn more about Utah, joking about finding a good heater given the state’s climate.

Bailey’s draft position followed notable selections in the top four, including Duke forward Cooper Flagg, the youngest No. 1 overall pick since LeBron James, and Rutgers teammate Dylan Harper, who was picked second by the Spurs.

Bailey, who opted out of individual team workouts before the draft, did not meet with any teams outside the combine, though he participated in extensive interviews and assessments in Chicago. His agent emphasized that such pre-draft handling is standard and comparable to other prospects’ processes.

Though Bailey was not initially aware of the Jazz’s interest, they selected him with confidence, aligning with predictions that the Wizards, Pelicans, and Nets were potential destinations based on prior mock drafts and reports.