Ace Bailey was just as surprised as anyone when his name was called by the Utah Jazz.
One of the biggest talents in the 2025 NBA Draft class was selected with the No. 5 pick on Wednesday night.
His position that high was not surprising — the Rutgers forward was indeed projected as a top pick — but he adopted a rather bizarre pre-draft strategy that saw him slide down some projections.
Bailey was said to have had a number of preferred destinations heading into the big night, and ruffled feathers around the league as he opted not to work out for any team beforehand — even cancelling a scheduled workout with the Philadelphia 76ers, picking third.
ESPN also reported that his representatives had informed a team drafting inside the top five that the player didn’t want them to select him, and that he wouldn’t report if it did.
Therefore, Utah’s decision to draft Bailey at No. 5 came as quite the surprise, as they were not among his preferred destinations and the young star had ‘no idea’ they were interested in him.
“I can control what I can control,” the 6-foot-9 rookie said, when asked on Wednesday night what he’d say to people who didn’t believe he was happy winding up with the Jazz.
“They feel how they feel. But my team and me, me focusing on basketball and them doing what they’re doing, so it happens.”
Bailey’s pre-draft storyline showed shades of Sheduer Sanders’ stunning NFL fall.
For the best part of a year, the college football star was projected as a top pick back in April, but suffered an all-time slide before being taken by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round.
His father — NFL legend Deion Sanders — had previously suggested Shedeur had preferred landing spots, before walking back on that claim.
Sanders, though, ended up watching on as 143 other players were selected before him across three days of the NFL Draft.
Bailey’s representatives had told one team in the top five not to draft the Rutgers starGetty His pre-draft strategy was compared to NFL rookie Sanders, who slid down the boardGettyHe also lost out on an awful lot of money by falling so far, and signed a rookie contract worth $4.6 million.
Bailey, of course, didn’t wait anywhere as long as Sanders to hear his name called, but similarly, he’s missed out on millions due to his draft position.
According to Front Office Sports, while Bailey was said to be far from keen on the idea of joining a team picking in the top five, he will earn $3.8 million more over his four-year rookie contract than if he was selected with the No. 6 pick.
He will also make nearly $10 million more than if he fell to Brooklyn at No. 8.
However, as he was projected to be the third pick, that slide to the Jazz will cost Bailey more than $9 million over a four-year period, as he is now eligible for a $41.2 million rookie contract, compared to the $50.4 million deal that VJ Edgecombe will sign.
Despite missing out on serious money by sliding down the draft, but perhaps not far enough to land with a preferred team, Bailey’s agent has defended the strategy.
Bailey will hope to do his talking on the courtGetty“Every NBA team watched him work out in Chicago,” Omar Cooper told ESPN.
“He did 18 interviews. Everyone got his medical. They watched him run and jump. They got his measurements.
“No one said anything when Davion Mitchell canceled a workout with the Toronto Raptors.
“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.”
According to ESPN, however, Cooper declined to address questions about the Jazz or his client’s future with the franchise.
Bailey, who was a freshman during the 2024-25 season at Rutgers and averaged 17.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game, will all but certainly suit up for the Jazz later this year.
A versatile wing with incredible shot-making ability, Utah will be hoping he’ll be worth the risk of drafting, even if the player himself had no idea it was happening.
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