The Jazz knew through the actions of Ace Bailey’s representation that Bailey wouldn’t do backflips if Utah selected him. The Jazz didn’t care. They took him anyway. And that’s exactly what they should have done. Utah is not a destination in free agency among star players. The Jazz, in the past three years, have tried to trade for players, only for their agents to step in and tell them that the player wouldn’t sign an extension. Those are some of the things that Utah’s front office can’t control. … But the fact that the situation was being talked about forced him to talk about it. “For me, it is my understanding that all of our draft picks will be here this weekend and preparing for summer league,” Avery Bradley said.
Source: New York Times
Source: New York Times
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
NBA on ESPN @ESPNNBA
“I hope [Ace Bailey’s] actions meet his words. So if he comes in, I just want to see him be professional.”
@DGreen_14 thinks Ace Bailey can be a success on the Utah Jazz if he is able to buy in pic.x.com/Ueyfx2K2jK – 3:32 PM
“I hope [Ace Bailey’s] actions meet his words. So if he comes in, I just want to see him be professional.”
@DGreen_14 thinks Ace Bailey can be a success on the Utah Jazz if he is able to buy in pic.x.com/Ueyfx2K2jK – 3:32 PM
Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
What drama? Ace Bailey’s representative says he is ‘thrilled’ to play for Jazz; he has yet to report to Utah
Bailey is expected to report to Utah by Monday and play for the Jazz in Summer League.
nbcsports.com/nba/news/what-… – 2:07 PM
What drama? Ace Bailey’s representative says he is ‘thrilled’ to play for Jazz; he has yet to report to Utah
Bailey is expected to report to Utah by Monday and play for the Jazz in Summer League.
nbcsports.com/nba/news/what-… – 2:07 PM
Andy Larsen @andyblarsen
What a slate for the Jazz at summer league: they’ll play San Antonio, Charlotte, and Washington (plus Golden State). Add in Philadelphia from Utah summer league and Jazz (and presumably Ace Bailey) will play four of the top six picks. – 1:16 PM
What a slate for the Jazz at summer league: they’ll play San Antonio, Charlotte, and Washington (plus Golden State). Add in Philadelphia from Utah summer league and Jazz (and presumably Ace Bailey) will play four of the top six picks. – 1:16 PM
Tony Jones @Tjonesonthenba
Diving into Ace Bailey, the Utah Jazz and why the Jazz ignored the many smoke signals sent predraft by Bailey’s camp and drafted him anyway. The story, is here. Please read – nytimes.com/athletic/64549… – 10:34 AM
Diving into Ace Bailey, the Utah Jazz and why the Jazz ignored the many smoke signals sent predraft by Bailey’s camp and drafted him anyway. The story, is here. Please read – nytimes.com/athletic/64549… – 10:34 AM
Bill Reiter @sportsreiter
Friday show! Reiter Than You is live nationwide from 10-noon ET on @InfSportsNet: Giannis’ future, Ace Bailey & the art of refusal, Masai out, The Weeknd, @AdamFinkelstein, Buy/Sell, Bum Of The Week, @Ryan_Hickey3, more.
LISTEN:
ReiterThanYou.com
@Audacy app
@SIRIUSXM 375 – 9:52 AM
Friday show! Reiter Than You is live nationwide from 10-noon ET on @InfSportsNet: Giannis’ future, Ace Bailey & the art of refusal, Masai out, The Weeknd, @AdamFinkelstein, Buy/Sell, Bum Of The Week, @Ryan_Hickey3, more.
LISTEN:
ReiterThanYou.com
@Audacy app
@SIRIUSXM 375 – 9:52 AM
Tony Jones @Tjonesonthenba
Avery Bradley, Utah Jazz VP of Player Development commented on Ace Bailey: “It is my understanding that all of our draft picks are going to be here this weekend and preparing for summer league” – 10:42 PM
Avery Bradley, Utah Jazz VP of Player Development commented on Ace Bailey: “It is my understanding that all of our draft picks are going to be here this weekend and preparing for summer league” – 10:42 PM
Andy Larsen @andyblarsen
Avery Bradley, Jazz VP of Player Development, on whether Ace Bailey is coming to Utah in the normal timeframe: “It is my understanding that all of our draft picks are going to be here this weekend and preparing for summer league. So, yes.” – 10:41 PM
Avery Bradley, Jazz VP of Player Development, on whether Ace Bailey is coming to Utah in the normal timeframe: “It is my understanding that all of our draft picks are going to be here this weekend and preparing for summer league. So, yes.” – 10:41 PM
Rod Boone @rodboone
Ace Bailey on #Hornets in May: “B. Miller my dog, that would be good. I feel like me and B. Miller do the same thing. So, guarding two of the same people on the court is hard to guard. So, B. Miller, that’d be tough. And LaMelo. His activity, his shot creation, just all of it.” – 5:58 PM
Ace Bailey on #Hornets in May: “B. Miller my dog, that would be good. I feel like me and B. Miller do the same thing. So, guarding two of the same people on the court is hard to guard. So, B. Miller, that’d be tough. And LaMelo. His activity, his shot creation, just all of it.” – 5:58 PM
Mike Vorkunov @MikeVorkunov
Ace Bailey’s expectations for himself in Utah: “I definitely want to win Rookie of the Year. Definitely want to be an All-Star my rookie year. I want to do a lot.”
On scuttlebutt he was trying to get to DC or Pelicans: “No…I had nothing to do with that” nytimes.com/athletic/64470… – 1:51 PM
Ace Bailey’s expectations for himself in Utah: “I definitely want to win Rookie of the Year. Definitely want to be an All-Star my rookie year. I want to do a lot.”
On scuttlebutt he was trying to get to DC or Pelicans: “No…I had nothing to do with that” nytimes.com/athletic/64470… – 1:51 PM
Lauren L. Williams @WilliamsLaurenL
AJC’s Todd Holcomb: With Ace Bailey drafted, Georgia basketball claims what no other state can ajc.com/sports/2025/06… – 11:15 AM
AJC’s Todd Holcomb: With Ace Bailey drafted, Georgia basketball claims what no other state can ajc.com/sports/2025/06… – 11:15 AM
Tony Jones @Tjonesonthenba
Daryl Morey said Ace Bailey not working out with the 76ers had no impact on the Sixers not selecting the forward with the Number 3 pick – 9:31 PM
Daryl Morey said Ace Bailey not working out with the 76ers had no impact on the Sixers not selecting the forward with the Number 3 pick – 9:31 PM
Marc J. Spears @MarcJSpears
New Jazz draft pick Ace Bailey said he was excited to go to Utah, had no idea they were interested in him and he had never been there but was ready for the hot and the cold. – 9:29 PM
New Jazz draft pick Ace Bailey said he was excited to go to Utah, had no idea they were interested in him and he had never been there but was ready for the hot and the cold. – 9:29 PM
Andy Larsen @andyblarsen
Ace Bailey on what he can improve on: “I feel like I can improve on everything. I’m very young. I’m just coming to the game, so it’s a lot of stuff I can improve, physically and mentally. I mean, from jump shots to more creativity, to more ballhandling, just all over the place.” – 9:24 PM
Ace Bailey on what he can improve on: “I feel like I can improve on everything. I’m very young. I’m just coming to the game, so it’s a lot of stuff I can improve, physically and mentally. I mean, from jump shots to more creativity, to more ballhandling, just all over the place.” – 9:24 PM
Andy Larsen @andyblarsen
Ace Bailey on what he brings to the Jazz: “A leader, confidence. Hard worker. Just a player that pushes people to be the best. A very great teammate … I’m the person that’s going to push everybody to be the best they can be, even the coaches.” – 9:23 PM
Ace Bailey on what he brings to the Jazz: “A leader, confidence. Hard worker. Just a player that pushes people to be the best. A very great teammate … I’m the person that’s going to push everybody to be the best they can be, even the coaches.” – 9:23 PM
NBA on ESPN @ESPNNBA
From Rutgers to the draft
Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper are ready to start their NBA careers pic.x.com/tWBfjnBFkb – 7:02 PM
From Rutgers to the draft
Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper are ready to start their NBA careers pic.x.com/tWBfjnBFkb – 7:02 PM
StatMuse @statmuse
Call it now.
Where will Ace Bailey be by the end of the night? pic.x.com/oM3WvKMJ7O – 2:43 PM
Call it now.
Where will Ace Bailey be by the end of the night? pic.x.com/oM3WvKMJ7O – 2:43 PM
David Locke @DLocke09
Mock drafts out
Locked On #5 – Tre Johnson
NBC. #5 – Jeremiah Fears
Ringer #5 – Kon Kueppel
No Ceilings #5 – Ace Bailey
ESPN #5. – Jeremiah Fears
Athletic #5 – Jeremiah Fears
Who do you want as your GM? – 1:10 PM
Mock drafts out
Locked On #5 – Tre Johnson
NBC. #5 – Jeremiah Fears
Ringer #5 – Kon Kueppel
No Ceilings #5 – Ace Bailey
ESPN #5. – Jeremiah Fears
Athletic #5 – Jeremiah Fears
Who do you want as your GM? – 1:10 PM
NBA on ESPN @ESPNNBA
“[Ace Bailey’s camp] feel like whether it’s as high as three, or as low as eight or nine. They feel like he’ll land exactly where he wants to be.”
@ShamsCharania gives an update on where Ace Bailey could end up in tonight’s NBA draft pic.x.com/xwdKXaznWP – 1:05 PM
“[Ace Bailey’s camp] feel like whether it’s as high as three, or as low as eight or nine. They feel like he’ll land exactly where he wants to be.”
@ShamsCharania gives an update on where Ace Bailey could end up in tonight’s NBA draft pic.x.com/xwdKXaznWP – 1:05 PM
Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
2025 NBA Mock Draft 4.0: Ace Bailey slides to Wizards, Spurs add Derik Queen
Does Bailey have a Wizards promise? @raphiellej and @NoahRubin22 worked together on one final Mock Draft — all 59 spots. Check it out.
nbcsports.com/nba/news/2025-… – 12:33 PM
2025 NBA Mock Draft 4.0: Ace Bailey slides to Wizards, Spurs add Derik Queen
Does Bailey have a Wizards promise? @raphiellej and @NoahRubin22 worked together on one final Mock Draft — all 59 spots. Check it out.
nbcsports.com/nba/news/2025-… – 12:33 PM
Matt Babcock @MattBabcock11
Amid all the drama surrounding Ace Bailey, let’s not forget just how much upside he brings to the table.
No matter where he lands tonight, some team is getting a player with real star potential. pic.x.com/Lju4fXnShd – 11:28 AM
Amid all the drama surrounding Ace Bailey, let’s not forget just how much upside he brings to the table.
No matter where he lands tonight, some team is getting a player with real star potential. pic.x.com/Lju4fXnShd – 11:28 AM
More on this storyline
“I think there is always going to be outside noise,” Bradley said. “But Ace’s dream was to get drafted, and he’s blessed to have been drafted by the Utah Jazz. We are excited to have him. We are excited to get him here and excited to get him a part of our family, so he can begin to show who he is as a player.” -via New York Times / June 27, 2025
Long considered one of the top players available in the draft, Witlieb believes Utah is a perfect fit for Bailey’s skills on the court. “We think he can do a lot of great things out there. He certainly should receive a ton of playing time, and he’ll have a lot of chances to show what he can do. So we think it’s a great situation for him basketball-wise,” Witlieb said. -via KSTU Television FOX 13 / June 27, 2025
During his appearance on Friday, Witlieb described the role played by Omar Cooper, who has been a main focus of criticism while acting as Bailey’s adviser and not being a certified agent. “Omar really focused more on fit rather than going third in the draft, kind of thing,” explained Witlieb. “He wanted some place where Ace could have the best possible basketball fit for his game, and we think Utah is one of the best possible places he could have gone.” -via KSTU Television FOX 13 / June 27, 2025
