Ace Bailey, the promising 18-year-old freshman from Rutgers with a McDonald's All-American resume, is set to report to his new team, the Utah Jazz, on Saturday, June 28, 2025. This move follows an unconventional and at times confounding approach to the 2025 NBA Draft, which saw his stock take a slight dip from being projected in the top three to ultimately being selected with the No. 5 overall pick by the Jazz.

Leading up to the draft, Bailey canceled all public workouts with NBA teams, a stance that surprised some established players and may have contributed to his draft position. Despite this, his agent, Omar Cooper, defended the pre-draft strategy, asserting that there was nothing uncommon about it. Cooper highlighted that every NBA team observed Bailey work out in Chicago, where he conducted 18 interviews, provided medicals, and underwent measurements, run, jump, and shooting drills. He drew parallels to Davion Mitchell and Evan Mobley, who also canceled workouts without facing significant criticism when drafted.

The Utah Jazz expressed strong confidence in their decision to draft Bailey, despite the public concerns surrounding his refusal to participate in individual team workouts. Jazz president of basketball operations Austin Ainge stated that the decision was simple, citing extensive background checks and positive feedback from those around Bailey. Ainge described Bailey as someone who is "fun, smiles every day. Just a breath of fresh air in the gym," emphasizing that both Bailey and the team are "super excited" and anticipate a "very bright future." During his single season at Rutgers in 2024-25, the Chattanooga, Tennessee native averaged 17.6 points and 7.2 rebounds.

However, the period immediately following the draft was marked by some uncertainty regarding Bailey's intentions. Reports surfaced indicating that the Jazz were not among Bailey's preferred teams, and even that one of Bailey's representatives had advised a top-five team against selecting him. When questioned about the situation after being drafted, Bailey maintained a neutral stance, stating, "I can control what I control. How they feel [is] how they feel." This ambiguity led to further speculation after Day 2 of the draft, with Cooper initially declining to comment on Bailey's future in Utah.

The situation gained clarity when Andrew Witlieb, president of GSE Worldwide, which officially represents Bailey, affirmed on a Front Office Sports podcast that Bailey was "thrilled to be going to Utah." Witlieb also clarified Omar Cooper's role, referring to him as Bailey's long-time manager, not a certified agent, and explained that Cooper, partnering with GSE Worldwide, prioritized finding the "best possible basketball fit" for Bailey's game over merely securing a higher draft position. It was also noted that delays in rookies reporting to their teams are not uncommon, citing Dallas Mavericks' No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg as an example. The Jazz's other 2025 rookies, Walter Clayton Jr. and John Tonje, are also expected to join the team, with Clayton Jr. reportedly already present.

Should Bailey opt not to report to Utah, the ramifications would be significant. He would be ineligible to play in the NBA during the current season and unable to return to college basketball. While he could play professionally overseas, the Jazz would retain his draft rights. Alternatively, he could re-enter the 2026 NBA Draft, though without control over his destination and facing the risk of being selected lower in the draft order. Despite the pre-draft drama and subsequent speculation, the Utah Jazz reportedly have no interest in trading Bailey, emphasizing their commitment to the No. 5 pick.