NBA Draft Drama: Ace Bailey Warned Teams Off Before Jazz Took Him at No. 5

In one of the more surprising moments of the 2025 NBA Draft, the Utah Jazz selected Rutgers standout Ace Bailey with the No. 5 overall pick—despite no public workouts and a wave of pre-draft speculation that he was steering clear of certain teams.

According to ESPN, Bailey’s representatives, including agent Omar Cooper, explicitly told at least one team in the top five not to draft him, warning that he wouldn’t report if they did. The strategy appeared designed to guide Bailey’s destination—a tactic that added an extra layer of intrigue to an already unpredictable draft night.

Bailey had canceled his only confirmed workout with the No. 3–picking Philadelphia 76ers, and neither Utah nor Charlotte (No. 4) were reportedly on his preferred list. Instead, insiders say the Washington Wizards at No. 5 were his camp’s target team—yet it was the Jazz who ultimately pulled the trigger.

“I can control what I can control,” Bailey said when asked if he expected the Jazz to select him. “They feel how they feel. But my team and me, me focusing on basketball and them doing what they're doing, so it happens."

The Jazz saw beyond the behind-the-scenes drama. Owner Ryan Smith, appearing on The Pat McAfee Show, said the organization simply chose the best player available.

“All I saw was a kid who was humble, he was grateful, he was excited to begin the NBA,” Smith said. “That’s all you can ask for.”

Bailey, considered by many the most polarizing talent in this year's class, brings elite scoring instincts and high-upside potential to a Utah roster looking for a cornerstone star.