Ace Bailey has taken an unconventional path by refusing to work out for multiple teams, including the Utah Jazz, in the lead-up to the 2025 NBA Draft.
Bailey was previously projected as a Top 3 pick, likely to be gone by the time the Jazz picked at #5. However, the refusal to do workouts seems to be related to the lack of a promise from a team to pick him in the top three:
Ace Bailey’s camp continues to send strong signals to the Sixers they do not want to be drafted there, per @DraftExpress.
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) June 24, 2025
Bailey cancelled a workout in Philadelphia after they would not promise him being selected beforehand at No. 3 overall. pic.twitter.com/AHRRwEFzzE
While the Dallas Mavericks (Cooper Flagg) and San Antonio Spurs (Dylan Harper) appear to have settled on their preferred players at the one and two picks, the Utah Jazz have two realistic competitors above them in the draft order who could select Bailey:
The Philadelphia 76ers (No. 3 pick) and the Charlotte Hornets (No. 4 pick).
Philadelphia has Paul George on the wing coming off a season so horrid after signing a max deal last summer that they are trying to move him, per multiple reports. Ace Bailey desires an immediate role and may not get it in the City of Brotherly Love, as George's role and contract almost demand that they play him because he's also too expensive to buy out.
Charlotte already has Miles Bridges and Brandon Miller as established frontcourt starters, plus Grant Williams and Tidjane Salaun in the rotation. Bailey would almost certainly end up a sixth man, at best, in the Hornets' rotation.
On the other hand, the Jazz have Lauri Markkanen, Taylor Hendricks, Cody Williams, Kyle Filipowski, and Brice Sensabaugh as their rotation in the frontcourt. Only Markkanen is an established starter, and if he is moved, the entire rotation is in question for the 2025-26 season.
Bailey has enough talent to step in and play a significant role for the Jazz as a rookie right away, much more than with Philadelphia and Charlotte.
What if Ace Bailey doesn't want to play for the Utah Jazz?
The Jazz would have full control over the situation. Rookie scale deals are absolute, and it's too late for Bailey to withdraw from the draft. He will be obligated to the team that selects him.
If Bailey doesn't want to play for the Jazz, they should take him anyway. It's high time to eliminate the "old rumor" that nobody wants to play in Utah. Plus, does Bailey want to play for the Wizards, Pelicans, or Nets - three teams that have been bad more often than not?
The Jazz have more organizational stability, a long track record of winning, stable ownership, and strong fan support, something none of those teams can claim. Plus, Utah has a history of people warming up to it once they get here and see what it's all about.
Bailey could refuse to report if he was upset at being selected by the Jazz. History is solidly against that being a successful path to stardom in the NBA, however.
This gives the Utah Jazz and Austin Ainge all the leverage—Philadelphia and Charlotte seem less likely to select him, and neither has given indications that they would pick Bailey and then deal him elsewhere.
So if the Jazz want Ace Bailey, and he's still on the board, they should take him at fifth overall. He's the best available player outside of Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper, and when Kevin Durant gives you high praise when a reporter tries to draw comparisons between them, make the smart call and select the guy!