NBA rumors: Ace Bailey's representatives made shocking NBA Draft request
The post NBA rumors: Ace Bailey's representatives made shocking NBA Draft request appeared first on ClutchPoints.
One of the biggest storylines coming into the 2025 NBA Draft was what was happening with Ace Bailey. The Rutgers wing was considered one of the best prospects in the draft, but he barely worked out for any teams in the top five and skipped out on his meeting and workout with the Philadelphia 76ers. The Utah Jazz eventually drafted him with the fifth pick in the draft.
Advertisement
The Jazz's decision to draft Bailey was a massive shock, considering he did not work out for them during the draft process. To add to Bailey's bizarre pre-draft process, according to ESPN NBA analysts and writers Jonathan Givony and Tim Bontemps, his representatives informed a team in the top five that they did not want that team to draft him and that he would not report to team activities if they did.
'I can control what I can control,' Bailey said, when asked Wednesday night after being drafted, what to say to people who didn't think he was happy winding up in Utah. 'They feel how they feel.'
'But my team and I, me focusing on basketball and them doing what they're doing, so it happens.'
Bailey's agent, Omar Cooper, pushed back on the notion that anything they did leading up to the draft was out of the ordinary surrounding Bailey.
Advertisement
'Every NBA team watched him work out in Chicago,' Cooper said. 'He did 18 interviews. Everyone got their 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.'
How Bailey and his representatives handled the process made many think they were aiming for a specific destination, most likely the Washington Wizards at the sixth pick. The Wizards had a key opening on the wing that would have fit perfectly for Bailey. However, the Jazz had different plans.
Advertisement
The Jazz kept their plans quiet until draft day, and they lucked out by selecting Bailey fifth, despite Bailey being a projected top-three prospect most of the draft process. The Jazz had the worst record in the NBA at 17-65, but missed out on the top three due to the lottery.
However, despite falling out of the top three, the Jazz picked Bailey, who was massive for them. The Jazz also picked Florida Gators hero Walter Clayton Jr. to round out the first round. Despite the confusion, Bailey stands to benefit in Utah.
Related: Jeff Teague drops Donovan Mitchell advice for Ace Bailey on playing for Jazz
Related: Jazz, Wizards trade grades for 2025 NBA Draft deal
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
26 minutes ago
- New York Times
How to watch X Games Salt Lake City Day 3: Best trick showcase in grand finale
Sunday highlights the highest risks and best tricks as the 30th anniversary X Games come to a close in Salt Lake City. It is a day reserved for the most consequential contests, in which a single run can redefine an athlete's legacy. It's also a day of fan favorites. Betting remains active, and with stunts this dicey, the odds can shift before the wheels touch down. Advertisement An all-day digital livestream of Sunday's events can be found on the Roku Sports Channel. Women's Skateboard Street Best Trick opens the day. Chloe Covell is just 15, but she's already the rider to beat as the owner of four X Games gold medals. Her lines are crisp, fast and technically advanced. She faces a deep field of teenage talent, pushing the ceiling higher with each appearance. The lineup continues with Men's Skateboard Vert Best Trick, BMX Dirt Best Trick, Men's Skateboard Street Best Trick and Moto X QuarterPipe High Air. Colby Raha enters as the favorite in the latter — he's won four titles and continues to hit heights once thought impossible. But new challengers are closing in, and a single slip can change the standings. In the Men's Skateboard Vert Best Trick final, Gui Khury is within reach of another gold. The 16-year-old claimed his eighth X Games gold, the most ever for a teenager, when he won the Men's Skateboard Vert competition on Friday. Vert is the sport's root system, where style, control and innovation collide. Finally, after Women's BMX Park, the Dave Mirra BMX Park Best Trick closes the weekend. Kevin Peraza returns to chase a sixth medal in the event that honors Mirra's legacy. Expect big air and creative lines that nod to BMX history while pushing the boundaries of what's possible. Streaming and ticketing links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication. (Photo of Kevin Peraza: Al Bello / Getty Images)
Yahoo
36 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Oklahoma City's Game 7 victory over Indiana draws largest NBA Finals audience in six years
BRISTOL, Conn. (AP) — Oklahoma City's 103-91 victory over Indiana in Game 7 was the most-watched NBA Finals game in six years. Sunday night's game averaged 16.53 million on ABC and ESPN+ according to preliminary ratings data from Nielsen. The audience peaked at 19.28 million during the second half (9:45-10 p.m. EDT). Advertisement It is the first time since Toronto wrapped up its title in Game 6 against Golden State in 2019 (18.34 million) that the finals have had an audience over 16 million. The last Game 7, when Cleveland beat Golden State in 2016, averaged 31.02 million. The seven-game series averaged 10.27 million, down from the 11.31 million average for Boston's victory over Dallas in five games last year. The seven games were the most-watched television broadcasts since the first week of May. ESPN and ABC averaged 6.12 million for the 34 games they carried during the playoffs, a 10% increase over last year. ___ AP NBA: The Associated Press
New York Times
36 minutes ago
- New York Times
How to watch the USMNT vs. Costa Rica: Tournament legacy on the line in 2025 Gold Cup
The United States returns to the Concacaf Gold Cup quarterfinals Sunday under the dome at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, facing a depleted but familiar Costa Rica squad with tournament pedigree and a long memory. Here's how to watch as the USMNT tries to keep its tournament run on track against an old rival. Advertisement International streaming via Concacaf GO. Chris Richards was everywhere in the group stage, breaking up plays, winning headers and volleying in the match's only goal in a 1-0 win over Saudi Arabia. The U.S. finished atop Group D after defeating Haiti and reminded viewers that, for all its volatility, this young squad still knows how to close. Now comes Costa Rica. These teams know each other well, and while the U.S. enters as the favorite — BetMGM has the squad listed at -175 — recent history says this fixture tends to get complicated. Costa Rica will be without striker Manfred Ugalde and winger Carlos Mora (both suspended), as well as injured attackers Ariel Lassiter and Warren Madrigal. It's a short bench, but not a soft opponent. Up front, the USMNT still lacks a clear finisher. Haji Wright remains unavailable, and no striker has fully claimed the job. Off the field, the most competitive battle may be for bragging rights in the team's Clash Royale matches. The U.S. has reached the semifinals in all but one Gold Cup since 1991. A win keeps them on script. A loss would mark just the second time in 34 years they've missed the final four. Streaming and ticketing links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication. (Photo of Matt Freese: Omar Vega / Getty Images)
