Heading into the 2025 NBA draft, Ace Bailey was a favorite to be selected by the Philadelphia 76ers with the No. 3 pick. However, things changed due to his unusual pre-draft approach, refusing to do any workout with any organization. According to ESPN's draft expert, Jonathan Givony, Bailey was the only U.S.-based player to not work out with any team.
This process hurt his draft stock. Ahead of the biggest moment of his basketball career, his draft stock plummeted from being the projected No. 3 pick to as low as the No. 8 pick. Fortunately for Bailey, he didn't fall that far into the lottery and was picked by the Utah Jazz with the No. 5 pick.
2025 NBA Draft, Ace Bailey
Ace Bailey stands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the fifth pick by the Utah Jazz.
Brad Penner-Imagn Images
After he was selected, Givony confirmed that Utah wasn't among Bailey's preferred destinations. He would've liked to have been drafted by teams like the Washington Wizards or the New Orleans Pelicans. The Wizards had the sixth pick, while the Pelicans had the seventh pick.
Even before either team could consider drafting him, the Jazz utilized their pick to acquire the young talent.
In his efforts to avoid playing for Philly, he still ended up getting drafted by an organization outside of his preferred landing spot. With the 76ers, he could've been mentored by stars Joel Embiid and Paul George.
The bright side of him playing for the Jazz is that he'll have full control of the team. Unlike Philly, Utah doesn't have playoff aspirations as of the moment, and that could allow him to be the focal point of the system.
There's also a possibility that the Jazz might use him as a trade asset. The team has been linked to acquire All-Star forward Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics.