Much to the chagrin of Omar Cooper, the Utah Jazz #5 pick, Ace Bailey, will report to the Utah Jazz on Saturday, reports Jonathan Givony.
Ace Bailey will report to the Utah Jazz on Saturday, a team representative told ESPN.
"We've had good communication with Ace Bailey and his representatives," the Jazz said. "Ace and his family are coming to Utah tomorrow."
STORY: https://t.co/YBHg166OXV pic.twitter.com/puJpxaaBCz
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) June 27, 2025
In Givony’s article he relays a message from Utah Jazz representatives:
“We’ve had good communication with Ace Bailey and his representatives,” the Jazz representative told ESPN on Friday. “We feel good about everything. Ace and his family are coming to Utah tomorrow. We’ll have a press conference Sunday and a practice Monday.
“This has always been the plan, including for our other rookies, Walter Clayton and John Tonje — to let them go home and collect their belongings, and then fly right to summer league from Salt Lake City.”
Like the Jazz say, this has always been the plan and this whole saga has been much to do about nothing. On draft night, Bailey had nothing to say but great things about coming to Utah. His agency said he was thrilled to go to Utah. It’s his player-manager, Omar Cooper, that appears to be the issue.
Ace Bailey's representation joined @FOS_Today to dispel rumors about Bailey not wanting to play for the Utah Jazz.
Full conversation ⬇️
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) June 27, 2025
It’s an excellent thing for Bailey and the Jazz. Utah has a fantastic setup for the promising forward with a great head coach in sync with the front office and the owner. It’s up to the Jazz now to make this situation work for Bailey. It would go a long way for the Jazz to make moves, such as trading their veterans like John Collins and Collin Sexton, so Bailey can have a clear runway for minutes and opportunities.
We’ll see how things develop as the season goes along.