To put it bluntly, the 2024-25 season for the
Utah Jazz was nothing short of a disappointment.
After relentless tanking, injuries, and disappointing
rookies, all eventually looked promising for the team
as they headed into the 2025 NBA Draft lottery with
the highest odds at selecting Duke phenom Cooper
Flagg. However, nothing could have prepared CEO
of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge for the fate
his team would receive. After a franchise-low 17
win season, the Jazz slid all the way down the draft
order, ending up with the 5th overall pick, the lowest
possible position.
As draft night approached, there was loads of
uncertainty regarding who the Jazz would select in a
draft class that was largely undetermined after Flagg
and Rutgers guard Dylan Harper. After the 76ers took
VJ Edgecombe of Baylor and the Hornets picked Duke
Blue Devil Kon Knueppel, Utah was finally on the
clock. At this point, there was truly only one option,
a player who had fallen through the cracks in the
days leading up to the draft: Airious “Ace” Bailey.
Ranked as the second highest recruit coming
out of high school, Bailey drew mixed reactions in his
lone NCAA season with 2nd overall pick Dylan Harper
and Rutgers. Aside from the program’s 15-17 record,
Bailey was criticized for inefficient shooting and
poor shot selection. However, what made him most
polarizing towards NBA GMs was his refusal to take
part in much of the pre-draft process. After finishing
a mediocre combine, Bailey refused to participate
in any of the standard team workouts that most
prospects complete, including cancelling a 76ers
workout on short notice. On the morning of the
draft, word had come out from Bailey’s camp that
he preferred to go to the Washington Wizards, New
Orleans Pelicans, or Brooklyn Nets. Upon hearing
his name called, the 18-year-old showed almost no
emotion when walking on stage to shake hands with
Commissioner Adam Silver.
With rumors swirling about
whether or not Bailey would even report to Utah, a
market that has consistently struggled to attract and
retain talent, fans began to worry. Although it took
a few days, Bailey arrived in Salt Lake City to sign
his rookie contract and prepare for his first taste of
Summer League action. Through this point, many still
questioned if the forward truly wanted to play for
the Jazz.
After a Summer League filled with signs of
promise, Bailey finally made the decision to fire his
agent, Omar Cooper. Bailey was Cooper’s only client,
and many suspicions that the narrative surrounding
Bailey’s attitude had been pushed entirely by his
former agent and the media were finally confirmed.
Since the firing, Bailey has shown a completely
different personality, constantly raving about how
much he loves Utah and his new team. Aside from
his infectious positivity, his play on the court has
been nothing short of impressive. In his first full
preseason games, he averaged 22.5pts, 6.5reb, and
2stl while shooting 65.15% from the field. Along
with solid defense, Bailey truly shines in his shot
creation, finding ways to capitalize on contested
opportunities, especially at the mid-range.
Seeing as the Jazz currently feature one of
the youngest cores in the NBA and are not prepared
to enter a “win now” mode for at least another
season, it is hard to argue there is a better place for
someone like Ace Bailey to shine than Utah. As the
team enters the fourth year of a long, slow rebuild,
it is certain that all eyes will be on Bailey as he gears
up for a highly anticipated rookie season.
