Will Utah Jazz draft pick Ace Bailey be there when the Salt Lake City Summer League begins?
While a new ESPN report raises more questions about the No. 5 overall pick, Jazz officials continue to express confidence in their selection.
“It is my understanding that all of our draft picks are going to be here this weekend and preparing for summer league,” Jazz Vice President of Player Development Avery Bradley said Thursday.
Earlier in the day, ESPN reported that Bailey’s representatives had “informed a team drafting inside the top five that they didn’t want that team to select the Rutgers wing and that he wouldn’t report if it did.” The report did not specify which team.
Bailey raised eyebrows during the pre-draft process by refusing to do individual workouts. Then, on draft night, ESPN reported that Utah was not one of his “preferred destinations,” adding that he had hoped to land in Washington, New Orleans or Brooklyn.
Ace Bailey greets NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected fifth by the Utah Jazz in the first round of the NBA basketball draft, Wednesday, June 25, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
It appears the conflict stems from Bailey’s surrounding circle. Omar Cooper, a longtime manager of Bailey’s and the father of former NBA player Sharife Cooper, was NBA teams’ primary point of contact for Bailey in the draft process. It was Cooper, according to reports, who worked hardest to steer Bailey to one of the three teams below Utah: Washington, New Orleans, or Brooklyn.
But Cooper isn’t a registered agent by the National Basketball Players Association. Bailey’s registered agency is instead GSE Worldwide, whose president, Andrew Witlieb, spoke to Front Office Sports on Friday.
“He’s thrilled to be going to Utah. Obviously, it’s an honor to be selected in the top 5 of the NBA draft. We think he can do a lot of great things out there,” Witlieb said. “It’s a great situation for him basketball wise.”
Witlieb said GSE Worldwide was “partnering” with Cooper on representing Bailey. Witlieb said Daniel Green, an NBPA certified agent, “would be Ace’s day-to-day agent along with Omar Cooper.”
“Omar really focused on fit rather than going” higher in the draft, Witlieb said of Cooper’s actions, but said GSE Worldwide thinks “Utah is one of the best places he could’ve gone.”
“We’re going to literally put so many things in place so all he’s going to do is focus on basketball and getting better and being the best possible player that he can be and helping that team play a lot better than he did last year,” Witlieb said.
Finally, Cooper posted a photo of Bailey on Instagram on Friday afternoon with the caption “Congratulations @acebailey @utahjazz Letsssss Goooooo."
Jazz owner Ryan Smith addressed Bailey’s reported concerns on Thursday morning on “The Pat McAfee Show.”
“Naturally, he doesn’t have a lot of experience out west here with Utah,” Smith said. “That’s our job to make him love it. I’m confident in our state and he’ll feel love like he’s never felt before. And the reality is, there is nothing Ace and others can’t accomplish here.”
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, meanwhile, reported his confidence that Utah’s front office leaders would ensure Bailey ends up in a Jazz uniform.
“One thing I will tell you, with confidence, Danny Ainge and his son, Austin, are not going to bend here. They’re not going to get pushed around. They do not care what the situation might bring,” Windhorst said. “So the idea that they’re going to pressure the Jazz into something, I don’t think will be successful for Ace Bailey and his operation. But let’s see how the next 72 hours plays out.”
For his part, Bailey has said he had “no idea” the Jazz were interested in taking him at No. 5, but called it a “blessing.”
“The little kid in me is smiling hard right now, because I know the hard work, the sacrifice, the blood, the sweat, the tears, not just for me but my family put into this,” he said. “The little kid in me is just smiling at me right now, so I’m just blessed to be here.”
All of the Jazz’s draft picks are expected to report to the team by Monday for a few days of practice before the Salt Lake City Summer League begins July 5.
