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[Saba Sports News] Ace Bailey stirred up some pre-draft controversy by reportedly warning teams in the top 5 not to select him, with many believing he was eyeing the Washington Wizards at No. 6 as his preferred landing spot.
Multiple reports indicated Bailey might refuse to report if a team ignored his request.
But the Utah Jazz called his bluff, selecting him with the fifth overall pick on Wednesday night. What followed was a tense stretch—Bailey didn’t immediately travel to Utah, and communication between the two sides was minimal, per ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.
Now, however, it seems the drama has been resolved.
The Jazz have announced a Sunday press conference to introduce Bailey alongside fellow first-rounder Walter Clayton Jr. A team spokesperson told ESPN this timeline was always part of the plan.
“We’ve had good communication with Ace Bailey and his representatives,” the Jazz rep said. “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 for all our rookies—Walter Clayton, John Tonje included—to let them go home, get their things, and then head to summer league from Salt Lake City.”
Bailey’s agent, Omar Cooper, also downplayed the speculation, calling the pre-draft process standard.
“There is nothing uncommon about how Ace Bailey’s predraft process was handled,” Cooper said.
The 6-foot-9 Bailey was widely considered a top-3 talent leading into the draft and is expected to have a significant role in Utah as a rookie.