Ace Bailey, the standout forward from Rutgers, had the basketball world buzzing leading up to the NBA draft. Initially projected to come off the board as the No. 3 pick, Bailey made headlines for sidestepping workouts with teams like the Sixers, Hornets, and Jazz, who held the third through fifth selections. It wasn’t a random move; Bailey and his team, led by agent Omar Cooper, had their sights set on the Wizards, Pelicans, or Nets at picks 6, 7, and 8.
Bailey’s strategy isn’t unheard of in the NBA draft landscape. Just a year prior, Alex Sarr maneuvered similarly, choosing not to work out with the Hawks despite their top selection. This gamble saw Sarr landing where he wanted, with his French compatriot Zaccharie Risacher taking the No. 1 spot, and Sarr himself subsequently picked up by the Wizards at No. 2.
Thinking back to 1999, we remember Steve Francis and his push against joining the Vancouver Grizzlies. Drafted at No. 2, Francis made it clear he wasn’t playing for Vancouver, eventually orchestrating a trade to the Rockets before ever stepping onto the court for the Grizzlies.
But let’s get back to Ace Bailey. When NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced Bailey’s name at No. 5, it was Utah making the selection. Bailey admitted post-draft that the Jazz’s choice was as much a surprise to him as anyone else.
Many teams and analysts were puzzled over Bailey’s law-evading strategy, mainly due to Omar Cooper’s emerging presence in the field. Unlike seasoned agencies like CAA, representing top pick Cooper Flagg, or WME with No. 2’s Dylan Harper, Cooper is still carving out his niche.
There’s a silver lining for Bailey, though. Financially, Utah’s pick at No. 5 offers him a four-year rookie contract putting an extra $3.8 million in his bank account compared to landing at pick 6, and nearly $10 million more than the No. 8 pick. However, missing out on the third pick did leave a $9 million opportunity on the table.
Jonathan Givony of ESPN sees Utah as a potentially ideal fit, a sentiment shared by many. With the Jazz looking to build a strong roster, Bailey might just have landed in a position ripe for stardom. As Givony noted, Bailey could soon find that being drafted by Utah at No. 5 was a turn of fate packed with opportunity.
