Ace Bailey has fueled speculation that he will holdout from the Utah Jazz, with the ex-Rutgers star reportedly yet to report to his new team.
Bailey did not work out for Utah ahead of the draft, and the franchise was not one of his ‘preferred destinations’, ESPN’s Jonathan Givony reported previously. Bailey later said on draft night that he had ‘no idea’ Utah were interested in him at No. 5.
On Friday, Givony’s ESPN colleague Brian Windhorst revealed on SportsCenter that Bailey has had ‘minimal contact’ with the Jazz, who expect him to be in Salt Lake City by the start of summer league training camp on Monday.
Meanwhile, Bailey’s new teammate and fellow-first round pick Walter Clayton Jr. has already reported to the Jazz, Windhorst said on Thursday night.
‘The Jazz have said [Bailey not reporting yet] is not an issue, they allow their new players to go home,’ Windhorst said on the late-night edition of SportsCenter with Scott Van Pelt.
‘But he will be expected to be there on Monday when their summer league training camp begins. So, let’s see.’
Ace Bailey admitted he had ‘no idea’ the Jazz were interested in selected him on Wednesday
However, Jazz CEO Danny Ainge and his son, team president Austin, are not expected to budge in any potential holdout situation
Windhorst added that Utah Jazz CEO and his son, newly-hired president of basketball operations Austin, ‘are not gonna bend’ when it comes to a potential holdout from Bailey.
‘They are not gonna get pushed around… the idea that they’re gonna 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,’ he said.
Prior to the draft, Givony reported that Bailey’s agent, Omar Cooper, had told at least one team in the top five that Bailey would not report if they decided to draft him. It’s unclear if that team was the Jazz.
Bailey was reportedly trying to engineer himself being drafted by the Wizards, Pelicans or Nets, who all drafted after the Jazz.
Amid the latest reports regarding Bailey, a representative from his agency insisted on Friday that he’s ‘thrilled’ to be going to Utah.
Bailey’s agent Cooper is not certified by the NBAPA, so the forward is also being represented by GSE Worldwide.
‘Obviously it’s an honor to be selected in the top 5 of the NBA Draft, and we think he can do a lot of great things out there, GSE president Andrew Witlieb told FOS Today.
Bailey shakes hands with NBA commissioner Ace Bailey after being drafted by the Jazz
‘He certainly should get a ton of playing time and he’ll have a lot of chances to show what he can do, so we think it’s a great situation for him basketball wise.’
Wittlieb did note that the pre-draft process, in which Bailey chose not to work out with any teams, was ‘led’ by Cooper.
‘Omar really focused more on fit than going third in the draft kind of thing,’ Wittlieb said.
While the Jazz did not get the chance to workout Bailey in person, they badly need an injection of talent on their roster after winning just 17 games last year.
They’ll hope that changes with Clayton Jr. and (hopefully) Bailey on the roster.
