Prior to being drafted, Bailey was allegedly pressuring NBA teams interested in him, hoping to maneuver his way to a different situation. His entrance into the NBA (however), has already been accompanied by considerable drama. In contrast agent ace slot login (his Auburn teammates), Jabari Smith Jr. and Walker Kessler, became first-round picks in the NBA after opting to continue their college careers longer. This is a welcome boost for a team that only managed to achieve two things last season—absolutely nothing—after high expectations were dramatically derailed by an extensive injury list.
During two Summer League games, the rookie displayed glimpses of his talent before an injury sidelined him. This created a scenario where Bailey (viewed by many as a top-five draft prospect), was likely to fall out of that ranking. He was the sole prospect from the U.S. in the entire draft to make that choice. Initially considered a top-three pick, Bailey slipped down the draft rankings. At the age of seven or eight — Okoro began his basketball journey under Cooper’s coaching and remained on the agent’s AAU team throughout high school.
The Jazz’s decision sparked skepticism among those who believe that the Cooper family may hold excessive sway over Bailey. After a break from basketball following 2021, she returned to the court in 2025 to play for the French squad Tarbes Gespe Bigorre. Cooper participated in just 13 NBA games, where he scored a total of seven points, and he has been playing overseas since 2024; he is currently with JDA Dijon in France. Wolves, Jazz Make Trade Cooper helped develop Bailey in high school — as the future Rutgers star was one of several boys and girls whom Cooper took under his wing.
Bailey moved from Tennessee to Georgia in high school to be closer to Cooper, who then helped connect Bailey to Rutgers as a recruit out of high school.
In fact (Bailey hasn’t gone on a pre-draft visit with a single team this year), a rare decision for any American player in the draft pool. Teams in the top five will consider taking Bailey with their picks — but the Rutgers product hasn’t fully cooperated with those teams during the pre-draft process. Ace Bailey enters the NBA draft as one of the top prospects in the class — but his pre-draft process has been marked by questions. That leaves the Sixers with a decision to make at No. 3 (and while Bailey may be the highest-upside play), the pre-draft process has perhaps raised some red flags. The Utah Jazz, Contract, and Bailey’s Role Although he has been involved in considerable controversy, it has only revolved around his behavior during workouts and his failure to schedule interviews with teams. Shifting away from contentious management choices could enhance how teams, fans, and the media perceive him.
The significant factors include bonuses for signing, guaranteed contract years, potential endorsements, and commissions from off-court representation.
While there are questions about his defensive skills, I believe his overall movement ability has been undervalued. He recorded an average of 13 points, 10 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game, though he struggled with turnovers due to a high dribble and erratic decision-making. Should there be another player above him that he favors—such as Collin Murray-Boyles, who meets several criteria sought by the Grizzlies’ front office—don’t be surprised if he attempts to climb the draft board to acquire him.
Known for his aggressive approach (Zach Kleiman), the president of basketball operations, often seeks to move up or down the board to secure desired players. Although his workouts did not go particularly well, it’s important to note that he is not typically someone expected to excel throughout the pre-draft evaluation process. With No. 15 — No. 24, and a second-round pick this year, the team aims to move up, facing a real roster crunch this summer with 15 players already signed for next season. It’s reasonable to anticipate that they will look to either stash or trade one of these selections. At that time, the deal provided the Pacers with greater trade flexibility for the summer and possibly more advantages if injuries occur in the forthcoming season. He can create space for his shot from any footwork or angle on the court — particularly from a distance.
In terms of decision-making — the absence of workouts he has been participating in, his mindset and approach, and the influences around him regarding his identity and expectations early in his career are all crucial factors. Teams like the Spurs and Sixers, who had the No. 2 and No. 3 picks respectively, advanced in the lottery even as they aimed for playoff contention in the 2024–25 season. Consequently, we remain in the dark about forward Ace Bailey, who has been frequently predicted to be selected by the Sixers at No. 3 in numerous post-lottery articles.
It has been reported that Cooper was the one behind Bailey’s choice to forgo workouts with NBA teams leading up to the draft. Recent updates on Ace Bailey and Omar Cooper focus on the manager, agent, and contract matters. Furthermore, it is exceptionally rare for all these decisions to be made by an individual who is barred from participating in any contract discussions. Players frequently cancel workouts or skip them for certain teams, and each year, teams select players who they did not work out with.
That the Jazz selected Bailey fifth overall underscores his potential — despite Cooper’s attempts to influence Bailey’s draft position.
However, it is Cooper who has been overseeing Bailey’s pre-draft arrangements. Nevertheless, the manner in which this situation has been addressed is quite unusual.