ESPN draft expert Jonathan Givony reported that his camp even threatened one of the franchises selecting in the top five: "Leading up to the NBA draft, Ace Bailey's representatives 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."

Ace Bailey’s attempt to maneuver his way to Washington, New Orleans or Brooklyn backfired when the Jazz selected him with the No. 5 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft on Wednesday night, according to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony. The Jazz plan to keep Bailey, according to Givony, even though they were not a “preferred” destination.

The fact that Bailey had yet to report to the Jazz as of Friday morning isn't necessarily a big deal. Dallas Mavericks No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg waited until Friday to join his new team. The Jazz's other pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Walter Clayton Jr., reportedly joined the team earlier.