Utah Jazz silence Rutgers' Ace Bailey draft drama with telling social media post

The NBA Draft is a night to remember, and touching down in the city where a player will begin his career is always special. However, No. 5 pick Ace Bailey nearly jeopardized that experience when his representatives attempted a power move — warning teams inside the top five that he wouldn’t report if drafted.

“Leading up to the NBA draft, Ace Bailey's representatives informed a team drafting inside the top five they didn't want that team to select the Rutgers wing, and that he wouldn't report if they did, sources told ESPN,” ESPN’s Jonathan Givony and Tim Bontemps wrote.

It was a bold strategy by Bailey’s camp. While some believe this kind of maneuver is rare, it’s not unheard of — even Steph Curry faced a similar situation during his draft process.

“Ace Bailey story reminds me about Stephen Curry‘s father and agent asking the Warriors not to draft him in 2009 with the seventh pick so he could go to the Knicks with the next pick. Steph also didn’t workout for Warriors. Undeterred Warriors GM Larry Riley drafted Steph anyway,” ESPN’s Marc J. Spears wrote.

Bailey ultimately relented and flew to Utah on Saturday, which was the smart move. It was either report to the Jazz or potentially miss out on fulfilling the lifelong dream he worked so hard for.

“No one said anything when Davion Mitchell canceled a workout with the Toronto Raptors for the No. 4 pick. No one criticized Evan Mobley when he didn't work out for Cleveland, and they drafted him anyway,” Omar Cooper, Bailey’s agent, said. "There is nothing uncommon about how Ace Bailey's predraft process was handled."

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Once Bailey arrived in Utah, he quickly got to work. The Jazz’s official X account even helped quiet the criticism.

“He wasn’t kidding when he said he was ‘ready to get to work,’” the Jazz posted.

he wasn’t kidding when he said he was ‘ready to get to work’ #TakeNote | @AiriousB pic.twitter.com/sBKi8EmzY7

After all the drama, it seems all is well between Bailey and the Jazz. He has a very high ceiling — and Utah appears confident he’ll live up to it.