ESPN reported that Ace Bailey allegedly told a team in the top five not to draft him despite being picked by the Jazz with the fifth pick.

Ace Bailey's decision to skip workouts with every NBA team ahead of the draft led to suspicions that he potentially had a promise from a team and was trying to steer his way to that organization.

A curious and unpredictable predraft process for one of the 2025 NBA Draft's most talented players ended fittingly in a curious and unpredictable way Wednesday night as Ace Bailey, the Rutgers wing who canceled a meeting with the Philadelphia 76ers (who held pick No.