Utah Jazz front office leadership is pushing back on pre-draft speculation surrounding rookie forward Ace Bailey.
In an interview reported by Keith Smith of Spotrac, a Jazz executive dismissed talk that Bailey was unwilling to join the franchise, calling the rumors “nonsense.”
“When Ace was on the board at our pick, it sure took a lot sting out of dropping in the lottery,” the official told Smith. “He’s excited to be with us, and we’re thrilled to have him.”
Bailey, selected No. 5 overall in the 2025 NBA Draft out of Rutgers, had skipped several workouts before draft night, including one with the Philadelphia 76ers.
His decision not to meet with certain teams sparked debate about his maturity and intentions.
Despite that, the Jazz were confident in their evaluation and made him the centerpiece of their first-round haul.
Bailey averaged 17.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game in his lone college season, shooting 46% from the field and 34.6% from beyond the arc.
His two-way potential and size at the wing position helped solidify his standing as a top-tier draft prospect.
The Jazz also acquired Florida guard Walter Clayton Jr. during the draft via a trade with the Washington Wizards.
The same executive praised Clayton as an immediate locker room leader and a high-character addition to the team.
“He’s a leader. He’ll be a leader on Day 1 of camp. We can already see it during Summer League,” the source said.
Clayton helped lead Florida to an NCAA championship this past season, averaging 18.3 points and 4.2 assists while shooting nearly 39% from deep.
He enters a Utah backcourt that includes Keyonte George, Isaiah Collier, and Jaden Springer.
Bailey and Clayton are part of a larger offseason overhaul in Salt Lake City that included trades for veterans Kyle Anderson, Kevin Love, and Jusuf Nurkic.
