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.

Leading up to the 2025 NBA Draft, top prospect Ace Bailey’s camp reportedly put out word that he didn’t want to be selected by either the Charlotte Hornets or Utah Jazz. That apparently didn’t matter to the Jazz, who made the Rutgers star the fifth overall pick in the first round of the NBA Draft.

The Jazz planned to hire Omar Cooper's son as an unpaid "guest coach" for Ace Bailey's first Summer League, but nixed the plan after the NBA reached out.