It started as a dream pick for the Utah Jazz. Ace Bailey, once projected to be a top-three lock, slipped to fifth overall. Concerns had surfaced when Bailey skipped several private workouts, making teams wary. Yet, Utah still saw gold in him and grabbed him early, and for many, they got lucky. While fans celebrated, something strange followed. Fellow rookie Walter Clayton Jr. made his way to Salt Lake City, but Bailey didn’t. That absence stirred unease, especially since this pick meant a lot to the franchise.

According to ESPN, Bailey’s reps allegedly told at least one top-five team he wouldn’t report if drafted, though they didn’t name which one. Despite his public focus on basketball, doubts linger. His agent Omar Cooper defended Bailey’s process, pointing to past players like Davion Mitchell and Evan Mobley who followed similar routes. “There is nothing uncommon about how Ace Bailey’s predraft process was handled,” Cooper said. Still, Utah believes in him. “We do a lot of background calls and work on guys, and everyone loves being around Ace,” said Austin Ainge, their president of basketball operations. But while Bailey’s situation stirs confusion, it’s a connection to a Pacers rookie that took the spotlight recently.

What added to the confusion was the sudden spotlight on someone else entirely. Instead of addressing Bailey’s absence, Jazz owner Dwyane Wade turned his attention to another rookie, 23-year-old Kam Jones. In a heartfelt video, Wade said, “Yo, Kam, on campus right now, I’m with the team. Man, we all thinking about you, we all cheering for you, we all rooting for you.” Jones, a Marquette product like Wade, was drafted in the second round by the San Antonio Spurs but traded to the Indiana Pacers. The connection to Marquette explained the love, but the timing raised eyebrows.

Bailey’s representatives, however, continued to calm the waters. Andrew Whitley, president of GSE Worldwide, made it clear that Bailey was happy with Utah. “Yeah, no, he’s thrilled to be going to Utah,” Whitley said. “We think he can do a lot of great things out there.” He emphasized that the focus had been on basketball fit, not draft position. “Omar really focused more on fit rather than going third in the draft kind of thing.” Even so, Bailey’s actions have felt out of sync with those reassurances. The silence from his side, combined with the growing speculation, keeps Jazz fans on edge.

Dwyane Wade calls Ace Bailey a ‘win’ for Utah amid growing standoff

As Bailey’s post-draft silence continues to stir doubt, Utah Jazz co-owner Dwyane Wade made sure to let the world know one thing: he’s all in. Wade didn’t hesitate to praise the team for swinging big on a player who, despite red flags, still holds massive potential. “When you can get a player as talented as ACE with the 5th pick you don’t over think it, you do it! Good job @utahjazz,” Wade posted on X. That support came at a time when national media began raising tough questions about Bailey’s attitude.

Scott Van Pelt didn’t hold back. “He’s good, but he’s not this good to be trying to dictate to people, ‘don’t take me.’ Like, what the h-ll is that?” he asked, clearly frustrated by Bailey’s rumored refusal to report to certain teams. In response, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst offered a more measured view. “The Jazz pretty much tanked last season. And then they got terrible luck in the lottery to go all the way back to fifth… They have to take that player there, Scott,” he explained.

Windhorst also acknowledged the gamble involved, but defended Utah’s decision. “If it leads to a couple of weeks or a couple of months, hopefully not, of a little bit of uncomfort, they will deal with it, because that’s what they have to do.” Between Wade’s public endorsement and the Jazz front office’s long-term vision, it’s clear the organization believes the potential reward outweighs the current tension. Now, it’s just a matter of whether Ace Bailey steps up to meet that belief.