With the season winding all the way down to speculations of draft-day manipulation and commerce rumours, Utah Jazz ahead Ace Bailey has lastly quashed all of the hearsay mills.
The 18-year-old rising star, chosen No. 5 total in Wednesday’s NBA Draft out of Rutgers, will report back to the Jazz on Saturday, a workforce consultant confirmed to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony.
“We’ve had good communication with Ace Bailey and his representatives,” the consultant stated. “We be ok with every little thing. Ace and his household are coming to Utah tomorrow. We’ll have a press convention Sunday, and a observe Monday.”
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That affirmation successfully ends the widespread buzz that Bailey or his camp could have been making an attempt to steer his draft vacation spot. Whereas Bailey didn’t work out for any workforce previous to the draft, all indicators now level to him being totally dedicated to beginning his professional profession in Salt Lake Metropolis.
“He’s nice,” Jazz president of basketball operations Austin Ainge stated after the draft. “We have been in a position to communicate with him. He was tremendous excited. We’re tremendous excited. We’re anticipating a really vivid future.”
Bailey’s Utah wager shakes up Lakers’ offseason blueprint
Bailey will now start getting ready for the NBA Summer time League, set to tip off on 10 July. After a standout season with the Scarlet Knights, the place he averaged 17.6 factors, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per recreation, incomes All-Massive Ten honours, the ahead arrives in Utah as one of many league’s most talked about rookies.
But, one such ripple impact could be on Los Angeles due to Bailey’s sudden dedication to Utah.
With the Los Angeles Lakers getting into the offseason upset by shedding within the first spherical of the playoffs, the entrance workplace is prone to pursue reinforcements to maximise Lebron James’ final title run. Many speculated that if Bailey expressed disinterest in Utah, the Jazz would possibly pivot towards making Lauri Markkanen accessible in a commerce.
As an alternative, Utah’s stacked frontcourt now that includes Bailey, Markkanen, John Collins (who picked up his $26.2 million participant possibility), and Walker Kessler presents a great drawback for Danny Ainge to resolve.
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Notably, Markkanen’s taking pictures and measurement make him an excellent match subsequent to LeBron and Luka Dončić, whom the Lakers reportedly pursued. Additionally they retained Austin Reaves, Dalton Knecht, and a coveted unprotected 2031 first-round decide.
