{"id":147410,"date":"2025-06-27T15:52:53","date_gmt":"2025-06-27T19:52:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=147410"},"modified":"2025-06-27T15:52:53","modified_gmt":"2025-06-27T19:52:53","slug":"ace-bailey-projects-jazz-new-starting-5","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/06\/27\/ace-bailey-projects-jazz-new-starting-5\/","title":{"rendered":"Ace Bailey Projects Jazz’s New Starting 5"},"content":{"rendered":"

By drafting Rutgers freshman forward Ace Bailey<\/a> against his wishes, the Utah Jazz have literally opened up Pandora’s box. Given that Bailey was at one point a challenger to be drafted first overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, they simply took the best player available when they were on the clock. Indeed, Jazz owner Ryan Smith confirmed that it was their overarching strategy<\/a>\u00a0on The Pat McAfee Show<\/em>.<\/p>\n

All of that being said and understood, they still interjected themselves into a conversation that Bailey didn’t appear to want them in. Now, the NBA and interwebs are rife with speculation about Bailey attempting to force his way out of Utah. What makes it so tragic is that this was a completely avoidable situation.<\/p>\n

Ace Bailey Projects Jazz’s New Starting 5<\/h2>\n

But what if Bailey actually was happy to play for the Jazz?<\/p>\n

At what appeared to be a draft party, the Rutgers product was interviewed by TikTok’s theshotclockshow.<\/em><\/p>\n

“I’m not sure,” he responded. “I gotta do a bunch of research, but I’m glad to be there.”<\/p>\n

\n

Seems really unhappy to me \ud83d\ude02\ud83d\ude02 pic.twitter.com\/OdABQ6TCcC<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 The Colonel (@colby_colonel) June 27, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n