Could the Jazz Milk Washington if The Ace Saga Sours?

[KqWIN]

Tony seems unconcerned, says this happens all the time: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6454997/2025/06/27/ace-bailey-utah-jazz-nba-draft/

Glad someone else said it as well! This part at the end shows why TJ is a real writer and I am not. Summed it up perfectly:

And it shines a light on what has become a dirty game behind the scenes during the predraft process. And, make no mistake, it’s a game that’s been played for generations.

Bailey’s game was played out for the public to digest. That’s the only difference.

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

There was a quote from Tim Connelly (Wolves GM) that said picking in the 2nd round sucks because agents control everything and it's all agreed to beforehand.

 

[idiot]

He has a real agent that will handle the paperwork but Omar is the “brains” behind the operation.

It's interesting that Realgm (usually my go-to source for who employs which agent), lists Cooper as the agent rather than this real (NBA approved) agent.

 

[KqWIN]

At the risk of turning this into a semantical issue, it depends what you mean by "this".

My takeaway from Tony's article is that pre-draft antics and positioning are frequent. But if this issue extends beyond the draft itself to issues like not reporting to the team, it would make the situation a rather rare one.

Of course it's too early to know what will happen between now and summer league, so we're all operating on speculation, but I think most of us (myself included) suspect that Ace will show up.

If he had Bartlestein or Paul, those two would put pressure in other ways. They would also refuse a workout, but would also play a cat and mouse game where both sides try to maintain on good terms because the client base is large.

Cooper is a fake agent without any other real clients. He can’t do the same thing. All he can really do is be annoying. And he’s doing that.

Ultimately I think the result is the same. Ace will play for the Jazz this upcoming season. Maybe he sits out summer league, but like Tony outlined….it seems far fetched that Ace wouldn’t play at all.

It does seem like Cooper could be an ongoing headache though.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

There was a quote from Tim Connelly (Wolves GM) that said picking in the 2nd round sucks because agents control everything and it's all agreed to beforehand.

Those are typically real agents with real power doing what is best for their client and their situation tho.

 

[Flc]

There was a quote from Tim Connelly (Wolves GM) that said picking in the 2nd round sucks because agents control everything and it's all agreed to beforehand.

First round controlled by Silver, second round controlled by agents - great sport.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

If he had Bartlestein or Paul, those two would put pressure in other ways. They would also refuse a workout, but would also play a cat and mouse game where both sides try to maintain on good terms because the client base is large.

Cooper is a fake agent without any other real clients. He can’t do the same thing. All he can really do is be annoying. And he’s doing that.

Ultimately I think the result is the same. Ace will play for the Jazz this upcoming season. Maybe he sits out summer league, but like Tony outlined….it seems far fetched that Ace wouldn’t play at all.

It does seem like Cooper could be an ongoing headache though.

The tactics while annoying… aren’t the issue. The motivations for Omar are.

 

[Elizah Huge]

If you think the guy who was trying to charge people for interviews in college is acting in Ace Bailey’s best interest and not his own I don’t know what to tell you.

 

[Sean]

At the risk of turning this into a semantical issue, it depends what you mean by "this".

My takeaway from Tony's article is that pre-draft antics and positioning are frequent. But if this issue extends beyond the draft itself to issues like not reporting to the team, it would make the situation a rather rare one.

Of course it's too early to know what will happen between now and summer league, so we're all operating on speculation, but I think most of us (myself included) suspect that Ace will show up.

The first big indicator will be Monday when the Jazz welcome their draft picks and hold a press conference. If Ace isn't there, it will be the first indication that this is moving into unusual territory and not common. I'm sure Utah will make an excuse. He was handling some personal affairs or had a previous obligation but if he's not here Monday, while I won't take that to mean he'll never be here, it will mean there's more to this story.

After that point, it's possible Utah and Ace come to an amicable agreement. It's also possible he wants out and they have a Steve Francis type situation where he flat-out old told the Grizzlies to not draft him and they did anyway. He was not happy (looked way more unhappy than Ace after he was drafted) and eventually forced one of the largest trades in NBA history.

 

[Deleted member 365]

I don't think this has anything to do with Salt Lake as a place. I think it has to do with Washington back-channeling, "Come here and you'll be THE GUY." And his agent looks at Utah and sees Lauri, Kessler, Sexton, Keyonte, Hendricks and thinks, "Ace isn't going to be the guy there. The lane is not wide open."

If I were Ace or his agent, I’d look at that roster and laugh. If Ace can’t be the guy over Hendricks or Sexton or Lauri (who we probably are going to unload) then he clearly shouldn’t have been in the lottery.

 

[KqWIN]

The tactics while annoying… aren’t the issue. The motivations for Omar are.

And I’ve try to say that this is about the first thing like a million times. I 100% agree of you think Cooper is a problem. That’s one conversation. But my post you guys replied to said that these tactics are a different flavor of what already happens. The tactics are different because Cooper is a fake agent without clients, but the result from the Jazz perspective should be the same. The Jazz made the right decision to draft him anyways. And it seems like they played the right games themselves to help prevent a trade from happening.

If anything, I think these tactics are not as threatening as whatever Paul or Bartlestein would do outside of the public eye.

 

[Flc]

If I were Ace or his agent, I’d look at that roster and laugh. If Ace can’t be the guy over Hendricks or Sexton or Lauri (who we probably are going to unload) then he clearly shouldn’t have been in the lottery.

Agreed. This "Give Omar a job" nonsense makes it make sense now.