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Utah Jazz Select Ace Bailey, Pick 5

Jingled said:
Tony Jones was on ESPN700 this morning...he said everything being reported after the draft was real and behind the scenes it was really hard for the Jazz and those first couple of days were really really rocky.

I really hope this is completely over and done and isn't something that's going to linger on throughout his Jazz tenure.
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that always seemed clear to me. i mean, he was drafted on Wednesday and wasn't on a plane until Saturday. it wasn't a media creation. however, the part of the story that was incorrectly blown up was the idea that Ace specifically didn't want to come to utah and/or that Ace was holding things up - no, it was his camp, i.e, Omar Cooper, who didn't want him in utah and was making things rocky. Ace's "crime" was always just being a young, naive, 18 year old who trusted the wrong people/person.
 
I think all that’s clear is the Jazz don’t want the fan base to direct their ire at Ace. Omar is the scapegoat. Who knows if Ace is knucklehead? Honestly he probably is. My guess is he gone in 7 years so we’re on the clock and we gotta build this thing up.
 
rippimpc said:
I think all that’s clear is the Jazz don’t want the fan base to direct their ire at Ace. Omar is the scapegoat. Who knows if Ace is knucklehead? Honestly he probably is. My guess is he gone in 7 years so we’re on the clock and we gotta build this thing up.
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the reality is Ace has never said or even insinuated he didn't want to be in utah. in literally every interview he has been nothing but gracious. is it possible he's faking it, that he's not genuine? of course, but if that's the route you want to go, you are the one making assumptions and reading into things.

Ace has been all smiles since he touched down and positive any time he's talked about being drafted by utah.
 
Maybe, we don’t know. Ace looked miserable on that stage. Donovan was smiles too and he left. Anyway who cares? We have him for 7 years and can’t assume anything beyond that.
 
seattlejazzfan said:
the reality is Ace has never said or even insinuated he didn't want to be in utah. in literally every interview he has been nothing but gracious. is it possible he's faking it, that he's not genuine? of course, but if that's the route you want to go, you are the one making assumptions and reading into things.
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This is how every normal NBA player acts even when he has an issue with the team: he says the right things and the agent does all of the dirty work on his behalf. It is very clear that Ace did not want and does not want to be in Utah. It may change in the future but but for now it is what it is.
 
jazznik said:
This is how every normal NBA player acts even when he has an issue with the team: he says the right things and the agent does all of the dirty work on his behalf. It is very clear that Ace did not want and does not want to be in Utah. It may change in the future but but for now it is what it is.
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What metrics are you using? Utah is obviously nobody's first choice but I think he understands that it's a good fit for him and to just embrace it. As op said, he's been nothing but class so far. A huge chunk of him not being happy is just fabricated bs imo.
 
AK47 said:
What metrics are you using? Utah is obviously nobody's first choice but I think he understands that it's a good fit for him and to just embrace it. As op said, he's been nothing but class so far. A huge chunk of him not being happy is just fabricated bs imo.
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Yes, I agree "he understands that it's a good fit for him and to just embrace it". Because he does not have any other good options. However, before, during and after the draft Ace and his agent gave every possible (i.e. acceptable for NBA prospects) sign that he does not want to be on the Jazz. What could he have done more to show it without suffering career-inhibiting consequences?
 
Don't understand the stigma with Utah anymore
Jokic, Giannis, SGA all went to small market NBA teams and all became MVP players
Malone was two time MVP with Jazz
Utah is maybe not a prime location but is tolerable :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::)
 
slc said:
Don't understand the stigma with Utah anymore
Jokic, Giannis, SGA all went to small market NBA teams and all became MVP players
Malone was two time MVP with Jazz
Utah is maybe not a prime location but is tolerable :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::)
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Yeah, and Lauri seem to be happy in Utah now, and Memo, Gobert and AK were as well. Americans don't want to live in SLC for obvious reasons. If the Jazz want to have happy draftees they need to stick with drafting foreigners.
 
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jazznik said:
Yeah, and Lauri seem to be happy in Utah now, and Memo, Gobert and AK were as well. Americans don't want to live in SLC for obvious reasons. If the Jazz want to have happy draftees they need to stick with drafting foreigners.
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Why didn't you include Deron Williams (who lives in Utah) or Carlos Boozer (who literally works for the team)?
 
jazznik said:
This is how every normal NBA player acts even when he has an issue with the team: he says the right things and the agent does all of the dirty work on his behalf. It is very clear that Ace did not want and does not want to be in Utah. It may change in the future but but for now it is what it is.
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I bet Ace told Omar that he didn't want to go to certain teams, and then they discussed it, and Omar said he could try to arrange it for him. And after it didn't work out, Ace had no choice but to agree to play for the Jazz. I also bet that when the season kicks off, he’ll be pumped to get on the court with the Jazz.
 
MT Steve said:
Why didn't you include Deron Williams (who lives in Utah) or Carlos Boozer (who literally works for the team)?
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Did they want to be drafted by the Jazz? I never heard that. But yeah, with time some people learn to like the place they had to go. And some people never do. We will see what group Ace will end up being in.

The Jazz took their chances.
 
MT Steve said:
Why didn't you include Deron Williams (who lives in Utah) or Carlos Boozer (who literally works for the team)?
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Oh, one more thought: in the last 30 years there were hundreds of players who spent a good chunk of their career in SLC and who are now retired. How many of them chose to live in SLC post-retirement besides Deron? I think it answers your question.
 
jazznik said:
Oh, one more thought: in the last 30 years there were hundreds of players who spent a good chunk of their career in SLC and who are now retired. How many of them chose to live in SLC post-retirement besides Deron? I think it answers your question.
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I imagine that % is quite low for the overwhelming majority of cities with professional sports teams.
 
At the last second, I gave a slight edge to Ace over Tre because I believed he had more potential to be a two way player. Tre is 6'6 with a long wingspan, but he defends and rebounds like he's 6'1. I'd still have them in the same tier, but I'm feeling better about the decision to give the nod to Ace after these first couple days of free agency.
 
KqWIN said:
At the last second, I gave a slight edge to Ace over Tre because I believed he had more potential to be a two way player. Tre is 6'6 with a long wingspan, but he defends and rebounds like he's 6'1. I'd still have them in the same tier, but I'm feeling better about the decision to give the nod to Ace after these first couple days of free agency.
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i have a few fairly significant worries about Ace, and one of them is his shooting. I wouldn't have worried about that in mid-January. But his shooting was so bad in late January and February that, as it relates to Tre, that's one I hope he's figured out. If his shot is up to par, i feel quite good about him in relation to Tre.
 
MT Steve said:
Why didn't you include Deron Williams (who lives in Utah) or Carlos Boozer (who literally works for the team)?
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If you gonna include Booz who is getting paid to be here, might as well bring up AJ who willingly chose Utah prep/BYU when he clearly had other offers out there.
 
In 2023 Collier was the #1 high school prospect. In 2024 Bailey was the #2 high school prospect (I don't think Bailey was ever touted higher than Flagg at any point).

I had mentioned it will be sweet to see Collier tossing dimes to Bailey but another cool connection is that the two guys went to high school 11 miles from one another. Hopefully they can bond over that and Collier's humble nature will rub off on Bailey.

 
MT Steve said:
I imagine that % is quite low for the overwhelming majority of cities with professional sports teams.
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From Reddit

"I've lived near or around San Antonio most of my life and you'd be surprised by the number of role players that aren't the Big 3, George Gervin, and David Robinson still live here. George Hill has a big *** ranch outside of town, Antonio Daniels, Bruce Bowen, Antonio Daniels live here, and Alvin Robertson/Bryn Forbes have a fun relationship with local law enforcement."

"A grip of Kings players still stay in Sacramento area. Doug Christie and Brad Miller, and Peja Stojakovic. Vlade Divac as well...Kenny Thomas is still around"
 
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