Utah Jazz rookie Ace Bailey has formally moved on from the person who guided him by one of many strangest pre-draft processes in current reminiscence.
Bailey has parted methods with supervisor Omar Cooper simply three months after the 2025 NBA Draft, in keeping with The Athletic.
The 19-year-old ahead is now interviewing new illustration, although he has not made a last determination.
Cooper was on the middle of Bailey’s turbulent draft buildup. Regardless of being projected as a top-five decide, the Rutgers product was “the one U.S.-based prospect in your entire draft” to refuse exercises and interviews with NBA groups. Reviews even surfaced that Bailey’s camp “advised one group choosing within the high 5 to keep away from drafting his consumer.”
That plan was considered an try and steer Bailey towards the Washington Wizards, who held the sixth decide. As an alternative, the Utah Jazz took him at quantity 5, ignoring the noise.
Whereas the connection regarded rocky at first, issues stabilized as soon as Bailey reported to Salt Lake Metropolis. He shortly flashed his potential in Summer season League, exhibiting “a number of flashes of greatness in two video games earlier than being sidelined with an damage.”
Cooper, who just isn’t a licensed agent, was broadly believed to be the driving drive behind Bailey’s refusal to have interaction with groups earlier than the draft. Transferring on from him now alerts a shift for the rookie, as he focuses on constructing belief and continuity with the Jazz.
“Bailey is reportedly looking for new illustration and has already carried out some interviews, although hasn’t settled on a alternative but,” The Athletic famous.
For the Jazz, Bailey’s determination to separate with Cooper is probably going a constructive step. After a controversial draft journey, the rookie ahead has the possibility to let his play do the speaking, and go away the behind-the-scenes drama firmly prior to now.
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