Utah Jazz Select Rutgers Ace Bailey No. 5 Pick Amid Draft Controversy

The Utah Jazz were active and strategic in the 2025 NBA Draft, making several significant selections to bolster their roster. They traded up to pick Florida guard Walter Clayton Jr. at No. 18, valuing his scoring ability off the bench, which addresses the Jazz's recent struggles with bench scoring efficiency. With the No. 21 pick, the Jazz selected Will Riley from Illinois, a promising forward known for his length and shooting, though he needs to improve his ball handling for the NBA level. The Jazz's boldest move was selecting Rutgers star Ace Bailey with the No. 5 overall pick, despite Bailey not working out for any team or expressing a preference for other franchises, signaling Utah's commitment to rebuilding with high-upside talent. Bailey, who averaged 17.6 points and 7.2 rebounds as a freshman, was viewed as a potential franchise-changing player, though his draft-day decisions raised eyebrows league-wide. These moves reflect the Jazz's focus on acquiring versatile scorers and potential cornerstones to emerge from their recent challenging seasons.