Ace Bailey’s draft gamble backfires: How many millions did the Utah Jazz player miss out on?
Ace Bailey, once a top prospect out of Rutgers, made headlines even before the 2025 NBA Draft began-not for his performance on the court, but for his decision to turn down pre-draft workouts with several teams. Most notably, he declined to meet with the Philadelphia 76ers, who held the third overall pick. That strategic move pushed him down the draft board, where he was ultimately selected by the Utah Jazz at No. 5.Cooper Flagg to be the youngest first overall pick since LeBron JamesThe fallout was immediate and costly. According to rookie scale contracts, the difference between the third and fifth picks amounts to over $9 million in guaranteed earnings. Bailey, it seems, attempted to shape his future by avoiding teams he felt weren't the right fit. Unfortunately, he not only missed out on a bigger paycheck, but also didn't […]
