NBA GMs Already Calling Ace Bailey a Draft Steal for the Jazz
Ace Bailey is quickly validating the Utah Jazz’s decision to draft him fifth overall — and the rest of the league is taking notice.
After a chaotic lead-up to the 2025 NBA Draft, the Jazz ultimately landed one of the most talked-about prospects in Rutgers wing Ace Bailey. Despite some pre-draft drama surrounding his availability for workouts and potential landing spots, Utah stayed focused and took him at No. 5.
Now, just a few months later, NBA general managers already believe the Jazz may have struck gold.
In the league’s annual GM survey — which polls executives on various topics ahead of the season — one question asked: “Which rookie was the biggest steal based on where he was selected?”
Bailey didn’t top the list but earned enough votes to tie for second, a notable achievement for a player taken so early in the draft.
Here’s the top five from the survey:
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Kasparas Jakučionis (No. 20, Miami) – 17%
T-2. Ace Bailey (No. 5, Utah) – 10%
T-2. Carter Bryant (No. 14, San Antonio) – 10%
T-4. Joan Beringer (No. 17, Minnesota) – 7%
T-4. Liam McNeeley (No. 29, Charlotte) – 7%
T-4. Asa Newell (No. 23, Atlanta) – 7%
Even fellow Jazz rookie Walter Clayton Jr., taken 18th overall, received votes as a potential draft-day steal. But Bailey clearly stood out.
For a top-five pick to be viewed as a “steal” is rare — and it speaks volumes about how highly the league views Bailey’s talent. Many insiders believe if not for the pre-draft uncertainty, he could have gone even higher.
One factor that complicated Bailey’s pre-draft process was the influence of his former manager, Omar Cooper, who reportedly orchestrated canceled workouts and steered Bailey toward preferred destinations. However, Cooper and Bailey parted ways before training camp — a move that, in hindsight, further validates the Jazz’s decision to ignore the noise and trust their evaluation.
Now, with that distraction behind him, Bailey enters an ideal environment in Utah — one with a strong development system, a young roster, and a clear path to stardom. The Jazz may have found a cornerstone player, and the league is already taking notice.
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