Utah rookie Ace Bailey is easing doubts that trailed him into the 2025 NBA Draft.
Inside Utah’s locker room, the 20-year-old forward has impressed teammates and staff after a draft process clouded by questions about his attitude and preparation. “If anybody calls about Ace Bailey, I call back right away,” Rutgers head coach Steve Pikiell said, adding that clubs that slipped in the lottery may have helped fuel negative talk on draft night.
Bailey’s former college teammate Kyle Anderson called him “such a joy” off the court and noted his recent on-court growth. Since mid-January the rookie is averaging 15.0 points and 5.4 rebounds. Head coach Will Hardy said the team is focused on long-term development, not stat chasing: “We want to help him get through this season and be a way better player than when he started.”
Jazz contest $500K rest penalty
The Jazz are privately livid over a $500,000 league fine for resting healthy players, according to The Athletic. Club officials believe they were singled out for a practice common among rebuilding teams. Utah, which has tanked in recent seasons, reportedly explored at least one significant win-now trade, but the deal collapsed after the targeted player’s agent indicated a preference for another destination.
Nuggets search for late-game answers
Denver has slipped to 26th in clutch net rating (-9.9) and drops to ‑19.3 when Nikola Jokić is on the floor, the Denver Post reported. Assistant coach David Adelman, serving as acting head coach, said the staff is installing new wrinkles to free Jokić and Jamal Murray while Aaron Gordon remains sidelined. “You don’t want to scrap something you know you’re going to do in the playoffs,” Adelman explained, “but we have to figure out a way to finish games when teams are full-rotating to them.” Despite the small sample size, the slump could influence playoff seeding.
Blazers convert Sidy Cissoko
Portland has upgraded rookie swingman Sidy Cissoko to a standard NBA contract. This season is fully guaranteed, while 2026-27 is non-guaranteed, per HoopsHype. The move required waiving guard Rayan Rupert, Cissoko’s closest friend on the roster. “It’s tough because he’s the guy that helped me with everything when I got here,” Cissoko said. The Frenchman, who has played with Rupert since their teens, added that the deal is only a step toward his goal of a decade-long NBA career: “I’m not going to change because of my contract.”
Source: Hoops Rumors
