Utah Jazz rookie Ace Bailey parted ways with manager Omar Cooper on Tuesday, according to Tony Jones of The Athletic.
Bailey is “in the process” of searching for new representation, per Jones.
Cooper was reportedly attempting to ensure that Bailey landed on an East-Coast team in the 2025 NBA draft. Instead, the Jazz selected him with the No. 5 overall pick.
After Bailey was selected, ESPN’s Jonathan Givony reported that Utah “was not one of his preferred destinations.” He declined a workout invitation from the Jazz prior to the draft.
On Monday, NBA insider Marc Stein reported that Bailey’s camp “refused to engage” with teams looking to bring him in for individual workouts leading up to the draft in an attempt to be selected by the Washington Wizards at No. 6.
While Bailey eventually joined the Jazz without any type of resistance following the draft, a unique situation emerged at the Summer League.
Cooper’s son, Omar Cooper Jr., was briefly expected to serve as a guest coach for Utah during the Summer League before he was eventually removed by the team after the NBA contacted the organization and raised concerns.
Meanwhile, expectations are high for Bailey as he enters his rookie season with the Jazz.
He’s coming off a freshman year at Rutgers in which he averaged 17.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game while shooting 46.0 percent from the field and 34.6 percent from three-point territory.
Bailey is expected to headline a young core for Utah that also includes Keyonte George, Isaiah Collier, Cody Williams, Walter Clayton Jr. and Kyle Filipowski.