2025 NBA Draft Discussion

Derrick Favors: Being from the inner city of ATL (southside zone3 iykyk) I understand not wanting to go to Utah but it’s better than what you think. It’s not for everyone but if you give it a chance you’ll find gold 1 hour ago – via x.com

Utah has one of the best fan bases in the entire league. So what’s the problem? I’ll tell you what the problem is: we have these vultures out here. Vultures preying on these kids. They find them in eighth or ninth grade, take them under their wing, give them money, pay their parents’ bills, buy them their first cars, put jewelry on them, clothes on their backs—and the families don’t realize there’s a hidden agenda. These folks had motives all along. I don’t know the man who’s managing Ace—not the agent, because he’s not qualified. I don’t know him, so I won’t speak on his name. But I will speak on the situation: he’s handled this all wrong. Completely wrong. 1 hour ago – via YouTube

Just not a lot of people who look like Ace live in Utah. And by a lot I mean Hispanics probably dominate the city where most black people live. Just what from little research I’ve done. Never been to Utah. Probably never will.

[url]https://youtu.be/cHIaWjzcjQo?si=Bed7tZnDqNoVZgvW[/url]


Peek nails this

[QUOTE=GOBB;15018248]Just not a lot of people who look like Ace live in Utah. And by a lot I mean Hispanics probably dominate the city where most black people live. Just what from little research I’ve done. Never been to Utah. Probably never will.[/QUOTE]

More and more they do. Slc is a lot more diverse than the suburbs where rich people like favors, gobert and thurl bailey live. Deron williams still has a home in park city. Sounds like the kid wants to work and ball. Great place for that

[QUOTE=Xiao Yao You;15018250]More and more they do. Slc is a lot more diverse than the suburbs where rich people like favors, gobert and thurl bailey live. Deron williams still has a home in park city. Sounds like the kid wants to work and ball. Great place for that[/QUOTE]

But you also want to be apart of a community you can call home as well. With that comes folks you can relate too. It may be good from a work and ball standpoint. No distractions. Nothing to do as far as what he may like. He’s 18 not in his 40’s. None of this matters tho as he’s locked in for 4 years if not more barring a trade. Be it forced or him not performing as expected. So he has no excuse focusing solely on ball. But making Utah your home. Where you spend your career, have a family? Time will tell if the place convinces him to stay (and not force a trade down the road).

I do find it funny he ended up in Utah (least likely place) in a situation not preferred (Lauri, Colin, Collins).


Why is the % of blacks so small in Utah and even south lake city where the most blacks are said to be? Even there the numbers are the minority. Or you saying the influx has been greater the past decade or so?

[QUOTE=GOBB;15018251]But you also want to be apart of a community you can call home as well. With that comes folks you can relate too. It may be good from a work and ball standpoint. No distractions. Nothing to do as far as what he may like. He’s 18 not in his 40’s. None of this matters tho as he’s locked in for 4 years if not more barring a trade. Be it forced or him not performing as expected. So he has no excuse focusing solely on ball. But making Utah your home. Where you spend your career, have a family? Time will tell if the place convinces him to stay (and not force a trade down the road).

I do find it funny he ended up in Utah (least likely place) in a situation not preferred (Lauri, Colin, Collins).


Why is the % of blacks so small in Utah and even south lake city where the most blacks are said to be? Even there the numbers are the minority. Or you saying the influx has been greater the past decade or so?[/QUOTE]
Yes it is becoming more diverse all the time. He can live elsewhere in the off season. If hes here to play basketball its shouldnt matter much during the season. On the road half the time. At the facility working when home.

[QUOTE=Xiao Yao You;15018242]Quite an imagination. Id say where ace comes from is much more racist. With social media you can be marketed in any city. Depends on what kind of lifestyle you want i guess. Gobert still has his home here. I believe favors still lives here and hes also from the racist south. Also some of the most beautiful women here. But this is ish. Lets talk about thngs we have no clue about :roll:[/QUOTE]

We can go back and forth on opinions, but that isn't helpful to move the conversation, so let's at least attempt to use objective measures.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but ultimately Utah is one of the last diverse states, ranked at 34. There are many studies and research that speaks to the perceived beauty and how that relates to diversity. Utah is not a fashion, beauty, modeling, nor actress hub. - based on this, they should objectively measure average or below (still an opinion though)

As far as marketing potential, a few objective data points:
According to Nielsen DMA Utah (Salt Lake City) ranks around #27 among U.S. TV markets. - Not good in media markets (fact)

They have typically ranked 13th -14th in attendance (* - In 2021 they were #1 in the Covid-19 shortned season, this is omitted due to varying local ordinances related to gatherings) - Meh attendance (fact)

According to CBSSports and SI, Utah averages between 4-8 national games per season placing them 25th. - Not good at getting picked up nationally by major sports networks (fact)

I'd say these traits objectively make Utah an undesirable city despite what our opinions are.

[QUOTE=Xiao Yao You;15018252]Yes it is becoming more diverse all the time. He can live elsewhere in the off season. If hes here to play basketball its shouldnt matter much during the season. On the road half the time. At the facility working when home.[/QUOTE]

Yeah but that logic doesn’t seem to be used during free agency. If we lost the last 3 decades of Jazz signings. The most notable black player is Carlos Boozer. Clearly location seems to matter. You’re saying it shouldn’t. Play ball and make somewhere else home. You and I both know that’s not how nba athletes operate. But that’s neither here nor there. Ace is there for now.

[QUOTE=GOBB;15018256]Yeah but that logic doesn’t seem to be used during free agency. If we lost the last 3 decades of Jazz signings. The most notable black player is Carlos Boozer. Clearly location seems to matter. You’re saying it shouldn’t. Play ball and make somewhere else home. You and I both know that’s not how nba athletes operate. But that’s neither here nor there. Ace is there for now.[/QUOTE]

That is exactly why they couldnt pass on ace. A chance at an all star talent that they might not have in free agency. Roll the dice. They hold all the cards for at least 4 years. He will give up a lot of money if he wants out after that. Now it is time for him to show he deserves the attention. Right now he is nothing but hype

Marc Stein: Ace Bailey, meanwhile, has arrived in Salt Lake City to officially join the Jazz. 1 hour ago – via x.com

[QUOTE=Xiao Yao You;15018408]Marc Stein: Ace Bailey, meanwhile, has arrived in Salt Lake City to officially join the Jazz. 1 hour ago – via x.com[/QUOTE]


This news isn’t louder than when he wasn’t on the same flight with fellow rookie headed to Utah.

They wanted him here this weekend. Practice tomorrow. All good

Bulls are gonna be in the purgatory for the next 10 years, it seems. Unless giddey can turns things around for good, though it could be unlikely.

Ace Bailey indicated Sunday that he never thought about holding out or forcing a trade after the Utah Jazz drafted him No. 5 overall. Bailey reported to Utah after he was criticized for his approach to the pre-draft process, during which he refused to work out for teams interested in him. When asked during his introductory news conference whether he considered not coming to Salt Lake City, he only expressed enthusiasm for being with the Jazz. “Just blessed to be in the position I am,” Bailey said. 36 mins ago – via ESPN