INSIDE LOOK at Utah selecting Ace Bailey at No. 5 👀 ‘He’s NOT POUTING!’ – Tim MacMahon | First Take

INSIDE LOOK at Utah selecting Ace Bailey at No. 5 👀 ‘He’s NOT POUTING!’ – Tim MacMahon | First Take

it forward and uh I’m going to take it to A63 to our producer so that’s where we’re headed ace Bailey the former Ruckers forward was drafted by the Jazz with the fifth overall pick in the draft despite reportedly not wanting to play for the team and having declined to work out for them before the draft he had a pre-draft process where he refused to work out for any teams leading to speculation about his preferred landing spots with some reports suggesting he favored the Washington Wizards Brooklyn Nets or New Orleans Pelicans here’s Bailey on going to Utah there there was a lot of speculation the build up in your draft process you know you seem pretty happy to to me to be going to Utah what do you say to people that maybe just don’t believe that i mean I could control what I control so how they feel how they feel but to my team and me just me focusing on the basketball and them doing what they doing so it happens bon starting with you uh what did you make of Bailey going to Utah i mean look this was the fascinating moment in the draft i mean CHS is obviously I’ll talk all over all this stuff the top four picks were pretty well set the question all day going into the draft is what was Utah gonna do with the fifth selection austin H running his first draft with the Jazz nobody really could get a sense of what they were going to do they go take Ace Bailey this is not what Ace Bailey’s people thought they were going to do they thought they were going to Washington they were all set up to be on the East Coast he’s a guy was born in Atlanta he’s from the Southeast that the Wizards had a big hole in the wing he thought he was going there i think though this could wind up being the best thing that ever happened to Ace Bailey will Hardy is one of the best coaches in the league they’ve got a terrific organization from top to bottom they’ve got a bunch of playing time and shot opportunities for him on the wing this is a chance for him to go to a low pressure environment to grow to get a chance to get as much as he wants to eat offensively and we could look back on this a few years from now and say that this was a great setup for him and a great setup for the Jazz and applaud the Jazz on taking a swing on a guy who didn’t give them an opportunity to really get to see him up close and saying this is the best player available we’re going to go get him we’re not going to worry about whether he wants to be here or not toms so going into draft night everyone around Ace Bailey knew he was going to go between three and eight in this draft and they were comfortable they were fine with how they handled the process as long as he ended up around in that three-day which they were very confident in and they didn’t really care I think at the end of the day where he potentially end up because he’s playing basketball and he’s going to be on a team i think the jazz between him and Walter Clayton Jr to get those two players i talked to someone in Utah last night shotmaking competitiveness creativity they got two players uh at the wing/forward position that can really help them mcmahon look and look if you’re Utah who cares if he wants to be there what What are you going to do you’re not going to take the paycheck you’re not going to play in the NBA and you know Ace Bailey just said a whole lot of nothing but he’s not pouting he’s going to be a pro he’s going to go play for the Jazz and if you’re Utah this is your third straight year in the lottery none of the previous guys that you’ve gotten these last couple drafts have have flash star potential you have to take a swing at the highest ceiling guy on the board this is a team that is in desperate need of a young star that they can build around ace Bailey has that kind of potential there’s some there’s some risk involved but there’s also high reward here heave I’m gonna go with Tim on this one right you bring him in for a workout you’re just going to see the star power that he has right you don’t really need to watch this guy work out he tried to control his draft process well his people did but Utah took a swing on which was perfect he has star potential i watched this guy at Ruckers he has his shotmaking ability is second to none especially better than everybody’s in this draft like he is elite scorer he has size he still has a lot of potential to grow into his game so I mean if I’m Utah I’m doing the exact same thing i’m not I’m not waiting on this guy he was the best available player i’m not waiting on somebody else to to draft him when he’s the best available player and we could get him right there well this is a Utah team that also went into the draft lottery hoping to jump up to one of the top couple spots they end up falling all the way to fifth and now they get a guy who was a consensus top three pick all year so it’s a great landing spot for them to get a guy who is that talented and also to Shams’s point I love Walter Clayton i think he’s got a chance to be a Jaylen Brunson type guy going forward guy won a national championship was a great leader at Florida incredible uh offensive production for them and for a team that really needed scoring and production on the wing like you said i love the fit of of Clayton there going forward for the Jazz i will say this is not the first time a player and his representatives or anyone has tried to control the draft process and they very well know if a team is drafting you you’re going there anyway doesn’t really matter absolutely all right Keith coming to you on this with a player perspective round one in the books tell me who was the biggest winner last night i would say Utah right to be able to get a guy like that be able to get two of those guys in the first round i would say they are I was leaning towards Dallas but everybody knew what Dollar was going to do and they and they won of of course but I would say Utah to get a player like Ace Bailey i watched this guy man his scoring ability is second to none he was arguably the best scorer in in in the NCAA last year and I didn’t think and nobody thought that they were going to have a chance to get him so I would say Utah and again Clayton a guy that’s known as a winner went into Florida and helped them win a national championship right there so it it’s two guys that could potentially turn this organization around and they have some other pieces to put around him the biggest winner in this draft is the state of Texas partners and look the Mavericks and the Spurs you knew they were winning the draft when the lottery results came out the Mavericks 1.8% chance they shoot right on up there they get a generational talent when they really needed that to rally the fan base if nothing else dylan Harper to the Spurs you know plus another lottery picking to build around Victor Wimbeyama and then that Houston team a two seed tough defensively dominant rebounding desperately needed a go-to guy use that number 10 overall pick uh to flip into Kevin Durant the state of Texas biggest winner in the draft of course McMahon likes Texas but I’m going with the Atlanta Hawks on Monday or earlier this week the Hawks go get Chris Porzingis a terrific fit for their team add shooting they get rid of Terence Man’s deal that only cost them the 22nd pick then they go into the draft last night they turn the 13th pick into the 23rd pick get Acea Newell a guy who could have been a lottery pick played with Cooper Flag in high school Mont Verde really interesting combo big for them and most importantly they get what could be the number one pick in next year’s draft for going back 10 slots doing this trade with the New Orleans Pelicans getting the better pick between the Milwaukee Bucks let’s see what happens with the Bucks and Yaz and Koopo this off seasonason and most importantly the Pelicans a team that I talked to a bunch of people overnight pelicans are seen as a team that’s not going to make the playoffs in the West and could be one of the worst teams in the West next year and they now have an unprotected potential lottery pick for just going back a few slots in the draft atlanta’s got a bunch of young guys porzingis is a great fit there you look at the way they’ve gotten better over the last week atlanta’s going to be an interesting team to watch in the in the Eastern Conference next year especially after these Achilles injuries we’ve seen and on top of it they now potentially make up for draating away their prior first round picks in the Jonte Murray deal back in the mix there but you mentioned Porzingis and Shams i want to come to you on Boston hearing a lot about Jaylen Brown how close was he to being traded last night not close the phone lines are ringing in Boston I’m told but they have a very high price threshold is my understanding around the league for guys like Jaylen Brown and Derek White listen if an offer blows them out of the water they’re going to have to consider it but their job for the most part got done this week they got $180 million saved off their taxes by trading Drew Holiday and Christos Porzingis away they’re out of the second apron and so now for the Celtics it’s sit back you see what comes your way potentially but if this is the team they’re rolling with they can roll with it two other names Sam Hower Anthony Simons they’re going to get calls on those two players as well and see can we get even closer to out of the luxury tax but not close last night molly Keith if you’re Boston what are you doing right now that’s a tough one i’m definitely not trading Jaylen Brown and and I’m definitely not trading Jaylen Brown that’s out of the picture right i’m going to continue if I can shed some more salary I might get off a Hower I’m going to keep right and I’m going to just bring players in that fit this team and get a great look at what it’s going to look like in 2026 when when Jason Tatum come back i’m I’m expecting a big season from Brown MVP conversations most improved i’m looking at that for him being able to still grow as a number one as a number one player um and yeah like I said taking the looks at the players that I’m getting in for shedding these contracts and trying to make a team that’s going to compete for a title when Jason Tatum come back in 2026 yeah look unfortunately this is a gap year for the Celtics because Tatum is missing most if not all of next season so yeah you you might look to trim some more salary but dumping Jaylen Brown there was so much talk about breaking up the Brown Tatum duo for years which was always silly then they win a championship this is a proven championship duo they’ve done it before they can do it again there’s no reason for the Celtics to be looking to trade Jaylen Brown and and certainly that hasn’t been the case their phone ringing does not mean that they’re looking to trade him well and to Shab’s point the Celtics got their business done by moving off Drew Holiday and moving Chris Aspenus and saving $250 million in payroll and luxury taxes this week right that was what they needed to do they needed to get out of the Second Apron needed to get to a more feasible financial position with their new ownership group coming in next month now they don’t have to make a move like that with Derek White they don’t have to make a move like that with Jaylen Brown and as they go forward they can make moves that are basketball driven brad Stevens last night said they’ve got a core with those guys with Peyton Pritchard with Sam Hower that they believe can be right back in the mix in the Eastern Conference going forward he talked about Jaylen Brown who had miniscus surgery this off seasonason and Jason Tatum being in the facility working out like this is a team that yes they have a gap year most likely this year with Tatum out but the Celtics believe with those two guys and with Derek White they’ve got the core of what is a championship level team and now it’s a matter of what can they do to build around them going forward so what’s with what is going to be a new iteration of this team after they move on for holiday this week yeah they got their business done so we we’ll see what else comes up I mean listen their phone lines are continue to ring teams are going to continue to call continue to make offers on both Jaylen Brown and Derrick Rockets guard Fred Vanble Bble Bble Bble Bble Bble Bble Bble Bble Bble Bleed intends to sign a two-year $50 million contract to stay with the franchise with a player option in 2627 sources telling ESPN the Rockets roster recently bolstered by the blockbuster trade for 15 time allstar Kevin Durant keith how good will KD and Almond Thompson that duo be it would be pretty good you know obviously you know what you’re going to get from KD i I mean you can you can mark down 27 uh points per game six rebounds five assists i mean Thompson he’s going to continue to be ready to grow right i’m I’m I’m high on Thompson and his brother because in two years these guys are showing that they’re going to be elite players in this league so I’m super high on them but I would think the duo would be more of a Sang Goon KD right sang Goon had his coming out party last year he was a all he he was a all-star last year played a played a big role in him being a number two seed so if you looking at me I’m saying the the the KD and the St goon duo is a is a top 10 duo and is going to make them better mcmahon yeah I think that you know Almond Thompson is their best young player he’s not their best young offensive player but we’re talking about a dominant defensive player one of the top wing defenders in the league just a a force in transition i do think he’s their second best player on his team i think it’s a top 10 type of duo but this is about KD and the Rockets depth not necessarily about a duo von Times well look yeah I was going to say to me this is less about the Rockets duo than the Rockets team and to me the Rockets team is the second best team in the West and a team that can go toe-to-toe with Oklahoma City last year what was the biggest question in Houston last year why did they lose to Golden State their offense wasn’t good enough they just replaced Jaylen Green with Kevin Durant and yes Kevin Durant’s 37 he still averaged 27 last year as Marke said on 50% shooting from the field 40% shooting from three and 85% shooting from the free throw line he is still an elite offensive player an elite offensive scorer and you put him on a team with all these young defenders around him he can just slot in and score it’s the one team I thought of all the teams that were discussed that was a perfect fit for Durant to go to I thought it was the one place where he could go and really have a chance to win big and personally I am rooting for a Rockets Thunder Conference Finals next year and KD going back to Oklahoma City that would be pretty awesome theater certainly would all right Houston toe-to-toe with OKC we’re coming back to that sentiment in just a bit but Shams I want to come to you on this how excited was KD about playing with this team in this roster excited the goal right now for Kevin Durant and the Rockets is for him to retire in Houston they’re going to eventually this off seasonason discuss a contract extension figure out where that lands but throughout the process it became the finalists between Miami and Houston but the Rockets really excited Kevin Durant i’m told players like Alpurn Sangun Amen Thompson Tar East Jabari Smith Reed Shepard i think Kevin Durant really views himself here it it’s a perfect fit in a lot of ways we know he’s a number one he can be the number one option on any given night the Rockets made this move it’s a win now trajectory type of move very interesting okay so if he’s to finish his career in Houston Keith what would be a successful stint how far does he need to take this team i think he’s going to finish his year there i mean him and Epe Duko have a have a great relationship they was together in Brooklyn they was together in uh USA winning a championship i mean um disappointment will be a first round exit you know i mean obviously you can’t say they’re going to win but just competing for a championship getting the Western Conference Finals getting to to the finals I think that’s the ceiling for this team mcmahon yeah you you bring KD in to elevate the the uh potential of this team to a championship caliber and look this year they’ve at least got to make a step they’ve at least got to get out of the first round you know get uh get in the second round preferably conference finals but you’re looking at a three-year window here with a ton of ascending talent around him they don’t trade for Kevin Durant unless they think that he gives them legitimate championship aspirations keith what kind of leader do you think the Rockets need KD to be cuz that’s been in question quite a bit for him as he’s moved around the league and obviously this is a young team i would probably say more of a vocal leader right because he does all the right things off the court i’ve watched this guy one of the hardest workers I’ve seen right so he’s that the the leading by example is going to be super easy to him it has been easy to him it just more of a vocal leader right more of a having guys look at you talk more having guys telling the guys what they need to do to be better and to win games right i think he tends to leave that up to the coaches i think now is is is a perfect time to be able to step in as a vocal leader and show that you’re a leader of this team that’s part of why I love this fit for Kevin Durant and the Rockets is they don’t need him to do that they’ve got Emodoka who certainly has no problem going at his players and getting them to do what he wants them to do and they’ve got Fred Van Vleet who just worked with the team on a really favorable contract going forward for the next couple years shams reported that earlier this week signing a one plus one deal with the Rockets to stay there he is a guy who is a tremendous leader help win a title with the Raptors those are the guys that are leading the Rockets going forward kevin Durant has just got to walk in and hoop and score buckets and he does that as well as anybody the fit is perfect all around for him i really like how it sets up Keith why not i don’t like how that sound because because players are the most important player or the most important thing leading the team right yeah you can have a coach say save but so much but when it becomes to a player that’s in a locker room yeah Van Fan Van Van Fleet is a good leader he’s been on good teams but it has to come from Durant right it has to be that guy because he’s the best player on this team with a bunch of young players yeah the coach can only say but so much to these guys but he’s not in the locker room with these guys and that’s the thing that he where I say vocal where it needs to be in the locker room leading that way mcmahon listen Kevin Durant’s Twitter bio says “I do me and I chill.” That’s all the Rockets need from him they do not need rob speeches from Kevin Durant this is not a team that needs to change its culture it has done a massive successful cultural transformation over these last few years starting with the hiring of Emodoka the signing of Fred Van Vleet by the way Steven Adams another another vet there who’s won a lot who whose voice resonates when he wants to use it this is not a team that has a leadership void this is a team that has a phenomenal culture they’re tough they’re nasty they need freaking buckets and Kevin Durant can supply those in bunches that’s all he has to do in in Houston vocal leader is not a rah guy what is it tell go ahead it’s not a guy it’s it’s a it’s a it’s a guy that just do does all the small all the small things he’s he has to take the Kyrie approach kyrie is a leader without being a rahrh guy he just now he leads more with his voice than actually leading on the court kevin Durant is a guy that leads by example all I’m saying is taking a step to be a more vocal leader that’s all I’m saying not a rahrh guy he’s not me i’m a rahrh guy we need you here in studio today keith go ahead when I do talk to players that that have that that play under Emma Udoka whether it’s in Boston or Houston they they say listen Emma Udoka is a presence he’s a leader like he has an impact there i will the Kevin Durant Eudoka relationship it’s a strong one they they had shared history with the Nets with Team USA so I that relationship is going to be very important maybe Emma Udoka yeah does it take the pressure off KD to some extent too to what we’re talking about to an extent because that’s just the personality email Udoka is that’s part of the reason why he got a massive new contract extension as well and they do have the Steven Adams role fred Van Vleet is also known around the league as as that kind of quiet leader subtle leader for that organization as far as on the court though Marquee already said it we know what Kevin Durant is going to bring to the table around 25 points 50 40 90 Amend Thompson Alper and Singon to me though if this team is going to win a championship what’s their ceiling how much can they can they can they grow and rise cuz if this if these two take the next step then Kevin Durant what he brings to the table it’s going to be exactly what they need

Shams Charania, Tim MacMahon, Tim Bontemps and Markieff Morris join Molly Qerim on First Take to discuss storylines around the NBA after Round 1 of the 2025 NBA Draft.

0:00 Ace Bailey selected No. 5 by the Utah Jazz
1:07 Shams & Bontemps go behind the scenes
2:55 “He’s not pouting!”
3:58 How the Jazz succeeded
4:41 Which team won Round 1?
7:10 Would the Boston Celtics have traded Jaylen Brown?
10:26 Fred VanVleet extension
10:58 Kevin Durant & Amen Thompson
13:54 What does success look like for the Houston Rockets?
15:16 What type of leader does KD need to be?

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