RealGM Basketball Wiretap

30 June 2025

• Jordan Clarkson, Jazz Agree To Buyout

  Jordan Clarkson and the Utah Jazz have agreed to a contract buyout. Clarkson is already expected to receive interest from multiple playoff teams once he clears waivers. Clarkson will likely sign a one-year deal in free agency to play for a contender before rejoining the open market next offseason when more teams have cap space.

  Clarkson, who is represented by Rich Paul and Brandon Cavanaugh, had one season remaining on his three-year, $55 million renegotiate-and-extend contract signed in 2023.

  Clarkson averaged 16.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 26.0 minutes over 37 games last season for the Jazz.

• Johnny Juzang Waived By Jazz

  The Utah Jazz have waived forward Johnny Juzang.

  Juzang appeared in 102 games (23 starts) with Utah over three seasons, averaging 7.9 points and 2.5 rebounds in 18.4 minutes per game. Juzang, who went undrafted in 2022 out of UCLA, is represented by Jason Glushon.

• Hornets Acquire Collin Sexton, 2030 2nd Rounder From Jazz For Jusuf Nurkic

  The Charlotte Hornets have acquired Collin Sexton from the Utah Jazz for Jusuf Nurkic and a 2030 second round pick. The Jazz are attempting to balance out their roster after selecting Ace Bailey and Walter Clayton Jr. at the draft.

  The Jazz acquired Sexton in a sign-and-trade as part of their trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers involving Donovan Mitchell and Lauri Markkanen.

  The Hornets could use Sexton as a replacement for Tre Mann, who is a restricted free agent. Sexton is on a $19 million expiring contract.

  Nurkic is also on an expiring contract worth $19 million after he was acquired by the Hornets last season from the Phoenix Suns. The second round pick from the Hornets to the Jazz is the more favorable between the LA Clippers and the Jazz.

• Ace Bailey 'Thrilled' To Play For Jazz, New Rep Confirms

  Ace Bailey hasn't reported yet to the Utah Jazz, but he plans to do so before the start of Summer League training camp beginning on Monday. Bailey had reportedly preferred to be selected by the Washington Wizards at No. 6 and tried to avoid the Philadelphia 76ers, Charlotte Hornets and the Jazz ahead of them.

  Bailey's new representative cleared the air on his status amid speculation he may not report to the Jazz.

  "He's thrilled to be going to Utah," Andrew Witlieb of GSE Worldwide told Front Office Sports. "Obviously, it's an honor to be selected in the top five of the NBA Draft.

  "We think he can do a lot of great things out there. He certainly should get a ton of playing time, and he'll have a lot of chances to show what he can do. So we think it's a great situation for him basketball wise."

  Bailey was represented in the pre-draft process by Omar Copper, who tried to direct him to the Wizards.

  "This was led by his longtime manager Omar Cooper, who we're partnering with on this," Witlieb said.

  "And Omar really focused more on fit, rather than going third in the draft. He wanted somewhere where Ace could have the best possible basketball fit for his game and we think Utah is one of the best places he could've gone."

  The Jazz also confirmed Bailey's intent to report to the team ahead of Summer League.

  "We've had good communication with Ace Bailey and his representatives," the Jazz told ESPN. "We feel good about everything. Ace and his family are coming to Utah tomorrow. We'll have a press conference Sunday, and a practice Monday."

• Steven Crowl, Jazz Agree To Exhibit 10 Contract

  The Utah Jazz and center Steven Crowl have agreed to an Exhibit 10 contract. The Jazz will bring Crowl in to compete for a roster spot on a non-guaranteed training camp deal.

  As a senior at Wisconsin, Crowl averaged 9.9 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. The 7-footer was a four-year starter for the Badgers.

• RJ Luis Jr., Jazz Agree To Two-Way Contract

  RJ Luis has agreed to a Two-Way contract with the Utah Jazz after going undrafted out of St. John's.

  Luis, who is represented by Sam Permut, averaged 18.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.4 steals in 31.8 minutes as a junior. Luis spent his freshman season at UMass.

• 2025 NBA Draft Second Round Results: Rasheer Fleming Goes No. 31 To Suns

  The Phoenix Suns acquired the No. 31 overall pick and selected Rasheer Fleming out of Saint Joseph's to begin the second round of the 2025 NBA draft.

  2025 NBA Draft, Round 1 Results
  31. Phoenix Suns: Rasheer Fleming, F, Saint Joseph's
  32. Orlando Magic: Noah Penda, F, France
  33. Charlotte Hornets: Sion James, SF, Duke
  34. Charlotte Hornets: Ryan Kalkbrenner, C, Creighton
  35. Philadelphia 76ers: Johni Broome, C, Auburn
  36. Los Angeles Lakers: Adou Thiero, PF, Arkansas
  37. Detroit Pistons: Chaz Lanier, SG, Tennessee
  38. Indiana Pacers: Kam Jones, PG/SG, Marquette
  39. Toronto Raptors: Alijah Martin, SG, Florida
  40. New Orleans Pelicans: Micah Peavy, SG/SF, Georgetown
  41. Phoenix Suns: Koby Brea, SG/SF, Kentucky
  42. Sacramento Kings: Maxime Raynaud, C, Stanford
  43. Washington Wizards: Jamir Watkins, SG/SF, Florida State
  44. Oklahoma City Thunder: Brooks Barnhizer, SF, Northwestern
  45. Minnesota Timberwolves: Rocco Zikarsky, C, Brisbane
  46. Boston Celtics: Amari Williams, C, Kentucky
  47. Milwaukee Bucks: Bogoljub Markovic, PF/C, Mega Superbet
  48. Memphis Grizzlies: Javon Small, PG, West Virginia
  49. Cleveland Cavaliers: Tyrese Proctor, G, Duke
  50. LA Clippers: Kobe Sanders, SG/SF, Nevada
  51. New York Knicks: Mohamed Diawara, F, France
  52. Golden State Warriors: Alex Toohey, SF/PF, Sydney
  53. Utah Jazz: John Tonje, SF, Wisconsin
  54. Indiana Pacers: Taelon Peter, G, Liberty
  55. Chicago Bulls: Lachlan Olbrich, PF/C, Illawarra
  56. Golden State Warriors: Will Richard, SG, Florida
  57. Boston Celtics: Max Shulga, G, VCU
  58. Cleveland Cavaliers: Saliou Niang, SG/SF, Trento
  59. Houston Rockets: Jahmai Mashack, G, Tennessee

• Ace Bailey's Camp Told At Least One Top-5 Team He'd Refuse To Report If Selected

  The Utah Jazz selected Rutgers wing Ace Bailey with the fifth overall pick despite his representatives informing at least one top-five team he wouldn't report if drafted, according to ESPN sources. The Utah Jazz selected Bailey fifth overall despite his refusal to work out for the team. Bailey's pre-draft strategy created significant intrigue in the run up to the first round of the 2025 NBA draft on Wednesday.

  "I can control what I can control," Bailey said when asked about critics questioning his happiness with Utah. "They feel how they feel."

  Agent Omar Cooper defended Bailey's pre-draft approach as standard business practice. Cooper noted that Bailey completed 18 team interviews and participated in a Chicago workout attended by all NBA franchises.

  "Every NBA team watched him work out in Chicago. Everyone got his medical. They watched him run and jump. They got his measurements," Cooper told ESPN.

  Rival teams believed Bailey's camp preferred the Washington Wizards, who held the sixth overall pick. Washington successfully drafted Alex Sarr second overall in 2024 after he avoided workouts with the Atlanta Hawks, who were selecting at No. 1.

  The Wizards possessed an ideal roster fit for Bailey's wing skills and scoring ability. However, Utah's secretive draft plans under new president Austin Ainge caught rival teams off-guard.

  Utah finished with the league's worst record but fell to fifth in the draft lottery. The Jazz capitalized on Bailey's availability at a position where he wasn't expected to remain.

  "He's great. We were able to speak with him. He was super excited. We're super excited," Ainge said Wednesday night. "His scoring gets a lot of attention, deservedly so. He's very skilled for his size."

  Cooper declined to address specific questions regarding Bailey's future relationship with the Jazz organization.

• Austin Ainge Denies Jazz Engaged Celtics On Trading For Jaylen Brown

  Ahead of the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft, reports came out that the Utah Jazz had discussed trading for Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics. In a post-first-round press conference, Jazz president of basketball operations Austin Ainge refuted the rumors that his team has even talked about trading for Brown.

  "I don't like to confirm or deny rumors, just as a policy, but I will this time. No, that hasn't happened," Ainge said. "No conversations that way."

  There are clear connections to Brown and the Utah brass. Jazz CEO Danny Ainge drafted Brown for Boston, while Austin Ainge just left the Celtics to lead the Jazz front office.

• Ace Bailey Had 'No Idea' Of Jazz Interest Before Draft

  Ace Bailey said that he had "no idea" that the Utah Jazz were interested in drafting him with the No. 5 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.

  "We really like him as a player, and a fit in our program," said Utah president of basketball operations Austin Ainge after making the pick.

  The Jazz were reportedly not one of his preferred destinations. Bailey cancelled several workouts throughout his draft process and was linked with the Wizards, Pelicans, or Nets.

  Bailey was also the only American player to not conduct a single workout with a team.

  Regardless, Bailey said he had high expectations for his rookie season.

  "I'm going to push my teammates to be the best they can be," said Bailey. "I want to come in and be a leader as a young cat."

  The Jazz had the league's worst record last season at 17-65.