Every time Ace Bailey has made an appearance for the Utah Jaz, the hype train only gets bigger. While the Jazz will get to see what they really have in Bailey when the regular season starts, if he is the top option he's played like since the preseason began, the Jazz have another core ingredient of an amazing future to the one they already have now: Will Hardy.
While going over Over/Unders with Zach Lowe and Joe House, Bill Simmons gushed about Bailey's skillset, explaining why he believes he has the makings of a franchise player.
"I actually thought he was going to be a bust. After some of the advanced stats as a college player, combined with how erratic some of the non-basketball stuff seemed, and then him going to Utah, not seeming like he wanted to go there...
"But then, all the stuff I've read, all the stuff I've heard, and then watching him, how comfortable he seems physically in these games already when he's like a baby. He has more thickness and size than I was expecting... He might just be his own solo act, but I think it's going to be really easy for him to score, and maybe right away," Simmons said.
Because the Jazz have lacked that young centerpiece and have plenty of time to develop Bailey, he's in the perfect place to become the star many believe he has the talent to become. It helps that he has Hardy, a coach who has proven his talent but has lacked that foundational cornerstone for his first three years as the Jazz's coach.
For all we know, Bailey might not look as immediately NBA-ready as he has in the preseason, but the early results indicate that these two sides were meant for each other. With Hardy and Bailey, Jazz fans have every reason to be excited for what's to come.
Even better, they have excellent surrounding talent
While Hardy and Bailey are fantastic pieces to have for a future perennial playoff contender, any young team with high aspirations will need to surround them with the right players to make noise in the postseason. Luckily, the Jazz may be covered as well.
No one knows what the plan is with Lauri Markkanen, but either he can be Bailey's No. 2 in no time, or he can get Utah the assets to acquire one down the line. Walker Kessler continues to ascend (he's a passer now?!), and other youngsters like Kyle Filipowski and Brice Sensabaugh look like pieces Utah should have for the long haul.
And to put a cherry on top of all of this, with the Jazz's tanking intentions this season, they would be in good position to add another elite talent from a loaded draft class. Last year at this time, no one knew what to make of the Jazz's future prospects. With an elite talent like Bailey and a skilled coach like Hardy, it may not be long before hope is restored in Utah.