When the Utah Jazz drafted Ace Bailey, it was seen as a risk not necessarily because of Bailey's abilities but because of his supposed lack of desire to play in Utah. Though that was quickly debunked, Dwyane Wade gave the clear-as-day reason why the Jazz did it anyway: he was too good to pass on him.
On his podcast, "The Timeout," Wade explained why the Jazz took that risk in drafting Bailey.
"Getting a young guy like Ace Bailey, the talent that he has, you cannot pass him up," Wade said. "There is no way. Even though the rumor mill was saying that he wanted to go to certain teams, there's no way you can pass him up. He is too talented."
Wade then explained what it is about Bailey that made him so appealing to the Jazz. He even went as far as comparing him to a fellow star he used to play against when he played in the NBA.
"He is one of those guys that just walk in the gym, and he can get you 30. He is just one of those Melo-type of scorer type of players, so (you) had to get him. I thought Danny and the staff did an amazing job of grabbing a young fella."
If Bailey turns into the next Carmelo Anthony, that would be a huge win for the Jazz. Even if he may not have the same career arc as the Basketball Hall-of-Famer, it's that kind of potential that would make any team not want to pass up on a young player with Bailey's talent.
It sounds ridiculous now, but when Miami drafted Wade, that selection came with a lot of questions. It didn't take long for Wade to prove his naysayers wrong, but he still had a lot to prove coming out of the gate. Thanks to his controversial pre-draft approach, Bailey has questions, too, and now he gets the chance to prove the Jazz were right to roll the dice with him.
Wade also believes Bailey is in the right situation
In that same episode, Wade talked about why Utah is the right destination for Bailey. Sure, Wade is a little biased because of his professional ties to the Jazz, but his rationale is sound.
"As soon as he got there, he clocked in and went right to work," Wade said. "He is going to be fine. I think, as he allows it, he is going to understand he is in a very good organization. He is in a very good spot to allow himself to grow: One as a young man, but also as a young basketball player in this league. I think it was a very good move for him."
Funny enough, Wade is good friends with Jazz alum Donovan Mitchell, who sprouted into one of the most unlikely stars the NBA has seen and one of the best players in Jazz history. There's no telling if Mitchell would have become the player he did had he not been put in the right situation to start in Utah.
Bailey has the chance to have a similar story in Utah. In fact, he could be on track to have the same story. He's already started on the right track, as Wade too was the No. 5 pick.
When you can get a player as talented as ACE with the 5th pick you don’t over think it, you do it! Good job @utahjazz
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) June 26, 2025