One of the frustrating aspects of the Utah Jazz's rebuild is their lack of a young centerpiece, but that could change on Draft Night. With the multiple talented prospects in this year's class, not only could they get one, but they could also get one who would benefit under the Jazz's environment. With that in mind, NBA Draft guru Sam Vecenie believes Utah would be a great fit for Ace Bailey.
On "The Game Theory w/ Sam Vecenie," the draft expert explained why he thinks the Jazz would be a great destination for Bailey.
"Given how comfortable I feel with their overall organizational structure, and given that they have a number of super high-level, mature human beings, and they have vets on that roster. I think that that's a place where Ace could really thrive," Vecenie said. "... I just think that it will take a special kind of environment to absolutely get the most out of Ace and I think that that is one where I could see it occurring and him being very successful in Utah."
While Vecenie has Bailey pegged as the sixth-best prospect behind Flagg, Harper, V.J. Edgecombe, Tre Johnson, and Kon Knueppel, he believes that the Jazz would see him a little higher on their draft board than he does.
Bailey could be a risk the Jazz are willing to take
After Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper, Bailey is considered the most talented prospect in the 2025 NBA Draft class. At the same time, he is considered the most risky. There have been mixed reviews on Bailey following the NBA Draft lottery, so while it wouldn't surprise anyone if he is picked at No. 3 by the Philadelphia 76ers, it also wouldn't surprise anyone if he falls in the draft.
In the Jazz's case, what makes him more appealing is their lack of an established wing. The Jazz have both guards and bigs with some promise, but their wings don't exactly have high potential. They've tired Lauri Markkanen at the wing, but he's better playing big than small.
Besides him, the Jazz tried having Brice Sensabaugh, Johnny Juzang, and Cody Williams at the wing. Sensabaugh showed legitimate progress, but it'd be quite optimistic to believe he could be a star. Juzang was solid, but his ceiling is strictly at being a rotation player. The jury's still out on Williams, and might be out for while.
Regardless of what anyone thinks of those three, Bailey would come to the Jazz with inarguably the highest ceiling out of all of them. Maybe he's a Williams redux, but he has been classified among the higher prospects in a supremely talented class, compared to Williams, who was not considered among the best prospects in a demonstrably lesser class.
The Jazz have shown that they have a good development team. Sensabaugh and Isaiah Collier showed legitimate progress this past season, while Markkanen went from a talented but disappointing former lottery pick to an all-out star in Utah.
Bailey should go to a team that should feel comfortable taking the risk that comes with him because of his talent. Because the Jazz are short on high-ceiling prospects these days, he's a risk worth taking.