The Utah Jazz have taken the spotlight in the "Capture the Flagg" sweepstakes, locking up a top 5 selection and a share of the highest percentage chance of securing the number 1 overall pick. To many fans, it's Cooper Flagg or bust, but Flagg isn't the only franchise-altering prospect available in the draft.
While Flagg is a generational prospect that any team would be lucky to get their hands on, it doesn't mean not acquiring him would devastate the Jazz franchise. In fact, it's statistically improbable that the worst team in the NBA gets the number one overall pick.
What Jazz fans should be hoping for is a top-three pick, where a couple of top-end prospects would be waiting to fall into the Jazz's hands. While a No. 1 overall pick is only a 14% probability, a top-three pick is a 40.1% probability, a much more attainable goal to shoot for. Within that top three, awaits a duo out of Rutgers who could be the centerpiece for the Jazz moving forward: Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey.
To put it briefly, Dylan Harper or Ace Bailey could have been the first overall pick in last year's draft. It was a relatively weak draft class, but with Zaccharie Risacher, Alex Sarr, and Reed Sheppard going at the top of the draft, it's easy to see a world where Harper and Bailey could have gone first overall.
Dylan Harper
Profile: PG/SG | 6'6" | 215 lbs | 6'10" wingspan
Harper, who is the son of five-time NBA champion Ron Harper, is being very consistently mocked as a second overall pick. In an alternate universe where Cooper Flagg decides to pursue a medical degree at Duke instead of a basketball career, Harper gets a lot more focus and talk than he currently does. While basketball isn't always passed on genetically, Harper has gotten his father's basketball acumen and has one of the highest ceilings in the draft.
Lots of player comparisons can be found on Harper, some of which include Cade Cunningham, Jalen Brunson, James Harden, but one Jazz fans will find most interesting is Deron Williams. Harper isn't the perfect prospect, as he struggles with creating his own shot, but he does most other things you would expect from an NBA guard very well. He isn't a true point guard, but can be a great playmaker when asked to. He has a slick handle and a deadly spot-up shot.
The Jazz seem to have their frontcourt locked up, so a young guard with an elite ceiling could elevate them to the playoff contention at least.
Ace Bailey
Profile: SF/PF | 6'10" | 200 lbs | 7' wingspan
Bailey is an offensive machine who is a true three-level scorer and can be a massive offensive boost to the Jazz. A trio of Kessler, Markkannen, and Bailey would be a huge lineup that could give anybody problems, but can also stretch the floor and provide tons of scoring threats. Bailey has NBA comps to Paul George, Michael Porter Jr, and Brandon Miller. What do they have in common? Scoring, and lots of it.
Bailey does fall short in ball-handling and defense, but those are not unfixable by any stretch. It also wouldn't hurt him to eat a second breakfast most days to get his body ready for the physicality of the NBA. Teams are willing to overlook these issues and develop Bailey because of his offensive upside. He is absolutely worth a top-three pick and would fit the mold of an offensive centerpiece.
Kevin Durant isn't a fair comparison for Bailey, but he could fill that type of role for whoever drafts him, and a Kevin Durant-lite would be a great benefit to the Jazz right now.
Not getting the No. 1 pick will break hearts to some degree if that's how things turn out for Utah, but if the Jazz finish with the No. 3 pick, fans should be able to get over it quickly.