What will Ace Bailey bring to the Utah Jazz?

                                            (Credit: Getty Images) 

When the Utah Jazz selected Rutgers forward Ace Bailey with the No. 5 overall pick in this year's NBA Draft, there were a lot of questions about whether or not he really wanted to be in Utah. From what I've heard, it sounds like that was mostly his agent/representation causing the commotion. Something that should calm the fears of Jazz fans. With that drama now subsiding, Bailey has gotten to work and already seen some action for the team in Summer League. What I want to do in this blog post is share my thoughts on what he can bring to the Jazz. 

Upon watching some film, what stands out about Bailey is the physical gifts he has. He has tremendous size and length for the guard position. His measurements are bit all over the place, but in shoes, it's safe to say he's 6'9" and 200 pounds. He handles the ball well, has good form on his shot, and also possesses good moves in the post. In one Summer League game I watched, he had a nice turnaround fadeaway, something that not all rookies have when they come into the league. He elevates to the rim with ease and should thrive in transition. 

During his lone year at Rutgers, he averaged 17.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.3 blocks, and 1.0 steals per game on 46.0% shooting from the field, 34.6% shooting from 3-point range, and 69.2% shooting from the foul line. To put up those numbers in the Big Ten is impressive. He showed an ability to get after it on the glass and score at a pretty efficient clip while also being effective on defense. He is a legit two-way player with great physical gifts. It's no surprise he was drafted as high as he was. 

Like all rookies, Bailey I'm sure will go through some growing pains as he adjusts to the NBA level, but there is no denying his talent. As the Jazz look to build a championship level roster, Bailey absolutely has the potential be an essential building block for them to build their franchise around. The key will be for them to put the right pieces around him and give him confidence that he can win if he stays in Utah. If they can do that, they might finally be on the path to building a championship level team. 

Note: This blog post also appears on my main NBA blog, NBALord.com. Click here to check that out. 

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2017 Utah Jazz Mock Draft

On NBALord.com, I did a full mock draft for the 2017 NBA Draft. Below are my predictions for the Utah Jazz. If you want to read the entire mock draft, click here.

24. Utah Jazz-California sophomore power forward Ivan Rabb: I cover Cal for Rivals.com, so I’m very familiar with Ivan Rabb’s game. He can shoot from beyond the arc, he can score down on the block, and he rebounds very well.  At 6’10”, 220 pounds Rabb has good physical tools to work with and should be able to fill out in time. The Jazz are expected to part ways with Derrick Favors and I think Rabb has what it takes to be a nice replacement for him.

30. Utah Jazz-Florida State sophomore shooting guard Dwayne Bacon: Dwayne Bacon is a prototypical NBA wing. At 6’6”, 200 pounds he can shoot from NBA range, he can attack the rim, he can defend multiple positions, has great athleticism, etc. He’s a very safe pick at this point of the draft.

42. Utah Jazz-Oregon junior small forward Dillon Brooks: Like his former Oregon teammate Tyler Dorsey, Dillon Brooks has killer scoring instincts and has no problem taking the big shot. He’s another guy who I think is a first round level talent due to his mentality and ability to score. He’d be an absolute steal for the Jazz at #42.

55.  Utah Jazz-Notre Dame senior small forward V.J. Beachem: At 6’8”, 200 pounds, V.J. Beachem has good size for a small forward and is a capable shooter, averaging 14.5 points per game in his senior season on 36.1% shooting from three-point range and 83.6% shooting from the foul line. The Jazz could use another stretch-four type of guy.

Note: I want to give a shout out to NBADraft.net and DraftExpress.com for their excellent NBA Draft coverage. This mock draft would not have been possible without using them as a resource.

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