Utah Jazz Rookie Watch - Ace Bailey

Entering the 2025 NBA Draft, it was assumed that he would be one of the top three picks, but it wouldn’t be until the fifth pick that Rutgers guard Ace Bailey would hear Commissioner Adam Silver call his name. However, Bailey’s path to becoming the fifth pick by the Utah Jazz wasn’t exactly conventional. 

Following his award-winning high school career, Bailey became a five-star recruit, agreeing to play for the Scarlet Knights. After a freshman season that saw him earn a spot on the Big Ten All-Freshman Team and Third-Team All-Big Ten with averages of 17.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks, the talented 6’7” forward declared for the 2025 NBA Draft.

What followed next was a circus of events, culminating in Bailey landing in Utah, rather than his preferred destination of Washington. 

Despite the pre-draft drama, Bailey has so far been everything the Jazz have asked for, starting with a pair of appearances in Summer League, where the prized rookie averaged 13 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists. For a Utah team in the midst of a full rebuild, which kicked off during the 2022-23 season, Bailey appears to be a pillar of their future, along with point guard Keyonte George and big man Walker Kessler.

Expected to start and receive significant minutes from night one as Utah continues to prioritize player development over wins, realistic first-year numbers for Bailey should be 15-17 points, 5-6 rebounds, and 2-3 assists while shooting approximately 42% from the field. With his versatility and creative scoring instincts, Bailey should find the ball in his hands a lot during his rookie season. 

Following the recent parting of ways with Omar Cooper, an advocate who provided questionable advice, it appears that Bailey is ready for a fresh start and a renewed commitment to his NBA career. While Utah may not be the ideal location due to its small market and lack of attractiveness to free agents, GM Danny Ainge has a knack for building a winning roster. With little pressure and expectations, Bailey has a great opportunity to emerge as the focal point of the franchise moving forward.