BREAKING: NBA Draft Rumors EXPLODE: Ace Bailey UNDERVALUED?

BREAKING: NBA Draft Rumors EXPLODE: Ace Bailey UNDERVALUED?

is Ace Bailey becoming undervalued And why should the Jazz be absolutely delighted to take him at five if he’s there Find out next on Locked on Jazz You are Locked on Jazz your daily podcast on the Utah Jazz part of the Locked On Network Your team every day Hello and welcome into Locked on Jazz My name is Leaf Tulene I’m excited to be back with you guys filling in for David Lock on Locked on Jazz As many of you guys know by now I’m the lifelong Jazz fan is a credentialed NBA draft analyst for locked on NBA big attendee of the 2023 and 2024 NBA draft combine Uh Jazz broadcast assistant statistician the four the last four seasons for the Utah Jazz Wow that’s crazy to think about lover of college basketball So don’t expect all the geeky numbers of usual to be gone But I’ll bring a unique perspective as a diehard college hoops fan NBA draft analyst and someone who works for the Jazz gets to see him up close and personal and most importantly a fan to make you guys as knowledgeable as possible about your Utah Jazz as we head into a critical juncture and drafting and pick number five and take you through all the possibilities So thank you guys for making Locked on Jazz your first listen each and every day Remember Locked on Jazz is free and available on all platforms including YouTube at Locked OnJazz where the best way to help us grow is to comment anything below Today’s question is a simple one What do you think Ace Bailey’s role will be in the NBA And te tell me how many points you think he averages at his peak Uh I’ll try to engage with you I’ve been appreciating you guys’ comments and I’ve been reading all of them So by the way today’s episode is brought to you by Game Time So download the Game Time app create an account and use code locked on NBA for $20 off your first purchase And today on the on the show on the agenda we I’m going to tell you guys my read on the dialogue around Ace Bailey which I think is mostly negative right now and I think it’s a little bit weird and why I feel the Jazz would be lucky to get him at five Why I think he’s becoming under underrated in this class strangely and what I think actually happens the draft regarding all the rumors and his stock and how it impacts the Jazz So all that is ahead on Locked on Jazz Let’s dive right in First and foremost Ace Bailey is incredibly talented That that’s the thing that I think is getting washed aside by nitpicking his deficiencies The guy’s incredibly talented and at one point he was the guy that was the only rival to Cooper Flag in terms of oh who could have a higher upside Is it Ace Bailey And no one talked about Dylan Harper even though he was a more polished player initially It was can Ace Bailey ceiling rival that of Cooper Flags I made a pitch that you know he’s got if everything goes right he’s Paul George but maybe better maybe the Tracy McGrady I don’t see that But the point is when when you start having these hyperbolic discussions it usually means there’s some basis for why you’re having these comparisons to Hall of Famers And that’s what those were the commonplace comparisons when speaking about Ace Bailey So I don’t know why everyone has fallen off the map Ace Bailey scored 17 or scored 18 points a game and seven boards as a 18-year-old He’s going to be 18 on draft night and Cooper Flag is younger than him but it doesn’t take away from how rare it is for a guy to star at that level at that age Uh he’s got unique blends of traits and honestly he’s the most talented pure shot maker uh in terms of the way that his body is built and how that relates to the NBA I think Trey Johnson’s a better shooter I think he’s more polished But if you were to say trait for trait what’s the most desirable combination Ace Bailey’s shooting potential in his body uh has to be very very near the top of all the traits of every player in this draft class Uh and then he’s also one of the better shot makers that college basketball’s had for the last 10 years Uh he looks like an NBA wing perhaps more than anyone else in the draft Uh just the way that he’s built long wiry and has a soft shot and it’s an easy release He his release points high He has zero problem with a guy right in his face Shoots over the defender or he can catch and shoot get the rid of the ball quickly is a an exceptional shooter off of curls And people make a big point of oh he he wasn’t a very good catch and shoot guy That’s that’s a misnomer He made 39% of his catch and shoot threes and 41% of them off of screens Uh it’s just that his numbers went unguarded were strangely low So if you really want to dive into that he was 80th percentile 43% from three on catch and shoots and uh and and that’s all catch and shoot So some of those are jumpers but from from three alone he’s 39% and 41 off of screens But on guarded catch and shoots he’s 94th percentile 48% on guarded And then when he’s unguarded it’s 20th percentile shooting just 30% for three I think that’s just a fluke He’s going to be a good shooter if he’s left open and he’s a really good shooter already when someone’s guarding him So the book on guarding Bailey has been uh stay up close and get into his legs and make him elevate or make him beat you off the dribble And that’s the concern Is his upside not as high because he wasn’t able to drive to the rack and finish there um the way that you’d like a top top tier guy to do And so it’s a little bit different because you don’t know if he has the capacity Whereas in the case of the Jason Tatums the Paulo Banceros who are criticized for their shot selection they were settling because they had the physical strength to do so Ace Bailey however still scored 18 points a game on an inept Rutgers team and seven rebounds and is a weak side rim protector Like there’s a lot of reasons to like him And you know what the main reason that I think is crazy is how often do you find someone who is either two or three to start the class and then you start overthinking You hear all these things like this guy’s really good and this guy’s really good But the guys who have been the foregone conclusion top three stop getting spoken about unless they do something wrong And in his case what he did wrong is measure in at the height he actually is and not the 610 he was rumored to be And I think that’s really hurt Ace Bailey stock What I like about Ace Bailey and this has nothing to do with where he is supposed to be drafted but just like you you scrap all the narratives and you watch him play basketball is I think his defensive upside is there I think he can be a rim protector I think defensively he competes And I love his confidence I loved the the part where he he looks the part as a star and then when he interviewed um both on national TV he gave a very thoughtful answer about what makes Dylan Harper good He gave a confident answer about what he’s good at and he talked about how he’s a good pastor He’s not yet He’s not like that That that is a deficiency in his game but he has this bravado and confidence that I want my guy to be a franchise altering cha talent has to have Uh and it doesn’t need to be outspoken doesn’t need to be brash but I I need confidence and the way he oozes confidence uh inspires hope for me that this guy could be a star Uh I also think that it’s very rare you find someone with that build and confidence and ability to score in the way that he did with a team with little space Uh I think in the NBA spacing would benefit him I think the the volume of three-point shooting especially if someone else can be a creator would benefit him The reason that I have dropped him and it’s not that I’ve dropped him far I just really like Trey Johnson And I’ve been high on the Trey Johnson train for a long long time is more that I don’t see him as the best player on a team as easily for a contending team because I don’t think that you’re going to develop Twitch at the top level like you’re not going to all of a sudden turn 19 and become a twitchy athlete that you’ve never been at all junctures of his career He’s been more coordinated more fluid better shooter longer than guys And now people are going to catch up to him in all those And I don’t think his Twitch is going to all of a sudden take him over the top of better athletes when it hadn’t against inferior athletes So that’s why I I think that his play making or play creation for himself uh is going to be a little bit worse than I initially thought it would be in the NBA I just don’t know if he’s going to be able to create as frequently in the way that Paul George has a amazing handle but Paul George when he was in Indiana was a superb athlete Ace Bailey is not quite that same twitchy uh level of athlete but he is long and an excellent shooter and someone who can score in a phone booth And I believe if you put him in NBA spacing and NBA strength development program that’s a guy that can score 20 points in the NBA And that’s why I have absolutely no qualms I would rush to the podium If Trey Johnson’s gone and he goes three let’s say VJ Edgecom goes four and Ace Bailey is there I’d race to the podium for Ace Bailey Like you you shouldn’t overthink the guy who was supposed to be the second highest potential in the draft maybe the second or third best player all season long all of a sudden he falls to the lap at five I I wouldn’t overthink it too much And the last thing that I would say is if he doesn’t pan out as the the primary option a winning team can he still be a number two Can he be a number three Absolutely And I think that when you look at some of these other guys that are three four five we talked about it yesterday VJ Edgecom I think at best you’re getting a second or third option and there’s a lot of things that have to be learned Ace Bailey was was criticized for not shooting well from three but he was an 80th percentile catch and shoot shooter Like when you boil down all the numbers that it was it was lower than we thought it would be for him but he was better by a significant margin than both those guys fears or Edgecom that we discussed yesterday Edgecom is a worse finisher at the rim despite being a far better athlete Like he we don’t talk about Edgecom who’s a guard uh having a lack of handles yet That’s all that anyone says about Ace Bailey So I think the narrative is unfair and I think it my my purpose of this show is to dispel that narrative Is he becoming undervalued Absolutely I I still think this is the guy that is the third or fourth best player in the draft class And if you get him at five then that’s great because if on May 12th so basically a month ago when the combine or the lottery happened and the Jazz what if they fell to two There would have been a hive of Jazz fans that said we want Ace Bailey over Dylan Harper and it fits our team better because we already have these guards Isaiah Collier and Keonte George I would have told you I’d rather have Harper but my point being is we would have been elated to get him if we had picked at three and and at two there would have been a hive that said he’s really good And there’s going to be some people that would have convinced themselves he’s got a better upside than Cooper Flag And that’s all well and good So I don’t know if I agree with the rumors that are being spread out that he if he’s at five it’s not a slam dunk And it should be I think I think it should be a slam dunk great to evaluate all the options and I respect those who are reporting this stuff and those who are making the decisions but I do think there’s a uh smoke screen probably being in place but when sometimes when there’s smoke there’s a fire and maybe he’s not playing particularly well Maybe there’s there’s some stuff going on But you just watch the film and from the film alone Ace Bailey should be a top four pick If he’s there at five the Jazz should run to the podium So coming up next we’re going to discuss a little bit more of why there are concerns about Ace Bailey and why his stock is falling and investigate further if it’s fair or overblown I’ve given you my initial contention but I want to tell you about more of the the rumors I’m hearing and why I think each individual one is a bit unfair All that and more straight ahead on Locked on Jazz There’s nothing like the NBA playoffs The intensity the buzzer beers the fans losing their minds It’s the kind of atmosphere you must experience live I miss going to the Jazz games so badly in the playoffs And this year’s matchups are without the Jazz I’ll say that But they’re still delivering If you want in Game Time makes it fast and easy to get seats even for the biggest playoff games Prices on the app actually drop closer to G closer to tip off And with killer last minute deals panoramic seat views and no surprise fees Game Time is a total gamecher Uh personally I love that you can see the exact view from your seat because I want to see the sports at the perfect view I want clarity I don’t want anything obstructing my view And I can vouch for this feature because when I went to the US Open I went to multiple different stadiums and I got great seats and it looked exactly like it did on the website And the app makes it ridiculously simple Two taps and I’m done And also it makes Game Time makes scoring NFL tickets just as easy Uh you’ll find great seats for as low as $100 thanks to exclusive discounts And if you’ve never worked with Game Time to grab NFL seats now’s the time It’s seriously a game day upgrade So take the guesswork out of buying tickets with Game Time and download the Game Time app and create an account and use code locked on NBA for $20 off your first purchase Terms apply Again create an account and redeem code L O C K E D O NA for $20 off Download the Game Time app today Last minute tickets lowest price guaranteed Welcome back to Locked on Jazz And I mentioned this yesterday I love draft season and I love this time of the year where we’re two weeks out from the first round of the NBA draft And as I record this it’ll be 13 days when you listen But the most interesting part of the draft to me is the psychology and and the dichotomy between the way people evaluate because sometimes it’s the analytics versus the ball watchers and sometimes it’s fit versus the uh the upside and sometimes it’s fit versus best player available Sometimes it’s floor versus ceiling and you have everyone evaluating differently But what I really love about this is I think it’s overthinking season and I’m no stranger to overthinking And the reason I bring this up as a way to tell you why I think Ace Bailey is being talked about in a negative fashion and the concerns are far overblown is like I said he came in second or third on everyone’s board and now I’m seeing people reporting that it’s no it’s not a no-brainer that the Jazz would take him at five So I’m going to I’m going to tie that in saw Tony Jones say like yeah it’s not a slam dunk that to that Ace Bailey falls to five the Jazz would take him meaning that Jeremiah Fears VJ Edgecom Malawatch would be on the table and so those are the players he listed I’d imagine Khan Canipple would get a a view as well and then I watch I look at these other outlets I look at the Ringer I look at locked on NBA big board and I look at tankathon and the big boards are all moving Ace Bailey down and he’s at six or below and a lot of mock drafts or big boards and I think this is where it’s there’s collective think One person reported “Oh he’s a little shorter and he came out a little shorter at the draft.” Some people say “Oh I don’t know if he’s got the uh ability to be dynamic.” Well I think there’s an element of safety to Ace Bailey And the whole time prior we talked about oh like this is the Tracy McGrady guy This is uh Paul George And at the minimum he’s Michael Porter Jr And now it sounds like most people are saying the maximum is Michael Porter Jr And people forget Michael Porter Jr prior to back injury was likely to be a top pick And people talk about how he’s going to follow because he lacks wiggle Like yeah you’re nitpicking though Like there’s nitpicking that creates that perception of why you need to find something negative to justify moving him down But the reason that that it’s a a frustrating situation is people are making the exact opposite reasons for saying that VJ Edge or Jeremiah Fears or Trey Johnson are better Myself included In Trey Johnson’s case I think he’s a better shooter and the numbers would back that up and I think he’s more polished and he also has more chance to be more dynamic because he’s a better athlete and and I I feel confident in the evaluation I watch a ton of basketball and I don’t feel confident that he’s that much better Like I really like both these guys I just think the more I watched I was staying tied to what I believed for a long time and the more I watched I felt like there was a difference between the two However the people who are jumping on it now and saying “Oh Jeremiah Fear is because he’s more dynamic he’s got a better chance of being a star What happened to the people who said this guy had more ceiling a higher ceiling than Cooper Flag that he could be the best scoreer in this draft Because Fierce if you look at shooting he shoots 28% I like Jeremiah Fierce I’ve been I was one of the first people that that started talking about him as a top five pick I mean he’s he shoots 28% from three and his off the bounce jump shooting is a concern and he’s a point guard and he’s not particularly big Ace Bailey has a tremendously high floor If he’s there at five you you’re pretty happy if you get a Michael Porter Jr especially the best version of Michael Porter Jr but I don’t like saying that that’s his ceiling I also don’t think it’s fair to say that’s his floor That’s a bit disrespectful to what Michael Porter Jr did Like he was a champion and played very well in the NBA finals I don’t think Michael Porter Jr is in a reddraft in most reddrafts a top five pick but it’s largely due to health And Michael Porter Jr is the type of archetype so many teams want They want someone who’s 6’9 and can shoot the ball at an elite elite level and is a good rebounder when engaged He’s not a good defender Ace Bailey is a better athlete than Michael Porter Jr postback injuries I don’t think he’s as pure a shooter but I do think he’s got more wiggle in him than Michael Porter Jr did So that’s where I’m I’m starting to have some frustration with where Ace Bailey is his demise is greatly uh overexaggerated Uh and and it’s you know everyone’s entitled to their opinion but why why is Khan Canipple seen as a safer bet than Ace Bailey just because he’d play a similar role to to the one he played at Duke I mean Ace Bailey shot fairly efficiently strangely in a role where it was just he and Dylan Harper playing two on five The best player in the class Cooper Flag made life easy for Coniple So contextualizing things I I think most people would agree Ace is a is more likely to be a star but I also think it’s very possible that Ace is a better role player than Khan Canipple and and that would be a low outcome for Ace Bailey Therefore saying that’s a good pick in terms of you have a high possibility of him being good but also you have a a real possibility that he and he doesn’t pan out in the best way possible that he can still end up being good and contribute to winning Like that is a really important thing to say I don’t think the floor the gap between the floor and the ceiling is enormously vast for him Whereas I think Jeremiah Fears is floor and ceiling has a pretty vast difference And so I I think that matters And you know what’s an interesting thing So David David Lock when he does the the uh analytics of hey who do who do I think has good shooting numbers that will translate who has good athleticism that translate using transition and using isolation those things are are very accurate and predicting because I think most people who can’t shoot in college don’t end up being good shooters in the NBA And so I think that one’s an advantage But a lot of these players that end up you know testing relatively well in isolation but not like thriving enormously get stronger and get better And I think Ace Bailey could be one of those And I think his catch and shoot numbers will get better And they were already good It’s like dispelling a a a logical fallacy there And so I remember doing a podcast and I want to say I was a guest in February and David asked me about the draft and he said who would you take Harper or Bailey And I said I would take Harper uh because I think he’s more polished I think he’s more ready to be the star of a franchise But his point was that 69 guys who don’t who shoot the ball really well and have defensive upside don’t grow in trees and therefore if he’s there at two that David’s contention was that he would still take Ace Bailey He did another one where he talked about taking Ace Bailey So the fact that Ace Bailey is being spoken about so negatively and saying that he may not be taken at five much less six seven I think is ludicrous I’d be shocked if Ace Bailey is there at five for the Jazz I think that’s some smoke And I also think that if he’s there at five the Jazz will take him So uh let me know what you guys think about that I think uh we talk about upside I think there’s a world he’s maybe more Danny Granger-esque and maybe more like a a slightly ahead of the curve Brandon Miller because Brandon Miller came in at 21 years old as a freshman whereas Ace Bailey is going to be 19 in his rookie year and so I’d say Brandon Miller with more juice maybe Danny Grangeresque as opposed to the Paul George juice and that’s a guy you really you really like but he could be better than that and there there is some athletic appeal to him He can be a secondary protector He can be someone who scores the ball and is a top guy I just don’t think he’s the star of a championship team And they’re only usually in drafts if you do the math on it there’s usually only one if that And so that’s not a slight to him But I do think it’s a slight to him that so many people are dropping him for reasons that I think are a little bit more uh laid out as a myth as opposed to a truth So coming up next we’re going to address some of the latest rumors which ones I believe and how it impacts the Jazz This will be slightly about Ace Bailey and some about is Common Model Watch going to be in the top five Are there going to be trades I’m going to react to some rumors and and say how each of those rumors impacts the Jazz’s pick at number five So we got that and much much more coming ahead on Locked on Jazz There’s nothing like stepping out into your own outdoor space and feeling like you’ve escaped to a personal oasis If you’re wanting to update your patio this season Wfair has made it so easy to turn it into a space that feels like yours Comfortable stylish and 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been talking about is Ace Bailey who has long projected the second or third pick a possibility at five and is his demise in terms of his falling down the the the draft board greatly overexaggerated And are there reasons that are valid Maybe But are they being taken out of context Absolutely At least that’s my contention So here are some rumors that that I’ve been seeing and I’m sure you guys have been seeing it as well that I think make the Jazz’s pick at five interesting and I’ll tell you how confident I am in them happening and what I would do in those situations So one that I do feel like has real traction and I’ve spoken to people that have said they’ve heard about it is Jeremiah fears garnering real buzz is going into the top five So the Jazz obviously factor into that equation Um whether the Jazz team at five or not I do not know I tried asking around seeing if there’s any interest but did not hear anything But the interesting part about that to me is the team that has been tied with fears for the entirety of the draft process has been the Brooklyn Nets at eight Brooklyn moving from eight to three four or five really is interesting because if they’re to move up and take Jeremiah Fierce let’s say it’s at four for Charlotte because Charlotte doesn’t have a clear need at point guard They don’t need a clear need at wing They already have a good center Mark Williams though he’s injuryprone So there’s a lot of ways they can go Let’s say it’s Charlotte at four and either Ace Bailey or Trey Johnson goes three The fifth pick for the Jazz becomes very interesting and appealing because it’s Trey Johnson or Ace Bailey to me Now if the Jazz are to be interested in in fears and that’s part of the discussion in terms of he’s not falling outside the top five that’s another rumor I don’t see the Jazz trading back to eight I just don’t see a reason that the Jazz would trade back to eight unless they got a heck of a deal and got future picks And I don’t think that would be the case in terms of what what their intention is right now So while that is the the rumor I feel the most confidence in being real that Jeremiah Fears will be a top five pick and someone’s going to trade up to take him I think that bodess well for the Jazz because either they believe confidently that Jeremiah Fears is a top five pick and will be the guy that the Jazz can trust the ball in his hands for the future if they’re picking him or if he goes ahead then it switches the way the draft is perceived and the Jazz find one of the two favorites for me and I think most of you guys Trey Johnson or Ace Bailey find their way to five So that one really bodess well for the Jazz and I think there is some traction to it Now the other rumor that’s interesting to me is Philadelphia They’re they’re rumored to be trading the pick There’s been rumors about common Malawatch being the pick there because they they want to upgrade their defense I I’m skeptical of that I do think Philly wants to trade that pick because they are in a unique situation Most teams that win 24 games the prior season going 24 and 58 are not a win now team Philadelphia had enough injuries and has enough talent to consider themselves a win now team and their talent-wise they could be in the NBA finals I they’re not as complete a roster Don’t don’t come for me for that But if you look at what they’ve got one through eight on their roster they’re pretty darn good And so I think they want a win now player meaning a veteran So there’s going to be a lot of packages both from within the lottery teams drafting within the lottery within the top five within the top 10 to move up to a coveted third position because some teams will say you know what the gap between three and four and the gap between three and seven is vast And they’re probably right So there’s going to be a lot of popularity there Now how it impacts the Jazz is of course if the Jazz were to make a trade for with Philadelphia the main appeal is not going to be Paul George because his contract is outrageous You have to take that on It would be the third pick overall And I think the Jazz would only do that if they keep pick three and five And that would be a very very interesting situation And perhaps we’ll talk about that later on this week because I have I’ve been thinking about that possibility and a few others Now the other part of this is if another team trades up I think the likelihood is if they trade the three for Philly it it would be a team that is taking Trey Johnson That’s just the way I feel It’s either Trey Johnson or Ace Bailey going at three And it’s more likely Philly if they keep their pick takes a guy like VJ Edgecom or Malawatch and another team trades up to take one of those guys I I don’t think it’s likely that a team would trade up for a guy that could possibly fall So it would have to be for a team that really believes in their scouting that they’ve nailed the evaluation they get VJ Ed excuse me Trey Johnson or Ace Bailey at three And I think that Philly if they keep it this is the other rumor Daryl my liked athletes I’ve done some digging you look at his draft uh past and and the way he’s found himself uh leaning to his preferences he really likes athletes and VJ Edgecom is the most apparent athlete here I also think that Bill Simmons popularized a report saying that it doesn’t feel like a Daryl my pick to take Ace Bailey So who’s it going to be And he was he responded to that question of you know what I think it’ll be VJ Edgecom because he likes athletes So I think there is some substantiated evidence if you dig deep enough The question is who else was available and were they just taking athlete against another athlete or was it an athlete versus a skilled scorer and that is interesting but I think the fact that Philly is in a win-win situation taking a guy 18 years old and as slender as Bailey I would take Bailey there over Trey Johnson even because you have Paul George to teach him which is really important when you draft a guy third and you want someone to to guide the youthful player that you think can eventually have the keys to your franchise and he also fits a positional need and has plenty of upside I would still take Trey Johnson if I were picking three for the Jazz Uh and the Jazz don’t have five I would take Trey Johnson because I think he’s better I think he’s got a better chance of being a star But for Philly because they’re in a win now situation positional need matters more And I think the difference between the upside between Trey Johnson and Ace Bailey isn’t all that vast but the difference of immediiacy of impact is uh important there because I think it’d be difficult to play when you have Jared McCain and Tyresce Maxi both sub6’2 and you go get a slender guard in Trey Johnson who also wants the ball in his hands Ace Bailey can step in and knock down open shots be a secondary rim protector and not have an enormous pressure And so that I do think is really important what Philly does The draft starts at three to me and that rumor of Philly having people interested to trade If they trade up to three I think that bodess poorly for the Jazz comp regarding what I think the Jazz should do drafting either Ace or Trey should they be available If they take VJ or Malawatch I think we’re golden And then the last rumor I saw is common Malawatch and VJ Edgecom are the leaders in the clubhouse for pick four And that like I said I think that bodess very well And I think that Charlotte is more likely to trade than initially reported because I think with LaMelo Ball you either have to choose to move on from him and try to rebuild and then that makes it more alluring to take a guy like Trey Johnson But if LaMelo Ball is going to have the keys for the short time being uh Brandon Miller is going to be his his Robin I I think it’s more likely they take someone with a diverse skill set as opposed to a lanky slender guard or wing in Ace Bailey or Trey Johnson And I think it moves the possibility up for the Jazz to come up with one of Trey Johnson or Ace Bailey So those are just my musings about what I think of these rumors I do think the one with the most credibility and most strength is that Jeremiah Fierce will not fall out of the top five and teams really love him He’s been impressing I saw something about Mike Miller saying within three years he’ll be an all-star after training him And you know that’s a lot of hype but sometimes when there’s smoke there’s a fire And this one I feel like there’s a lot of smoke and therefore it’s got to be some validity to it Maybe the Jazz really love him at five And honestly I can talk myself into it but I think the Nets trading up and having a trade partner with Charlotte makes a lot of sense And I think a lot of teams are coveting that third pick for Philly And Philly will entertain a ton of those picks be or those trades because it’s hard to have a third pick ready to impact immediately and win as quickly as Philadelphia wants because they they have a shortened title contention because Joel Embiid already is injuryprone But you got to get the most out of him while he’s in his physical prime So let me know what you guys think of all those rumors Let me know if my dispelling of concerns for Ace Bailey has helped you or if you disagree with me Uh and what do you think the best best outcome is for the Utah Jazz Uh picking at five or propose some ideas in terms of how to trade up and get the guy that you want And I I know we’re all going to want Cooper Flag but try to keep it realistic I don’t think we’re getting Cooper Flag but thank you guys for making locked on Jazz your first listen today For your second listen check out Locked in NBA Big Board NBA draft expert Raphael Barlo reacts to every workout interview and rumor leading up to the NBA draft Find Locked on NBA Big Board on YouTube or wherever you listen to your podcast and I’ll be back with you again tomorrow and we’re going to talk a little bit about some possible trades for that the Utah Jazz can make both with the established players on the team going elsewhere and then some trade targets and some draft related trades So all that coming up tomorrow and another jam-packed week coming up next week that I’ve got Andy Larson and Tony Jones scheduled to join me and we’re going to debate what the Jazz should do at pick number five and talk about who’s available can the Jazz find a star and much much more So appreciate you guys supporting all along and we will have tons of great Locked on Jazz action coming up the next couple weeks

Is Ace Bailey the steal of the 2025 NBA Draft? The Utah Jazz, holding the 5th pick, could land a potential superstar if Bailey falls to them. Leif Thulin, filling in for David Locke, breaks down Bailey’s impressive stats and compares him to NBA greats like Paul George and Tracy McGrady. He argues that Bailey’s unique blend of size and shooting ability makes him a top-3 talent in this draft class.

Thulin explores draft rumors, including Jeremiah Fears potentially cracking the top 5 and the Philadelphia 76ers looking to trade their pick. He analyzes how these scenarios could impact the Jazz’s options, with Tre Johnson or Bailey potentially available at 5. The episode also touches on other top prospects like VJ Edgecombe and Khaman Maluach Watch, providing context for Utah’s draft strategy.

Tune in for expert insights on the Jazz’s crucial draft decision and how it could shape their future.

0:00 Intro: Is Ace Bailey becoming undervalued?

5:08 Bailey’s strengths and NBA potential

10:43 Addressing concerns about Bailey’s stock falling

16:18 Comparing Bailey to other top prospects

26:33 Potential trades and team interests

31:05 Outro: Upcoming draft coverage and guests

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Get a free can of OLIPOP! Just buy any two cans in store and they’ll reimburse you for one. Head to drinkolipop.com/LOCKEDONNBA to claim your free can and find OLIPOP near you.

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Give your home the refresh it needs with Wayfair. Head to Wayfair.com right now. Wayfair. Every style. Every home.

Door Dash
Sign up for DashPass and when any player scores 50+ in a playoff game, DashPass members can grab a free 3PC Crispy Tenders Combo from Wingstop the next day, with a $20+ order and code WINGSTOP50. That’s DashPass: your door to more savings, more flavor, and more ways to win. Terms apply.

Valid only at participating Wingstop locations. Fees (including service fee), taxes, and gratuity still apply. Orders must have a minimum subtotal of $20, excluding taxes and fees. Offer valid on 4/15/25-6/22 /25 or while supplies last. Valid for one (1) promotional redemption per customer. DoubleDash promotions apply only to your DoubleDash add-on order, not your primary order. DoubleDash orders are not valid for the purchase of alcohol. No cash value. Non-transferable. Discount applies to subtotal only; does not apply to fees, taxes, and gratuity. Not valid for pickup. Limit one per person. Not valid for the purchase of alcohol. Fees, taxes, and gratuity still apply. Must have an active DashPass account. Use promo code WINGSTOP50 to redeem. See full terms and conditions at drd.sh/qnAXuU

Monarch Money
Take control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNBA at monarchmoney.com for 50% off your first year

Gametime
Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNBA for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime.

FanDuel
Right now, new customers can get TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS in BONUS BETS when your first FIVE DOLLAR BET WINS! Download the app or head to FANDUEL.COM to get started. Bet with FanDuel—Official Partner of the NBA.

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

Ace Bailey, NBA Draft, Utah Jazz, draft prospects, Trey Johnson, Cooper Flag, Dylan Harper, shooting potential, defensive upside, player evaluation, draft rumors, Jeremiah Fears, VJ Edgecombe, Philadelphia 76ers, trade speculation, Charlotte Hornets, Brooklyn Nets, David Locke, Locked On Jazz, Utah Jazz podcast, Utah Jazz news, draft analysis, player comparisons, NBA scouting, draft strategy, team needs, draft trades

Locked On Jazz Podcast 💻 https://www.lockedonjazz.net

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