The Utah Jazz just [rolled the dice and took Ace Bailey](https://thejnotes.com/ace-bailey-sends-uplifting-message-after-jazz-rolled-dice-with-him) with the fifth overall selection in the 2025 NBA draft. Danny Ainge and the front office made it clear what their position is here: Potential superstar upside is going to outweigh roster fit every time. And in the end, that's what could make Bailey the only untouchable player on this roster moving forward.
When we look back on this pick in a few years, there's a world in which taking a chance on Ace Bailey becomes the best decision the Jazz made since trading away Donovan Mitchell and Ruby Gobert back in 2022.
In the NBA's modern landscape, shot creation and guys who can be confident as ball-handlers is king. Bailey may not be the most polished or finished prospect from day one, and there are some real concerns surrounding him. But this Jazz front office was never going to take the safe route, and for good reason.
Bailey might end up as the Jazz's only untouchable player
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Utah going from tied for first-best odds at landing the number one pick to ending up with the fifth overall selection after the draft lottery was a big hit. It was going to be necessary for them to take the best player available, which in this case was Bailey. The former Rutgers guard brings to the court a unique blend of athleticism and scoring skill that Utah's roster was mostly missing up until this point.
Keyonte George and Lauri Markkanen each offer a certain level of promise to this roster, but neither one as an all-encompassing offensive superstar. But on the other hand, Bailey has that kind of ceiling. What that means is that he's the only player on Utah's roster that can reasonably be classified as untouchable.
If the Jazz's front office agrees with my assessment, that could mean they would subsequently be more open to moving other guys if they truly see Bailey as their central building block of the future. Ainge has always been the type of guy who's not afraid to press the button and make a big shakeup, and getting Bailey could signify the start of a new era in his eyes.
We've seen comments from Bailey about him not being interested in playing in Utah, but that didn't seem to matter to Ainge. In the end, all that drama will be forgotten if he reaches his potential in a Jazz uniform. Utah clearly took a gamble in the most on-brand way possible, and it may say a lot about their long-term vision with Ace Bailey.