Is Ace Bailey the best draft prospect in Utah Jazz history?

[Elizah Huge]

Here is a list of the top draft prospects we’ve drafted in the last 20 years:

Dante Exum at 5 in 2014
Enes Kanter at 3 in 2011
Deron Williams at 3 in 2005

I think the only one who has a real case is D-Will. Pretty crazy to think we just drafted the best draft prospect in our team’s history in at least 20 years and maybe ever.

 

[baka98]

I would say emphatically yes

 

[bigmike]

In terms of top-tier upside I'll say probably. Deron Williams was pretty special though.

Honorable mention to DeShawn Stevenson. I remember nbadraft.net comped him to Michael Jordan and put out a "mea culpa" like 15 years later, LOL.

 

[KqWIN]

Hard to compare eras. This draft was massively hyped but proved to be massively overrated. Did not think the quality of prospect in the 4-6 range was that strong in this draft. Ace isn't a special player for a #5 pick and I don't think this draft is special outside of 1-2.. Exum's was #5 in one of the most hyped drafts ever. Did it deserve that? Probably not. At minimum, I think you have to say Exum was fairly similar.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Dante drew Penny comparisons. But he sucked so bad its hard to say he was the "best" but I think he was very highly touted. I was prepared to **** on this but it feels like at least a 3 way tie.

 

[David Stern]

I would say the hype on Exum was quite high as well

 

[The Midnight]

Ace would have to do really well to beat out Dwill.

The bar is high.

 

[Coach Ellis]

I think there was a LOT of enthusiasm for Mitchell as well. Jazz weren’t supposed to be in a position to get him and it came out of left field. There was a lot of hype right away, he starred in Summer League and went on to be the best Rookie that year (even though Simmons won RotY).

 

[nateboz]

I'm kinda annoyed that I wanna watch the games again.

 

[HeatCheck]

I would still say it's Deron Williams. There was a lot of hype for Deron at the time but some fans were disappointed when they passed on CP3.

Maybe Ace has a bit higher ceiling but Deron definitely had the higher floor as a prospect.

 

[infection]

Dante drew Penny comparisons. But he sucked so bad its hard to say he was the "best" but I think he was very highly touted. I was prepared to **** on this but it feels like at least a 3 way tie.

Well he was like Penny in some ways. Or at least one.

 

[Elizah Huge]

I think there was a LOT of enthusiasm for Mitchell as well. Jazz weren’t supposed to be in a position to get him and it came out of left field. There was a lot of hype right away, he starred in Summer League and went on to be the best Rookie that year (even though Simmons won RotY).

He went 13th though so as a draft prospect not on the same level.

 

[Eminence]

I'd put Williams at the top.

Was an Illini fan at the time though, so may have been biased.

 

[fishonjazz]

I was pretty high on Deshawn Stevenson. I wasn't high on Mitchell when we picked him.
I also wasn't super high on D will (I wanted CP3 really really bad and was sour because we passed on him)
So for me, yes.

 

[CVJ]

In terms of top-tier upside I'll say probably. Deron Williams was pretty special though.

Honorable mention to DeShawn Stevenson. I remember nbadraft.net comped him to Michael Jordan and put out a "mea culpa" like 15 years later, LOL.

DeShawn Stevenson - NBADraft.net

Specializing in drafts with top players on the NBA horizon, player profiles, scouting reports, rankings and prospective international recruits.

www.nbadraft.net

Classic. And very salty update.

 

[Bawse Dawg]

What’s the criteria?

Donovan had great defensive potential when coming out, and an offensive ceiling that no one could have even fathomed. If he had hit his defensive potential and still became the same offensive player, that’s hard to beat.

 

[NUMBERICA]

Yes.

 

[Ferguson_Mellochill]

What about Karl Malone and John Stockton? Those guys worked out pretty well.

 

[Elizah Huge]

What about Karl Malone and John Stockton? Those guys worked out pretty well.

As draft prospects? No

 

[Elizah Huge]

What’s the criteria?

Donovan had great defensive potential when coming out, and an offensive ceiling that no one could have even fathomed. If he had hit his defensive potential and still became the same offensive player, that’s hard to beat.

He went 13th so hard to say he was on the same level of prospect.