The Utah Jazz have to be kicking their luck right now. Despite having some truly rough seasons, the Jazz have never won the draft lottery or earned the right to pick first overall. Even this year, after finishing with the worst record in the league at just 17 wins and with Cooper Flagg on the board, luck wasn’t on their side.
Instead, they dropped to the fifth pick, where they’ll try to get the most out of their selection. Some of the top names seem like sure things in this class, but the draft always throws in a few surprises. According to one analyst, Utah could end up benefiting from one.
Could the Utah Jazz Walk Away With a Superstar?
A top-five pick is still a solid spot for any team. But in a draft featuring one of the most hyped prospects in years, Cooper Flagg, it feels like a missed shot for the Jazz.
Still, Matt Brandon of Sports Illustrated doesn’t think they’re walking away empty-handed. In his mock draft, Brandon drops a surprise for Utah, having them land Ace Bailey with the fifth pick.
Usually projected as a top-three lock, the Rutgers forward has wowed fans since high school. While he’s often ranked just behind Flagg and his college teammate Dylan Harper, Bailey brings serious upside as a 6-foot-10 versatile talent.
Even Brandon knows how big that would be, saying the Jazz would do “cartwheels” if they ended up with the Scarlet Knights star. In his one college season, Bailey averaged 17.6 points and 7.2 rebounds while shooting at a strong clip.
Brandon thinks Bailey’s shooting will improve in the NBA, with better spacing and ball movement giving him easier looks. But what really sells him is the potential.
“Bailey’s profile is the stuff front offices drool over: a 6’10” wing with guard-like fluidity, a deep scoring bag, and tantalizing upside on both ends.” Brandon sees him sliding in at small forward next to Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler.
Ace Bailey scoring 39 points vs Indiana
What stands out after watching him pop off in this game? pic.twitter.com/byQWInX8ec
— Jazz Lead (@JazzLead) June 13, 2025
Still, Bailey falling to No. 5 isn’t a sure thing. The latest mock draft from PFSN, put together by Keenan Warner, has a more likely outcome: Bailey going to the Philadelphia 76ers with the third pick.
In that version, Warner has the Jazz solving their backcourt issues by drafting Jeremiah Fears out of Oklahoma, who might be the best playmaker in the draft.
Fears isn’t a consistent shooter yet, but his passing and basketball IQ could be exactly what the Jazz need to climb out of the Western Conference basement.
Between the two, Fears feels like the more realistic pick for Utah and would help fill their need at point guard.