Should Wizards trade #1 pick for #2 + Ace

[pushfloater]

Utah offers:

* Ace Bailey
* #2 overall pick

Washington gives:

* #1 overall pick (presumably AJ Dybantsa)

A lot of people see Dybantsa as the consensus #1, but this does not feel like a huge gap, if at all. Peterson has looked arguably more polished offensively, especially when healthy, and Bailey still has huge upside as a 6’8 scoring wing.

Washington could leave with a starting lineup of:

* Darryn Peterson
* Ace Bailey
* Trae Young
* Anthony Davis
* Alexander Sarr

Would you do it?

[FarBeyondDriven]

I think Peterson is the better prospect so if I could sucker the Jazz into giving me Ace Bailey, who is a great prospect, on top of that? Hell yeah. But Ainge would never do that. I don't think the Wizards actually want Dybantsa. They already have a few promising wings and only Bub Carrington (not counting Trae) at point guard and they have nobody at the 4 so Boozer and Wilson are probably better fits than Dybantsa. Peterson should be their pick and I think WILL be their pick. Of course, whether it's the Jazz or someone below them, I think they'd love to trade back and still get their guy so expect to hear all sorts of rumors over the next month. Ultimately, they'll decide not to get too cute and just take the #1 guy in the draft that fills a need. If they could trade back to 3 or 4 and still get Boozer or Wilson AND pick up a young player and future 1st they'd probably do it though I just don't think either MEM or CHI has the package that will get the deal done.

[eminence]

Only if they are quite sure the guy they want to take at #1 will still be there at #2.

I don't mind Ace, but he's not the level of guy you move off your #1 prospect for imo.

[JMAC3]

Ace Bailey would probably be the favorite to go #5 in this draft right now since everyone is pushing the guards down the board for any new hot name. So should you trade #2 and #5 for #1. Probably not tbh.

[BigGargamel]

The Jazz shouldn't, unless they are absolutely in love with Dybantsa. I'd rather have Bailey and Peterson, but I think Peterson is a great fit with what they have right now.

[HMFFL]

Jazz will need to add more than Ace Bailey and the #2 pick if they want AJ. If the Wizard think AJ is the BPA than no deal.

[Rauxcee]

The Jazz shouldn't do this and I would be surprised if they did.

[NO-KG-AI]

Ace isn’t enough to to swing it either way. If you want someone specific way more, throw in Ace. If you don’t care who you get at 2, take Ace + 2.

I doubt Ace is enough to get Washington to move.

[Chokic]

Yes absolutely this is a no brainer.

I think Ace Bailey has a higher ceiling than Boozer for sure albeit Boozer and Wilson both have a higher floor. Ace is talented enough to go as high as #3 in this draft. He was also playing on a tighter leash/more restricted minutes in Utah than his rookie peers.

[Upperclass]

Trading AJ for anything outside of a top 5 NBA player will be one of the worst trades in league history. Ace is not good.. he's adequate.

[Upperclass]

But yes unfortunately for them they will be trading AJ for whatever Utah offers. Utah will be in the conference finals in a few years.. Wiz fans will be debating extending or trading a moody, often injured scoring guard.

[YoungJazz]

Jazz declined. Ace is not tradable IMO. I also just love DP over AJ anyway. Hard for either team to lose.

March — major breakout

This was the best stretch of his rookie year.

Approximate stats:

* 19–20 PPG
* 4 RPG
* 2 APG
* ~45% FG
* ~40% from 3

He looked like one of the best rookie scorers in basketball for stretches.

What stood out:

* deep pull-up 3s
* hard shotmaking
* improved pacing
* better use of size
* more defensive activity

The biggest difference:
early season Ace forced difficult shots constantly.

March Ace started creating GOOD difficult shots.

That’s a huge distinction for NBA scorers.

Utah also gave him much more freedom:

* isolation possessions
* pick-and-roll reps
* late-clock offense

His ceiling started looking closer to players like:

* Brandon Miller
* Paul George
* bigger shot-hunting wings with star upside

⸻

April

Still productive, but defenses adjusted.

Approximate stats:

* 17 PPG
* 5 RPG
* lower efficiency
* 3PT% dipped hard

What happened:

* teams started game-planning for him
* Utah’s offense got messy late season
* rookie fatigue showed up

But even during the inefficient nights, the talent still flashed.

You saw:

* improved rebounding
* stronger defensive possessions
* more composure under pressure

He wasn’t just surviving off hot shooting anymore.

[tmorgan]

In a year where there isn’t a clear consensus among draft experts (AJ has the most support, but barely a majority, I think), expect to see an absolute TON of smoke screening from the teams picking one through three.

I think he only thing we know for sure is that Utah prefers Dybantsa, but it wouldn’t surprise me to hear about them fawning over DP, Booz or Wilson in the coming weeks. It’s a game everyone has to play in order to get the most value out of their pick AND the player they secretly want.

[crows2]

In a year where there isn’t a clear consensus among draft experts (AJ has the most support, but barely a majority, I think), expect to see an absolute TON of smoke screening from the teams picking one through three.

I think he only thing we know for sure is that Utah prefers Dybantsa, but it wouldn’t surprise me to hear about them fawning over DP, Booz or Wilson in the coming weeks. It’s a game everyone has to play in order to get the most value out of their pick AND the player they secretly want.

Reminiscent of 2022 when Banchero, Holmgren and Smith were seen as comparable prospects at the top and everyone was certain Orlando was picking Smith at 1 right up until draft day.

[The-Power]

Man, some people are A LOT higher in Ace than I am. In no way would I consider this as the Wizards GM, though admittedly I also have AJ with a bit of separation to the second best prospect (probably Boozer).

[CptCrunch]

I mean the answer is no if they are going for AJ.

I would trade Ace + AJ/Peterson for Boozer.

In context of going from 2 to 1, yes.

If going for the reason of getting AJ absolutely not. Getting Peterson, maybe, Boozer any day of the week.

This is a one man draft. Not drafting Boozer is the mistake at #1.

[Shock Defeat]

Jazz declined. Ace is not tradable IMO. I also just love DP over AJ anyway. Hard for either team to lose.

March — major breakout

This was the best stretch of his rookie year.

Approximate stats:

* 19–20 PPG
* 4 RPG
* 2 APG
* ~45% FG
* ~40% from 3

He looked like one of the best rookie scorers in basketball for stretches.

What stood out:

* deep pull-up 3s
* hard shotmaking
* improved pacing
* better use of size
* more defensive activity

The biggest difference:
early season Ace forced difficult shots constantly.

March Ace started creating GOOD difficult shots.

That’s a huge distinction for NBA scorers.

Utah also gave him much more freedom:

* isolation possessions
* pick-and-roll reps
* late-clock offense

His ceiling started looking closer to players like:

* Brandon Miller
* Paul George
* bigger shot-hunting wings with star upside

⸻

April

Still productive, but defenses adjusted.

Approximate stats:

* 17 PPG
* 5 RPG
* lower efficiency
* 3PT% dipped hard

What happened:

* teams started game-planning for him
* Utah’s offense got messy late season
* rookie fatigue showed up

But even during the inefficient nights, the talent still flashed.

You saw:

* improved rebounding
* stronger defensive possessions
* more composure under pressure

He wasn’t just surviving off hot shooting anymore.

Come on man the Jazz were obviously tanking down the stretch and other teams knew that too, nobody was going hard trying to play the Jazz. It was a 50% effort game at best for Jazz opponents. Gotta take all MAR/APR stats with a grain of salt.

[Daddy 801]

Easy pass as a Jazz fan. Rather have Peterson and Ace over AJ. But I’m not a delusional BYU fan like a lot of Utah fans. Thankfully I don’t think Ainge cares how good of a relationship AJ has with him or Ryan Smith. He will just draft BPA at 2.

[Daddy 801]

I mean the answer is no if they are going for AJ.

I would trade Ace + AJ/Peterson for Boozer.

In context of going from 2 to 1, yes.

If going for the reason of getting AJ absolutely not. Getting Peterson, maybe, Boozer any day of the week.

This is a one man draft. Not drafting Boozer is the mistake at #1.

Wiz are taking AJ. So Utah can take Booz if they want. Yet another reason not to trade with the Wiz. Utah has no pressure here. If they think any of Peterson, Booz, or Caleb are better they still get their guy. And I’m not convinced AJ is the best player.

Honestly the only stressful part for the Jazz is if their big board is Boozer, Peterson, and AJ and then the Wiz draft Boozer. Then Ainge is going to be under extreme pressure to draft AJ even if they think Peterson is their guy. But I mean….first world problems so whatever.

[Catchall]

Jazz won't offer this. Ace might turn out better than AJ due to his more natural shooting.