There are a few clear winners this preseason, and Utah Jazz rookie Ace Bailey is one of them. The numbers came in just three preseason games, but Bailey impressed with 16.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists on 58.8% shooting from the field.
Skeptics weren’t sure what to expect, but Bailey’s preseason has been enough to shift minds around the NBA. He’s showing signs of being the kind of top-tier prospect many believed he was before draft night pushed him to No. 6.
Concerns surrounded Bailey’s talent and potential, but his slide was also fueled by an unusual pre-draft process in which he skipped some team interviews. Even so, in a redraft following this preseason, Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz argued Bailey should’ve been taken higher.
For Swartz, that means Bailey should’ve gone No. 5 to Charlotte instead of Kon Knueppel, with his talent and upside making him the stronger choice.
“Kon Knueppel should have a fine pro career as a starting wing, although his upside has never come close to that of Ace Bailey’s.
The Charlotte Hornets shouldn’t be afraid to pass on Knueppel for Bailey this time around, even if the former is the better fit for this roster as constructed. Given this is the 10-year anniversary of the Hornets’ last trip to the playoffs, however, talent accumulation should still be priority No. 1.”
