The Athletic NBA Daily: Can Ace Bailey Give Hope to the Jazz?

Episode Date: October 10, 2025
Host: Zena Cada
Guest: Andy Larson (Utah Jazz beat writer, Salt Lake City Tribune)

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the Utah Jazz’s rebuilding process, focusing on rookie Ace Bailey’s impact and the franchise’s future trajectory. Host Zena Cada and beat writer Andy Larson analyze recent roster moves, preseason performances, and realistic expectations for the 2025-26 season. The conversation balances honest assessment of past failures with emerging optimism, offering fans reasons for hope while grounding them in the current rebuilding reality.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. State of the Utah Jazz: Rebuilding and Reset

• The Jazz are coming off the worst season in Utah franchise history (17-65).
• Over the last three years, the team has been in a "slow, kind of tearing down rebuild process that hasn't really worked" (Andy Larson, 03:23).
• After trading Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, the team acquired pieces like Lauri Markkanen, Colin Sexton, and John Collins but struggled to secure high draft picks until recently.
• With the departures of established veterans and an influx of young talent, “you're really starting to see the team being fully given over to the youth” (Andy Larson, 03:23).

2. Ace Bailey: Rookie Hope and Potential Franchise Cornerstone

• Ace Bailey drafted at #5 is viewed as the “most impactful change for the Utah Jazz this summer” (Andy Larson, 05:28).
• He’s described as “maybe a top two prospect in last year's draft just because of how athletic he is, how skilled he is shooting the ball” (Andy Larson, 05:31).
• Andy notes, “The Jazz haven't had a prospect like that since, really, Donovan Mitchell” (Andy Larson, 05:35).
• Bailey’s preseason debut: 25 points on 11-16 shooting (68%) in 31 minutes. “He looked comfortable, he looked smooth” (Zena Cada, 06:39).
• Coach Will Hardy is developing Bailey using film of early-career Kevin Durant and Jayson Tatum, hoping to shape “the first cornerstone piece the Utah Jazz have had in a while” (Zena Cada, 07:03).

3. Youth Movement and “Prospect by Volume” Strategy

• The Jazz have drafted as many as eight players in the top 32 picks over three years: Taylor Hendricks, Cody Williams, Keonte George, Isaiah Collier, Bryce Sensabaugh, and others.
• “They're kind of doing a prospect by volume approach… if you just get enough guys together, some of them are going to pop” (Andy Larson, 08:30).
• Taylor Hendricks, coming off injury, is cited for his physical transformation and defensive ambition; Bryce Sensabaugh is noted as a potential offensive contributor if his defense improves.
• Summer league standout Kyle Filipowski is also mentioned as an intriguing scorer, though sidelined with injury.

4. Role of Veterans and Locker Room Dynamics

• Veterans like Kevin Love, Kyle Anderson, Yusuf Nurkic, and All-Star Lauri Markkanen serve as mentors and stabilizing influences.
• “All of these prospects are going to be able to learn from the likes of Kevin Love and Kyle Anderson... how do you ensure longevity to your career as well” (Zena Cada, 10:19).
• Markkanen’s off-ball skills allow young players to develop as on-ball creators, accommodating the youth development plan. “Lowry is the kind of veteran where… the young players can have the ball in their hands and be the ones actually creating” (Andy Larson, 10:58).

5. Expectations for Key Players and Growth Goals

• Markkanen should return to his signature “play finisher” role. “It's actually his nickname, the finisher, the Finnish player, because… he's the only NBA player to ever have 200 threes and 100 dunks in the same season” (Andy Larson, 12:42).
• Walker Kessler must prove himself as a defensive anchor as he approaches restricted free agency.
• Bryce Sensabaugh is flagged as a possible third-best player, provided he improves defensively.
• Zena notes Sensabaugh’s age and scoring versatility: “Only 21 years old. There’s so much growth to still be had, you know, as he enters this third season” (Zena Cada, 15:04).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Prospect Potential:
  “The Jazz haven’t had a prospect like that since, really, Donovan Mitchell.”
  — Andy Larson, 05:35

• On Summer Philosophy:
  “To draft a legitimate kind of top five prospect… with Ace, he has the potential to be the top three, maybe top two prospect in last year’s draft just because of how athletic he is, how skilled he is shooting the ball.”
  — Andy Larson, 05:28

• Coach Will Hardy’s Approach:
  “He’s actually looking at old film of Kevin Durant, Jayson Tatum, big time wings before they became stars. How did their development come about? And I think that that’s going to be really awesome for Ace Bailey.”
  — Zena Cada, 07:03

• Volume Prospecting:
  “They're kind of doing a prospect by volume approach, if you will, where if you just get enough guys together, some of them are going to pop.”
  — Andy Larson, 08:30

• Markkanen’s Fit:
  “He is an all star talent… fits in nearly any team in the league because he can just be additive, he can just make shots, he can just finish plays around the rim.”
  — Andy Larson, 19:01

• Trade Speculation and the “Window”:
  “I think he's traded in the next two windows, I'll put it that way. So either at the trade deadline or next offseason.”
  — Andy Larson, 27:58

Segment Breakdown with Timestamps

• [02:05] – Introduction and Utah's preseason state; last season’s struggles set up the rebuilding context.
• [03:23] – Andy Larson recaps post-Gobert/Mitchell overhaul and recent draft strategies.
• [05:28] – Why Ace Bailey is the most important offseason addition; potential as a true star.
• [06:39] – In-depth on Ace Bailey’s debut and Will Hardy's developmental approach.
• [08:29] – “Prospect by volume” and profiling key youngsters like Hendricks, Sensabaugh, and Filipowski.
• [10:19] – Veterans’ roles; Markkanen’s critical leadership and fit with young players.
• [12:49] – Expectations for Markkanen, Kessler, and Sensabaugh; what “success” means this year.
• [15:04] – Additional discussion on Sensabaugh’s age and growth potential.
• [18:19] – Jazz cap space and trade rumors, particularly about Markkanen; scenarios and suitors.
• [22:07] – Jazz’s main swing factor: Keonte George’s development and future as an NBA scoring guard.
• [25:59] – Predicting win totals for the 2025–26 season (Andy pegs it at 20–62, possibly worse).
• [27:52] – Will Markkanen still be on the team after the deadline? Larson thinks a trade is likely in next two windows.
• [29:16] – Markkanen’s happiness in Utah and his unique fit off the court.

Realistic Outlook: 2025-26 and Beyond

• Short-Term: The Jazz are unlikely to contend this year; expectations are for a win total around 18–20 games.
• Developmental Focus: “This is a developmental season and not a tanking season, which there is a difference” (Andy Larson, 27:15).
• Key Variable: The progression of Keonte George and which prospects “pop” will define how quickly the team can rise in the West.
• Likely Change: Larson expects Markkanen to be traded by the next offseason unless a playoff break unexpectedly emerges.
• Long-Term Hope: Ace Bailey’s stardom is the big “what if” that could accelerate the rebuild.

Final Thoughts

The episode paints a complex but not hopeless picture for Jazz fans: After several seasons of painful losses and uncertainty, a genuine potential star has arrived in Ace Bailey. The team leans into youth, prioritizes development, and leverages cap flexibility and veteran leadership. While the 2025-26 season is framed as another foundational campaign, the seeds of the next contender could be sprouting in Salt Lake City—if enough of these prospects blossom.

For more Utah Jazz insights, follow Andy Larson’s work at the Salt Lake City Tribune.

Summary by The Athletic NBA Daily Podcast Summarizer