Ace Bailey’s Versatility Starting to Shine for Jazz

Very few preseason games ever yield high-output box score numbers for individual players, just given the opportunity and lack of minutes that most top-end players get. But Ace Bailey was still able to show a ton of versatility Tuesday night in the Utah Jazz’s preseason matchup against the Denver Nuggets.

With Lauri Markkanen sidelined, Bailey moved into the starting lineup and finished with 10 points, seven rebounds and three assists while also notching a block and a steal in 27 minutes.

And while he wasn’t ultra-efficient from the floor, shooting just 4-of-12 overall, his impact went well beyond scoring.

That’s huge for a player like Bailey because coming out of college, after his lone season at Rutgers, one of the biggest questions was what else he could provide when he wasn’t scoring the ball.

At 6-foot-10 and with the length he possesses, versatility is clearly something Bailey can give the Jazz. He has the ability to play multiple positions, but he still has to show that versatility on both ends of the floor. On Tuesday, he showed flashes of exactly that.

Offensively, Bailey was still a high-powered weapon who was able to get to his spots and create mismatches. His size and skill make him difficult to guard in a variety of situations, and there were stretches where he was able to create offense simply because of the matchup advantages he presented.

Defensively, he also held his own. Bailey had some promising flashes not only as a disruptive defender, but also within Utah’s team defense.

That was especially apparent in the second half, when the Jazz went to some smaller lineups and Bailey was asked to scale up into a true frontcourt role. On certain possessions, he was essentially functioning as a de facto center, which only further highlighted the type of lineup flexibility he can provide.

Through two preseason games, Bailey has shown some encouraging signs.

His role will look a lot different once the regular season begins and the Jazz are fully healthy, especially with this roster featuring plenty of established scorers. Bailey will be another offensive option, likely off the bench, but he doesn’t necessarily need to score at a high level every night to make an impact.

There’s still plenty for him to clean up, and he’s still a young player entering just his second season in the league.

But the early signs point to Bailey taking another step this season, especially as a player who can impact the game without scoring while also giving Utah additional lineup flexibility and versatility.